My app allows the merchant to import their eBay listings into Shopify as products. Once imported, it does inventory sync and also syncs product titles, description, and images with eBay (where Shopify is the master data source).
The app does not allow exporting Shopify products to eBay.
I thought a marketplace connector is an app that primarily exports Shopify products to a third party marketplace.
Is the issue that I am syncing product titles, descriptions, and images once the eBay listing is imported?
Is inventory syncing not allowed?
The app was not classfied as a sales channel app either.
Here is the email I received:
We’re writing to let you know that we’ve spotted some core issues with your app, so your submission process has been paused until you make the required fixes. What you need to do
Fix these core issues with your app:
Shopify is not currently accepting apps that connect to a marketplace system outside of Shopify. This applies to all apps that connect to a marketplace outside of Shopify. Please note: you won’t be able to talk to an App Review Specialist until we verify your app meets all core review requirements.
Being that there are numerous existing apps on Shopify that do the exact same thing (including exporting), and newer ones as well, how was I supposed to know this isn’t allowed? I spent over 7 months working on this nonstop and sacrificed my health and other areas of my life for this.
And there is no explanation on what specific feature of the app is the problem. And I can’t speak to a specialist. I don’t want to email partner support again because it is obvious that it is just a chatbot.
Hey @neutroware - thanks for reaching out. I definitely get why this feels confusing, especially where the app starts by importing existing eBay listings into Shopify rather than exporting new Shopify products to eBay.
The current App Review interpretation is not limited only to apps that bulk-export Shopify products to a marketplace. If the app’s core functionality connects a merchant’s Shopify catalog/product data to an external marketplace, especially where Shopify-side listing data like titles, descriptions, and images is synced back to that marketplace, it can still be classified as a marketplace connector:
Inventory syncing by itself is a bit different here. Inventory management apps are a valid app type, and a stock-only reconciliation flow to help prevent overselling may be reviewed differently from a broader listing/content sync flow. Based on what you described, my best guess is that the ongoing title/description/image sync back to eBay is the part that may be causing the marketplace connector classification, but I can’t confirm the exact review reasoning here.
If the app is primarily intended as an import or inventory management tool, I’d suggest making that very explicit in your reviewer notes and app listing, including exactly what data moves in each direction. It may also be worth clarifying whether the listing-content sync back to eBay can be removed or made separate from the core app flow.
For a case-specific review, the best next step is still to reach out through the Help Center while logged into the Partner account that owns the app. That gives Support the authenticated context needed to pull up the app review and clarify with App Review directly. If you do get connected to our AI assistant, you can request to speak to a human advisor and it will connect you with a real person - so I just wanted to mention that as well.
I definitely get this isn’t the most ideal answer after the time you’ve put into the app, and I’m happy to pass along any feedback that this category needs clearer public guidance - just let me know.
Thank you @Alan_G , that was most likely the issue. My app just got approved today. I removed the product content syncing and one other feature that appeared to cross that line.
The app isn’t as valuable as it orignally was but it still has some use. I’ll spend some time rethinking how I can position it.
So yes, stock-only syncing is allowed. And thankfully so, since that is one of the more important core features.
Hey @neutroware - no worries, thanks for following up on this. I’m glad to hear that your app was approved. Let me know if I can help out with anything else here - feel free to ping me anytime!
This is different from the rejection reason I recieved from Shopify which simply said “Shopify is not currently accepting apps that connect to a marketplace system outside of Shopify.”
Does this mean there is still a path forward to allow my app to export Shopify products to eBay and to also include two-way product content sync? (Note, by export I mean cross-listing to eBay, not transferring and removing products from the merchant’s Shopify store).
I am struggling to get traction with my app and I suspect it has to do with the lack of ability to export. My potential customer base is greatly reduced due to this.
Being that eBay is a large corporation, it is likely I won’t be able to obtain a signature from them. In that case, is there any workaround with respect to eBay specifically?
There are many existing eBay integrations in the Shopify app store that include exporting and I won’t be able to compete if I can’t match them on that core functionality. It is a shame because most of my efforts went into improving the export process because in general it is quite complicated. I have a couple of users so far and would like to continue supporting them, but if my app can’t grow due to this reason, I will have to sunset it because I won’t be able to generate any profit.
Is there a process I can follow to request Shopify’s written consent for this? I would be willing to have Shopify collect fees on my app’s subscription revenue (before the first $1 million and fees greater than 15%).
I don’t work for Shopify and cannot confirm that. From my own knowledge and experience I don’t believe sacrificing fee’s will get you any special permissions.