Self-defense
Self-defense products are legal here and restricted one state over
Sprays, stun devices, batons and knives are each covered by their own rules. Those rules are set by states, and sometimes by cities and counties.
Most store platforms have no simple way to say "this product cannot ship to this place." So the order goes through, and you find out when you pack it, or later.
Get a free checkout checkSound familiar?
Situations you may recognize
- 01
The product is allowed, but not that size
Some places limit how large or how strong a defense spray can be. Your small canister can ship there. Your large one cannot. A rule on the whole category blocks too much, and no rule blocks nothing.
- 02
The state allows it, a city does not
Some restrictions are local. A state-level list will miss a city or county rule, which is why rules need to work by ZIP code as well as by state.
- 03
It can only be sold in person there
Some places require certain items to be bought face to face from a licensed seller. An online order to that address should stop before payment.
- 04
The shopper picks one state and types another ZIP
We have seen shoppers choose an allowed state in the dropdown while entering an address and ZIP in a restricted one. A check that only reads the dropdown lets that order through.
These are examples, not a list of current laws. Laws change, and this page is not legal advice. Check the current rules for your products with a lawyer or the state agency that sets them.
Before and after
Where stores get caught, and what we set up
Where stores usually get caught
- A shipping policy page that lists restricted states, with nothing at checkout that enforces it.
- A checkout script that someone wrote years ago and no one has updated since.
- Sitewide promos and free gifts shown on products the visitor cannot receive.
- Orders placed outside the normal checkout, such as staff-created orders, that skip the check.
What we set up
- Enforce your state and ZIP rules at checkout, per product, before the customer pays.
- Check every new order again and cancel and refund anything that got through.
- Keep promos off products that cannot ship to the visitor.
- Add a "can we ship to you?" lookup page so shoppers can check before they fill a cart.
See where your checkout lets restricted orders through
We review your shipping policy and checkout and send you a short video of what we find.
BuildPath is run by Ian Mason, a developer with 20 years in ecommerce and search.
- The check is free
- A short video of what we find
- If we find nothing, we tell you that