Google Merchant error "Missing sub-attribute [country (sub-attribute of [shipping])]"

[annnnn]

I'm getting this error on about 98% of my listings in Google Merchant.

"Missing sub-attribute [country (sub-attribute of [shipping])]"

I've googled endlessly and still can't figure out how to resolve it. I can't even tell if this is something I need to fix on shopify's side or in google merchant with a rule.

I also can't figure out how to see which listings the error is NOT on...thinking that might give me some clue as well. 

Any help would be appreciated because I'm completely lost on this one.

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Hope this helps: https://support.google.com/google-ads/thread/104473306

[annnnn]

No, that doesn't help at all. I have shipping setting setup, and nothing works. I was hoping someone here would have an answer

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Hello An, there are a lot of shipping settings, without looking at the setup you have done, I could give you 10 answers, that might or might not be useful.

Hence why I gave you the official documentation on how to setup your shipping. 

If you have correctly set it up and it does not work, consider contacting Google directly or have someone look at how you have set it up.

[eyezest]

Can someone please help with this. I am baffled with Shopify's total lack of support regard its integration with Google. It is not helpful at all when you just send people to general help pages that help nothing!

I have the same problem with several of my products. However, this are ALL DIGITAL PRODUCTS, so there is no shipping settings to add. Still Google is flagging all of these products with a missing attribute! I tried Google support but they are useless and just sent me to a general page and told me to check with Shopify!!

Shopify has an official integration with Google and is syncing the feed, so you definitely need to help merchants with this. I don't even have access to the raw feed so have no idea if there is anything in the field Missing sub-attribute [country (sub-attribute of [shipping])].

I hope Shopify support can help with this because I am sure there are many merchants out there with this issue. Plus, Google already announced that if this error is not correct by September all the affected products will be disapproved. Shopify please do your job and HELP your merchants.

Thanks.

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Generally Google Merchant Center is only for physical products. Hence why you are struggling.

Google requires you to deliver the goods to the customer, with digital goods, you can't do this.

However sometimes you may get approved, it depends on Google really.

So in your case simply submit free shipping.

To do this follow this guide: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6069284?hl=en

[eyezest]

Thanks for your reply but it did not help much and you also provided incorrect information that needs to be clarified otherwise other people seeing this might be led error.

You seem to be confusing Google with Facebook. Facebook is the one that does not allow any digital goods. Google has no problem with digital goods and sells a ton of them in Google Shopping. The only thing that Google recently removed is the possibility to sell eBooks but that's it. I am surprised that a Shopify Partner would provide such incorrect information on a public forum.

Your solution does not work at all because these are digital goods, so I do not see how to submit it as Free Shipping without messing up with our Shopify Orders. If we mark this as non Physical product, then Shopify does not allow to create Shipping Profiles to these products. If we mark them as physical, we could do it but this would be incorrect.

The missing attribute issue regarding shipping is relatively recent, so I hope someone can let Shopify now of this problem so it can get sorted when the feed is synced. We should be able to create a shipping profile for digital products to sort this when syncing with Google Merchant. Otherwise, Shopify needs to find a different solution. This will definitely become a big problem in September as Google will disapprove all products with this missing field!

Really, Shopify has to do a much better job of supporting their merchants and truly be here to help them in important issues like this!

[EmmanuelFlossie]

I recommend to received better support from Shopify is to contact Shopify Support.

I'm not confused and have provided my experience. Generally, digital goods are not accepted. Generally refers to in most cases but not excluded. I also indicated that digital items are in some cases accepted, this depends on Google.

The only option for you is to set free shipping in Google Merchant Center, more info: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6069284

And in your free shopping app, simply change the shipping settings, from Automatic to Manual.

Then Delete all shipping settings in Google Merchant Center, and apply free shipping. And your issues will disappear in Google Merchant Center, related to missing sub-attribute.

Google requires you to submit shipping, you have no option to not submit shipping. Hence why generally digital goods are not accepted. If it was generally accepted, Google would have added a feature specifically for these products.

So if you want to resolve the issue, you need to submit free shipping.

At no point did I share incorrect info, I believe there simply a misunderstanding. 

If you want a Google Ads expert to answer your questions, you can ask here: https://support.google.com/google-ads/community?hl=en

Or contact Google directly.

[eyezest]

I find it hard to understand how a Shopify Partner continues to insist on something that is factually incorrect. You keep repeating "generally digital goods are not accepted", without providing any facts to back up this. So for the sake of clarity of other readers of this post, let's provide them with products that Google Shopping clearly does not support, as per their official link!

https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6150006?hl=en-GB

At no point, they ever mention that 'digital goods' are not accepted, so please stop providing information that is not factually accurate.

I have also been on the phone with a Google Representative today and they mentioned the problem of the missing attribute relates to Country! She mentioned that the feed needs to clearly specify the country, so Shopify needed to add this column to the feed, so we can specify it! Your solution does not help at all because there is no problem with the shipping itself - it accurately is marked as free shipping already - the missing sub-attribute relates to country. So Shopify needs to do something about this!! I have been in touch with Shopify support clueless about this issue and always end up telling me to contact Google, which obviously is always the easy way out when you don't know what to do, definitely better support needs to be given to Shopify merchants. We are just left hanging without any support and any solution.

