Do I need a unique GTIN for each product in my new online store?

[ethosseed]

Hello Shopify community!

I just opened my very first shopify store and I'm running into a few problems. I was rejected as a Google Merchant because I don't have GTIN for my products and I'm trying to figure out if I need them or not.

I am a farmer who grows vegetable and flower seeds, go through all the hoops from my state for testing and labeling and then sell those in retail packets. I also buy some wholesale seeds from other farmer and repackage them in retail packets.

I've only just begun doing this: I'm a long time farmer but only started thinking of doing something else to help bring more money for the farm. 

My question is: do I need to purchase a different GTIN for all the products I carry? That's a lot for me... and can I somehow reuse the GTIN (barcodes) some of the seeds I purchase from other farmers have on their packaging knowing I am going to change the number of seeds and the packaging the items come in?

I carry about 50 items right now and will increase to about 100 items once the growing season closes so I'd like to plan ahead if I need to buy the GTINs for each product I carry.

Hope this is clear and someone can help me!

[EmmanuelFlossie · Accepted solution]

The short answer, no, you don't need to buy barcodes.

If you resell a product that has barcodes, yes you need to use that same barcode.

The products you make yourself, ie the seeds are generated by yourself, then the following results should be visible in Google Merchant Center.

No Brand value, no MPN value, no GTIN value and set identifier exists to No.

Go to Google Merchant Center > Products > all products > click on a product > scroll to the bottom and view the final attributes.

If this is not as how I explained, and you are using the free app, you need to use feed rules to clear the brand, mpn and set identifier exists to no. You can learn more here: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/7450276?hl=en

[cobacrystal]

I have a similar issue. I sell crystals, packaged into sets. These are handmade items, and don't come with barcodes from the mines.

I have ticked the box on the Google Channel pop-up box that says "This is a Custom Product" and then entered the information for Category, size, color, and unit pricing measures.

And yet, the products keep being rejected with the message that they need a MPN or GTIN.

I do not see where to set the identifier exists parameter to no.

Help?

[EmmanuelFlossie]

The issue is that even when you enable custom products in Shopify free app, it still sends the brand value. The app is not really designed to work with every situation.

I recommend if you want full control is to use https://apps.shopify.com/multiple-google-shopping-feeds

Here you can set your product identifiers correctly.

Alternatively, you could also create feed rules in Google Merchant Center, to clear up all the data. Here is a guide: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/7450276?hl=en

[cobacrystal]

Ok, I'm trying the last option -- setting up a rule in the google merchant center. 

Am I doing this correctly:

Feed: Content API > Add new rule > Attribute = identifier exists > Condition None > Set to No

Is that right?

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Correct, and make sure to clear all other attributes. Brand & MPN

[cobacrystal]

Do I set those up as additional rules in the merchant center -- or do that for each product on Shopify?

Thanks for your patience -- this is brand new to me.

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Add all rules in GMC.