Why is Yahoo! Shopping being forced to close?
Even for reputable stores that think "forced closures don't concern me," pitfalls await in unexpected places.
There are many cases on the internet where stores have had to close due to customer service issues or unexpected product launches. So, what causes stores to be forced to close? Here is one example.
First, please take a look at the following.
If a violation of the terms of use or guidelines is suspected, Yahoo! JAPAN may take measures to force the store to close. Source: Yahoo! Shopping Store Creator Help
This is a page about "forced store closures" listed on Yahoo! Shopping.
As you can see, detailed information is not provided even in the Yahoo! Shopping Creator help section.
There are two items to pay particular attention to:
Since the specific reasons are not listed on Yahoo! Shopping, there are no items that you can be absolutely sure of are safe if you follow these rules.
Here are two items you should definitely keep in mind.
Customer Care
The most important thing to pay attention to is customer service. In some cases, a single customer comment can lead to the store being closed, so be careful.
Setting shipping fees
If the shipping cost includes other costs besides shipping (such as material costs or cash on delivery fees), you must enter the details in the shipping cost section of the Shopping Guide.
*In some cases, Yahoo! may contact you to request delivery documents. If you do not respond immediately, your store may be closed.
Returns, Exchanges and Cancellations
Please clearly state your special terms regarding returns, exchanges, and cancellations on the "Shopping Guide Page" or in the product description.
Cancellation fees and other charges must be set within a range that is considered reasonable according to social standards.
If you take any action not described here, customers may complain to Yahoo! headquarters. If your actions are deemed malicious (at the discretion of Yahoo!), your store may be forced to close.
Evaluation and Judgment
Yahoo! checks the operation status of store owners using the constant rating function, etc. If Yahoo! determines that there is a problem with the operation, such as multiple reviews of 2 points or less being registered within a certain period of time, the store may be forced to close.
Items that often lead to low customer ratings include "late product delivery," "incorrect delivery," and "billing errors," so it's important to make an effort to check your settings and operations on a regular basis.
If an incident occurs
If the above-mentioned events occur, Yahoo! may request that you submit improvement materials, etc. In that case, you may be able to avoid closing your store by responding promptly, so be sure to check the emails coming from Yahoo! headquarters.
*"I didn't see it" will not work.
Products
Rather than products that are clearly prohibited from being sold (illegal products/firearms/animals/poisonous drugs), you should be careful of items such as "adult-related products," "products that may be used in criminal activities," and "brand-name goods."
Adult related products
It's important to note that underwear may also be included.
As the guidelines state, "products that we determine are intended to satisfy sexual curiosity," the decision is ultimately made by Yahoo!.
The criteria for judgment will be based not only on images but also on descriptions, so it is essential to sell the product correctly.
Products that may be used in crimes
This is also a matter that is decided by Yahoo!. Among them, you should be careful about "wiretapping devices, ultra-small cameras, and infrared cameras."
Basically, these are listed in the guidelines as prohibited products, so even if you are recommending uses other than criminal ones, there is a chance that they will be pointed out during patrols.
Branded products
Yahoo! Shopping has a separate screening process when dealing in brand-name products.
What's noteworthy is that this applies not only to opening a store, but also to handling after opening.
As we expand our product lineup, if we sell brand-name products without undergoing an application review, it will be a violation of the regulations and our store may be closed or expelled.
What are the general precautions for products?
When it comes to products, be on the lookout for defects and design changes.
It is unlikely that a store will be closed just because defective products have been found, but if the problem is unable to be resolved and defects continue to occur, or if the store is unable to provide appropriate customer service (such as not accepting returns of defective products or being unable to contact customers), it may be forced to close.
Is it possible to unblock the store?
It is very difficult to unblock a store.
First, contact the help desk and ask how to proceed.
In some cases, the closure may be lifted by signing a letter of intent.
Closing your store is just one step away from the worst case scenario. It is important to take daily precautions to prevent this from happening.
To that end, by closely sharing information with Yahoo! Shopping sales staff, it may be possible to avoid the situation in advance.
We recommend that you communicate with your sales representative on a regular basis.
summary
Anything that could cause harm to customers, even if unintentional, will be considered a violation and you may be forced to close or evict your business.
What Yahoo! Shopping and other malls have in common is that they put the customer first.
First of all, it is important to avoid closing your store, so make sure to establish a daily support system and guidelines for customers and share information with your sales representatives.
