Run a members-only store

Approve shoppers before they can buy. Choose how much non-members see, ask for ID if you need to, and approve or decline each application.

Membership lets you decide who can buy from your shop. Shoppers apply, you approve them, and only members can check out. It suits clubs, wholesale and trade-only shops, and anything with an age limit.

Turn on membership

Click Settings in the sidebar, then Membership.
Switch on Only approved members can buy.
Under How much can non-members see?, pick Stop at checkout or Members-only store (see below).
Under What applicants see, tell people what membership means, or what you need to approve them. For example: you must be 18 or older.
Click Save changes.

With Stop at checkout, anyone can browse and view products. Members are only needed to check out. With Members-only store, products still list, but opening one, the cart or checkout sends non-members to apply.

A Members item appears in your sidebar, under Customers.

Ask for ID

Switch on Require ID verification if you need to know who you're selling to. Applicants take a live selfie and upload a photo of their SA ID or passport, and you review both before approving.

Approve everyone automatically

Want shoppers to sign up as members but not wait for you? Switch on Approve applications automatically. Anyone who signs up becomes a member straight away.

Review applications

Go to Members. New applications wait under Pending.

Click Approve to let them buy. They get a welcome email.
Click Decline to turn them down. You can add a reason, and they get an email.
If you asked for ID, click Review to see their selfie, ID, name and date of birth side by side, then decide.

Tick several to approve or decline them in one go.

Remove a member

On the Members tab, open the member's menu and click Revoke access. They can't check out any more, and they get an email. Changed your mind? Click Approve to let them back in.