I run a Shopify store selling home decor items (candles, ceramic planters, picture frames, etc). All dropshipped from suppliers. I'm based in Texas but ship nationwide including California.
A competitor's website has these scary Prop 65 warnings on literally every product. Do I need these too? None of my suppliers have mentioned anything about this. I've been selling for 8 months with no issues.
Is this something I should be worried about?
Pro tip: there are Shopify apps that add Prop 65 warnings automatically to all products. They cost like $10/month and could save you from a $25K+ lawsuit. Total no-brainer.
I use one called "Prop 65 Warning Pro" - just adds a standard warning banner to every product page. Takes 5 minutes to set up.
Word of caution on the "blanket warning" approach: while it protects you from enforcement, it might hurt conversion rates. The warnings look scary to consumers.
The better approach is to:
Also important: if you manufacture or import products yourself, you have additional obligations including filing with California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) before you can even assert a Prop 65 warning as a defense.
Quick question - what if I just geo-block California? Can't get sued under California law if I don't sell there, right?
Crossposting my experience here because I think it's relevant: I successfully disputed a charge through my credit card issuer under the Fair Credit Billing Act. The key was filing within 60 days of the statement date and putting the dispute in writing. The credit card company investigated and issued a permanent credit.
For SaaS contracts: watch the auto-renewal clause. Many have a 30-60 day cancellation window, and if you miss it, you're locked in for another year. Set a calendar reminder 90 days before renewal.