Remember What Shopify Did? I Contacted Them And This Is What They Said

UPDATE: 8-27-2018

I encourage our readers to take action by alerting their family and friends to this alarming news.

Just four days ago we posted an article titled, “Shopify Targets Law-Abiding Firearm Businesses“. The article explains Shopify is now banning the sale of firearms and firearm accessories on their hosting network. In case you forgot, Shopify will host a website and all the essentials to run an online business.

Is it their right to say what can and cannot be sold?

Their branding is nowhere to be found on a merchants site, so what is the problem here?

I decided to reach out to Shopify for their side of the story. Here is what I said in part.

It has come to my attention that you are now banning the sale of firearms and firearm-related products. These are legal products, you may not like firearms, but to ban these products using your service is an outrage. I find it funny how companies like yourself start out small with the hopes of growing and then when you get to be a fair size you start shutting out the little guys who put you on the map to begin with.

Shopify was kind enough to send a response back in my direction.

Hi Brandon,

Christal here, a Shopify customer success guru :)

Thank you for contacting Shopify support. On August 13, 2018, we amended our Acceptable Use Policy to restrict the sale of certain firearms and parts on our platform. You can read the amended AUP here and see a list of restricted items here.

From time to time, Shopify reviews and amends the terms, conditions and policies governing the use of our platform. As we continue to scale globally, we may further refine our policies as needed to ensure Shopify remains a trusted platform for merchants like you and your customers. While we strive at Shopify to deliver a product experience that democratizes commerce and drives consumer choice, we do not want to do so at the expense of consumer safety.

Have a great day!

Christal
Shopify Guru
support@shopify.com

I underlined the last sentence for you.

It is not Shopify’s responsibility to “democratize” their commerce platform, nor is it their obligation to exclude certain items.

Here was my last response to their support representative.

Christal,

Good morning, I realize you are a support representative. I would appreciate my response being submitted to your supervisor so management can understand how the public feels about this issue.

To my knowledge, Shopify also allows knives other firearms, pharmaceutical drugs and vitamins (to name a few items) for sale using your platform. All items that can be abused by customers and cause serious injury or death to them and their families.

Does Shopify intend to go into the customers home and ensure these products are being used correctly?

Of course not.

You are not in the business to do that.

Then neither should you be in the business to decide who can sell what, especially a firearm which is legal in the United States.

When you remove someone’s choice, you remove their freedom to make that choice.

Thank you for your time.

Brandon T. Ward

Update: 8-27-2018

I received an email from Meghan with Shopify with respect to my last email to them which is above.

Hi Brandon,

Thanks for contacting us here at Shopify. My name is Meghan and I am a Guru here. I understand your frustration you are experiencing on this topic but the response that Christal provided for you on our new change to our AUP will be the same from our entire team here at Shopify.

Shopify reserves the right to update their AUP at any time. This is our right as a company to decide which products we do not support the sale of using our services. While we believe the free and open exchange of ideas and products is a key tenet of commerce, there are some activities that are incompatible with Shopify’s mission to make commerce better for everyone.

Your frusrtation’s have been noted and I appreciate you taking the time to write in to us today. If this change is prompting you not to want to do business with Shopify, or stores that may use our platform – I understand that you have to do what’s best for yourself and your business.

All the best,

Meghan O
Shopify Guru

My response to Meghan with Shopify.

Meghan,

I appreciate the follow up, though I am not sure if a guru means you are a supervisor. Perhaps you can clear that up?

I completely agree that Shopify, like all companies, reserves the right to decide what products to sell or host.

Personally, I do not believe the policy change has anything to do with the “safety” of your customers. I made that point in my last email. I feel this is a veiled approach to limit our selection and thus limit our rights through a business approach. We see these tactics being implemented in social media and now business which I find repulsive.

The Shopify change means we will not do business with your company in any fashion, it also means we will share what you are doing with our family, friends and our audience at worldeventsandthebible.com. It is important for the general public to understand what is taking place in the world, especially when it comes to their rights.

To the best of our ability, we do not do business with companies who violate our personal beliefs.

I do thank you for your time.

Thank You,

Brandon T. Ward
World Events and the Bible

I highly encourage our readers to share this information with their family and friends and contact Shopify to let them know how you feel about their decision.

You can submit a response to Shopify by contacting Shopify at support@shopify.com.