17 checks to demand in writing before hiring anyone to migrate your Shopify catalog

A catalog migration auditor has published a 17-point checklist that Shopify store owners should require vendors to commit to in writing before any migration begins. The list covers critical data integrity checks including product and variant counts, SKU uniqueness, pricing accuracy, image assignments, URL redirects, and metafield preservation. Each item on the checklist includes a simple manual verification method — such as comparing row counts or clicking sample image URLs — that requires no specialist tools. The author also recommends agreeing upfront on remedies if any check fails, and documenting pre-existing data issues to avoid disputes later. The piece warns that a vendor's reluctance to sign such a checklist is itself a red flag worth heeding.