Common Issues

window.shoplift is undefined

Cause: Your script is running before Shoplift's script has loaded.

Fix: Use a polling pattern to wait:

function waitForShoplift(callback, maxAttempts = 50) {
  let attempts = 0;

  function check() {
    if (window.shoplift) {
      callback();
    } else if (attempts < maxAttempts) {
      attempts++;
      setTimeout(check, 100);
    } else {
      console.warn('Shoplift did not load within the expected time.');
    }
  }

  check();
}

isHypothesisActive() always returns false

Possible causes:

• The test is paused or inactive in the Shoplift dashboard

• The hypothesis ID is incorrect (check for typos, copy it fresh from the dashboard)

• The visitor doesn't meet the test's targeting criteria (e.g., wrong device type or country)

• Merchant preview mode is active (check for ?isShopliftMerchant=true in the URL or sessionStorage key Shoplift_Session)

Debug:

// Force the variant via URL to confirm the hypothesis ID is correct
// https://yourstore.com/?slVariant=your-hypothesis-id

// Then check in console
await window.shoplift.isHypothesisActive('your-hypothesis-id');

If the URL parameter override works but normal assignment doesn't, the test configuration in the dashboard needs attention.

Variant shows briefly then disappears (flicker)

Cause: Your code applies the variant, but another script or page re-render overwrites it.

Fix:

• Ensure your test code runs after the DOM element is stable

• Use CSS transitions instead of immediate DOM manipulation

• For elements loaded via AJAX, listen for the appropriate load/render event before applying the variant

Test data not appearing in analytics

Possible causes:

• getVisitorData() is called before the visitor has been assigned to any tests

• Your analytics platform's script hasn't loaded yet

• Consent hasn't been granted (if using setAnalyticsConsent())

Fix: Ensure both Shoplift and your analytics platform are loaded before sending data:

function init(maxAttempts = 50) {
  let attempts = 0;

  function check() {
    if (window.shoplift && window.yourAnalytics) {
      const data = window.shoplift.getVisitorData();
      if (data.visitorTests.length > 0) {
        // Send data
      }
    } else if (attempts < maxAttempts) {
      attempts++;
      setTimeout(check, 100);
    }
  }

  check();
}

init();

Consent integration not working

Debug steps:

1. Verify your CMP is loaded: console.log(typeof OneTrust) or console.log(typeof Cookiebot)

2. Check consent state: console.log(window.OnetrustActiveGroups) or console.log(Cookiebot.consent)

3. Manually test: await window.shoplift.setAnalyticsConsent(true)

4. Verify: console.log(window.shoplift.getVisitorData())