Newbie Sellers How Serious Is the Shopee Store Linking Issue?

How Serious is the Problem of Shop Association for New Shopee Sellers?

In the field of cross-border e-commerce, Shopee, one of the e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, has attracted significant attention from Chinese sellers in recent years. For new sellers just entering this market, avoiding shop association has become an issue that cannot be ignored. Shop association refers to multiple shops being detected by the platform as having identical or highly similar operational characteristics, triggering the platform's risk control mechanism, which may result in shop bans or other penalties. So, how much importance should new sellers give to the issue of shop association when operating on Shopee?

Firstly, we need to understand Shopee's basic attitude and rules regarding shop association. According to official statements from Shopee, the platform encourages sellers to expand their businesses through legal and compliant means while remaining vigilant against possible violations. For example, if a seller operates multiple shops with overlapping key information such as account details, contact information, or shipping addresses, these shops may be considered associated. Once identified as such, the consequences can range from restricted traffic to permanent shop closure. New sellers must have a clear understanding of their shop management methods before starting operations.

From a practical perspective, many new sellers inadvertently violate the rules of shop association due to lack of experience. For instance, some sellers might use the same bank account to handle financial transactions for different shops for convenience; others might habitually use the same email to register multiple shops or log into different shop accounts on the same computer. These seemingly minor actions could actually trigger the platform's risk control system. Reports indicate that recently, many Chinese sellers have been warned or banned by Shopee due to shop association issues, including some previously high-performing shops. This clearly shows that shop association has become one of the critical factors affecting sellers' long-term development.

So, how can new sellers avoid the risks of shop association? First, it’s recommended to use independent bank accounts and payment tools for each shop. This not only prevents confusion in cash flow but also reduces the likelihood of being suspected of linked accounts by the platform. Secondly, when registering shops, ensure that all information is truthful and unique for each shop. For example, contact details and shipping addresses should match reality and avoid duplication. To further reduce risks, consider using different network environments to log into various shops. For instance, switch IP addresses via a virtual private network VPN or use multiple devices to manage different shops separately. Of course, this approach requires sufficient resources and technical support from the seller.

It’s worth noting that although shop association is a crucial issue, not all sellers will encounter it. Those who strictly adhere to platform rules and focus on meticulous management usually successfully navigate the initial stages. However, for those who rush to expand without regard for compliance, shop association could become a fatal at any time. New sellers should establish the right business philosophy from the start, prioritizing compliance.

In summary, new sellers on Shopee indeed need to pay sufficient attention to the issue of shop association. Although the platform hasn't explicitly listed all the criteria for determining associations, from past experiences, any operation that might raise suspicion should be handled cautiously. Only by ensuring independent information and standardized operations can sellers stabilize their positions in fierce market competition and achieve sustainable development. It is hoped that this article helps new sellers better understand this issue and avoid unnecessary detours in future development.