Meta Business Extension

Partner Guidelines for Offsite Shops Deprecation

Sunsetting Shops without checkout enabled across several markets

US-Based Merchants (starting August 10, 2023)

If your MBE integration supports onsite checkout and the merchant qualifies for an onsite Shop, the following applies:

MBE will automatically route the merchant to the Commerce flow to create a Shop with onsite intent (channel: COMMERCE).

To complete onsite Shop creation, merchants will still need to enter their shipping and payment information in the Commerce Manager. Until the shipping and payment methods are added in the Commerce Manager, the Shop will be invisible to all buyers and the Shop will reflect shop_status: inactive_offsite under the additional_info field on the FBE Installation API.

When the Shop is properly set up for onsite, shop_status will reflect 'active' and will be visible to US buyers as an onsite Shop experience.

Note that shop_status may reflect inactive_other after adding shipping and payment methods if the Shop is inactive for another reason.

If your MBE integration supports onsite checkout but the merchant does NOT qualify for an onsite Shop, the following applies:

The option to create a Shop will be unavailable in the Commerce onboarding flow. The merchant will not generate a CMS_ID upon MBE install, but they will still be able to create and run ads (channel: COMMERCE).

If your MBE integration does NOT support onsite checkout:

The option to create a Shop will be unavailable in the Commerce onboarding flow. The merchant will not generate a CMS_ID upon installing MBE, but they will still be able to create and run ads (channel: COMMERCE_OFFSITE).

Merchants in Select International Markets

If your merchant is located in a select international market, MBE will continue to allow merchants to onboard with offsite Shops (channel: COMMERCE or channel: COMMERCE_OFFSITE).

The offsite Shops in select international markets will continue to be available to buyers in these regions.

Merchants in Other Markets (starting August 10, 2023)

If your merchant is located in a market outside of the select international market list or the US: The option to create a Shop will be unavailable in the MBE Commerce onboarding flow. The merchant will not generate a commerce_merchant_setttings_id (CMS ID) upon MBE install, but they will still be able to create and run ads (channel: COMMERCE or channel: COMMERCE_OFFSITE).

Action for MBE Partners

The MBE framework will automatically check merchant eligibility and route them to the relevant onboarding flow based on their region and your MBE integration. Partners do not need to make changes to their existing MBE onboarding flow to facilitate this process.

However, MBE partners should be aware that new onsite Shops for their eligible US merchants will not be active until shipping and payment methods are added in the Commerce Manager, and that certain merchants will not be generating a Shop after onboarding in MBE.

Impact on Existing Offsite Shops

Offsite Shops in the US

Eligible merchants will be encouraged to upgrade their offsite Shops to onsite. Before deprecation, partners can check the “shop_status_info" field in the FBE Installation API under “additional_info” to confirm if a Shop is at risk for deprecation.

Offsite Shops will be deprecated in April 2024 and will be hidden from buyer view unless converted to onsite. Deprecated offsite Shops will still show their commerce_merchant_settings_id (CMS ID) on the fbe_installs endpoint, but will be read-only across MBE APIs and will reflect "shop_status": "inactive_offsite” under “additional info” in the FBE Installation API to indicate deprecation.

Offsite Shops in Select International Markets

Offsite Shops in the select international market list can continue business as usual. There will be no impact on existing offsite Shops or onboarding in MBE with offsite Shops. Offsite Shops in allowed markets will show “shop_status”:”active” under “additional info” in the FBE Installation API.

Offsite Shops in Other Markets

Before deprecation, partners can check the “shop_status_info" field in the FBE Installation API under “additional_info” to confirm if a Shop is at risk for deprecation.

Offsite Shops will be deprecated on August 10, 2023 and will be hidden from buyer view for all buyers. Deprecated offsite Shops will still show their commerce_merchant_settings_id (CMS ID) on the fbe_installs endpoint, but will be read-only across APIs and will reflect "shop_status": "no_longer_available” under “additional info” in the FBE Installation API to indicate deprecation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is Shop location determined for a merchant?

A: We reference a variety of assets, including those connected in MBE, to determine Shop location.

Q: How do we identify which Shops are going to be deprecated?

A: Check the new field "shop_status_info" in the FBE Installation API under “additional_info” for any relevant warnings about a Shop. Note that these values are subject to change and refer to the Developer Documentation on the Meta Business Extension for the most up-to-date information. The values for the field “shop_status_info” are:

  • A blank response means that the Shop is properly set up and will not be hidden or deprecated in the future.

  • Your shop isn’t active because you haven’t set up checkout on Facebook and Instagram. Complete setup on Commerce Manager so customers can view and buy your products.

    This status applies to US Shops created after August 10, 2023 that have yet to enter shipping and payment methods, or to offsite US Shops that are not converted to onsite by April 2024. The Shop is invisible to buyers and needs to be converted to onsite with shipping and payment methods added in the Commerce Manager to be visible. Buyers in the US will see an onsite Shop checkout experience, and buyers in the rest of the world will see an offsite Shop checkout experience.

  • Checkout on your website will no longer be available after April 2024. Please upgrade to checkout on Facebook and Instagram on Commerce Manager as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition.

    The Shop is currently using offsite checkout and will be turned invisible to buyers in April 2024 if not converted to onsite checkout.

  • Shops will no longer be available in your country or region after August 10, 2023. Your shop will no longer be available after August 10, 2023.

    Warning to offsite Shops outside of select international markets of impending deprecation.

  • Shops is no longer available in your country or region. Your shop is no longer available.

    To be applied to Shops outside of select international markets and the US after August 10, 2023.

  • Your shop isn’t visible. Go to Commerce Manager to learn more.

    Inactive_other reason.

Q: What if a merchant has questions on their Shop availability?

A: If a seller has questions about their ability to create or manage their Shop based on their geography, please use the “Contact Us” option in the MBE flow.

Q: How can an eligible merchant transition their offsite Shop to onsite?

A: Eligible merchants can change their checkout method to “Checkout on Facebook and Instagram” by following these steps.

Q: What will a deprecated offsite Shop look like on the fbe_installs endpoint?

A: Deprecated offsite Shops will still show their commerce_merchant_settings_id (CMS ID) on the fbe_installs endpoint, but will be read-only across APIs.

  • US merchants will see “shop_status”: “inactive_offsite” under the additional_info field on the FBE Installation API.

    • If the merchant goes through the process to become eligible for onsite, they can convert their Shop to onsite and add shipping and payment methods to make their Shop visible to buyers again.

    • Note “shop_status” may reflect “inactive_other” after adding shipping and payment methods if the Shop is inactive for another reason.

  • Other merchants will see “shop_status”: ”no_longer_available” under the additional_info field on the FBE Installation API.

Q: Why does my merchant not qualify for an onsite Shop?

A: Please review the eligibility requirements.

Q: I’m in a select international market and I selected “Checkout on Facebook and Instagram,” but when I navigated to the Commerce Manager, it says I’m not eligible for Onsite Checkout. How do I fix my Shop?

A: In the Commerce Manager, there is an option to “quit setup” for onsite checkout if you’re not eligible. You will still have an active Shop with offsite checkout if you’re in a select international market.