Hi, Ana,
I'm using Internet Explorer 8 and Windows Vista. I tried several times on Feb. 28 to open the shop before posting in this thread, but nothing happened when I clicked on the button to open the store. I'm in the U.S., on EST (GMT-5), just to help keep the timeline of events straigtht.
I think I know now what was happening, though.
Since I'm in the U.S., Shapeways didn't need a VAT number from me to open the shop because I will be responsible for collecting and paying the taxes myself.
However, as with the others above, there was no immediate reaction or message from the site itself to show that my information had been processed and was being reviewed for approval.
Meanwhile, I used Creator and a photo to create a 3D photo, just to see what it would look like, and I saved the model. The e-mail that the model had become printable was sent out at 2:32 AM EST, Mar. 1.
Then, the e-mail saying that my VAT, or lack thereof, had been checked and my business information had been approved was sent out at 3:17 AM EST, Mar. 1.
When I opened and read that e-mail, I came back to the site, clicked the button to open the store, and at that time the Javascript opened to ask for the business name and URL that I wanted to use. I filled that in and received a message that my shop had been opened and, when that information had been reviewed and approved, my shop would be unlocked.
The e-mail that said my store had been unlocked was sent out at 8:34 AM, Mar. 1.
So, it seems as if everything is actually working as it should. All that's missing is some sort of immediate response from the site, a message that lets those who try to open shops know that the first set of information, the billing and shipping addresses and so forth, has been received and needs to be reviewed and approved before the button to open the shop will respond to being clicked. There is a message that does say that the VAT or Chamber of Commerce number must be approved before a store can be opened, but that apparently isn't enough to make it clear enough to some of us that Shapeways did receive our information. It was also confusing to me, particularly after I realized that Shapeways did not need a taxpayer ID from anyone outside of the EU.
Thanks for you attention and help,
Elizabeth