Ecommerce accessibility issues don't announce themselves as compliance violations. They show up as abandoned carts.
A customer can't tab through your checkout. A screen reader misses your product details. An error message provides no explanation.
Whether you're serving customers in Berlin, Boston, or both, these barriers quietly block purchases—and they're fixable.
Accessibility standards exist to address these issues systematically. For detailed compliance guidance and the latest updates, see UsableNet's resources on WCAG 2.2 and accessible design principles. This article focuses on the everyday ecommerce problems those standards solve—and how to fix them.
What happens
Dropdown menus open only on hover. Mega menus trap keyboard focus. Tab order jumps randomly across the page.
Keyboard and screen reader users can't browse categories or reach products. If customers can't navigate, they can't shop.
How to fix it
What happens
Images labeled "image.jpg" or "product photo" tell screen reader users nothing. They can't see fabric texture, color options, or product styling—making it impossible to evaluate what they're buying. If customers can't understand your products, they won't purchase them.
How to fix it
For real-world examples of how image issues affect shoppers, read Michael Taylor's firsthand accessibility stories on the UsableNet blog.
What happens
Placeholder text disappears. Fields aren't labeled programmatically. Error messages say "invalid" without details.
Screen reader users don't know what information belongs where, making checkout frustrating or impossible. Customers abandon their carts.
How to fix it
What happens
Light gray text on white backgrounds. Pale sale badges. Buttons that blend into the page.
Customers with low vision or on mobile outdoors struggle to read pricing or calls to action—which means they don't convert.
How to fix it
What happens
Users tab into modals, carousels, or widgets and can't get out. Focus disappears visually.
Customers lose their place or abandon the page entirely.
How to fix it
What happens
Multi-step forms are confusing. Payment tools don't work with keyboards. Progress isn't clear. Authentication requires remembering complex passwords with no alternatives.
Checkout is where accessibility issues become expensive. Every blocked purchase equals lost revenue.
How to fix it
What happens
Videos or carousels start automatically with no way to pause. Product videos lack captions. Animated elements move while users are trying to read.
Motion can distract or disorient users, interrupt assistive technologies, and make content inaccessible to people with hearing loss or reading difficulties.
How to fix it
What happens
Size charts, manuals, or warranties are provided only as untagged PDFs.
Screen readers can't interpret them correctly, making important product information unusable.
How to fix it
Most retailers use a layered approach:
Automated scanning catches technical issues quickly—missing labels, color contrast problems, keyboard traps. Tools like the Contrast Grid for color testing and browser extensions flag obvious barriers.
Manual testing reveals real-world usability problems. Navigate your site using only your keyboard. Attempt checkout with a screen reader like NVDA or JAWS. Test on mobile devices outdoors where contrast issues become obvious.
Expert evaluation combines both approaches with accessibility knowledge and testing experience.
For ongoing monitoring and deeper assessments, explore:
How often should ecommerce websites be tested for accessibility?
Quarterly at minimum, and before major releases or checkout changes. Continuous monitoring is recommended for frequently updated sites.
Is accessibility different for Shopify, Magento, or custom platforms?
The standards are the same. Implementation varies by platform, themes, and third-party apps.
What's the fastest way to get started?
Run an automated scan, then manually test your highest-traffic pages like product detail pages and checkout. Fix the barriers that block purchases first.
Most ecommerce accessibility issues aren't complex technical problems. They're everyday usability gaps that quietly cost sales. Fixing them makes your site easier for everyone to use and improves conversions at the same time.