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Google does not disclose everything, and the knowledge I have is from 12 years in the industry. I merely provided you with my experience to help you understand what I know.

I have provided you with a solution to fix the shipping issue. If you are using the free shopping app, then go to Shopify > apps > click on the app > settings > set to manual shipping.

And if the shipping settings are submitted in the feed, (then you are using a different app), clear the shipping details using feed rules here: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/7450276?hl=en

Then follow the steps below.

Then create a free shipping option following the guide here: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6069284?hl=en

I understand you are annoyed I'm sharing information that may mean you can't advertise on Google Shopping. If Google decides to suspend you.

So if you like information from Google Ads experts, please ask your question here: https://support.google.com/google-ads/community?hl=en

Someone from our team will answer your questions.

If you continue to have questions, feel free to ask.

Also I think you are confused about what a Shopify Partner is.  If you like to learn what a partner is, I encourage you to read this: https://help.shopify.com/en/partners/about

[khamir]

So as you can see i've already set up the shipping which applies to all products.

However, the exception is the 'gift card' product. If i choose "filter products by..."

how do i add tags (that aren't in my feed) such that it does not apply these rates to the gift card product only?

[khamir]

also, i have 3 different rates..

and i need to ensure that they all exclude the gift card

[EmmanuelFlossie]

All items require shipping rates, even gift cards. If you don't want to advertise gift cards, don't list them in the feed.

I recommend you manually add the shipping rates using a supplement feed. Which would be the easiest way.

Supplement feed: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/7439058?hl=en

Shipping Attribute: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6324484

[Kevins]

***Fixed***

if you are getting this error "Missing sub-attribute [country (sub-attribute of [shipping])]"

I have fixed this by editing all products in Shopify:

-check mark to "This is a physical product" under SHIPPING

- PUT the weight in KG

-Fill the Country/Region of origin section also

please someone reply if it fixed your problem.

Thank you.

[audiodisciple]

@Kevins... Dude... I spent hours I can't get back trying to drill down on this issue... reading through verbose nonsense in both the Merchant Center and Shopify etc. etc.

This was the issue. THANK YOU.

All of the entries listed in Diagnostics for this error were missing the checkbox for "actual item." Once updated with weights etc., all cleared.

[FurnaceX]

I recommend you use Merchant Center's "Feed Rules" to configure your feed from Shopify.  Shopify support will be of no help. The Merchant Center Feed Rules are super flexible and powerful. They are a bit buried and take a little time to learn. But once you do, you will be fixing your Merchant Center errors quickly.

I was able to fix this particular issue ("Missing sub-attribute [country (sub-attribute of [shipping])]") in about 30 seconds with the simple rule shown below. No need to modify anything in shopify.

Further, I use feed rules to set things like color, sizes, gender, mpn, etc. etc. without bothering to update all the google fields within shopify. Feed rules are much faster and will apply automatically to future products.

Learn more about feed rules here: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/7450276?hl=en

p.s. @balticaudio, You are on the right track... Your Feed Rule isn't configured correctly.

[ZiZoouStore]

I use your guide and solve this issue.

Thank you so much.

[hdelara]

How long does it take to changes effect? I implemented the rule. In the "Final Attribute" it's already showing the country. Yet, the problem remains.

[David_J_Tyler]

Thanks, FurnaceX
Exactly what I was looking for and resolved my issues. I and the other posters below owe you a beer!

[VladS1]

Hello,

Thank you for the solution. This worked for me.

Kind Regards

[hdelara]

How long did it take for the changes to take effect?

[EmmanuelFlossie]

It takes half an hour.

If that is not the case, either you did something wrong, or the data is not re-processed.

You can reprocess data if you are using the free shopping app using the method here: https://feedarmy.com/kb/how-to-reprocess-content-api-in-google-merchant-center/

[hdelara]

Thank you very much! This indeed worked. 

What I was doing wrong: Country name must be in ISO 3166 2 -code (https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#search)

[Liz88]

I have activities like paragliding loaded as my products and have set my shipping to free shipping in google merchant and manual in the shopify app. 

Products are showing as active but I am  still getting a warning? What am I missing? 

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Wait at least half an hour, for Google Merchant Center to update. If its not updated, then most likely the shipping settings are incorrect.

Please also note you need to remove the feed shipping details, if you are using account settings. Feed data will always overwrite account settings.

[balticaudio]

Hi Emmanuel,

thanks for your simple instruction. 

I followed this and did everything as you described. That was last Thursday, unfortunately nothing has really changed.

I too sell digital products and have the issue "Missing sub-attribute [country (sub-attribute of [shipping])]".

Currently it looks like this for me:
Account settings (google):

Issue:

Product Info:

Feed Rules:

In addition, I have set the Shipping settings in Shopify to manual.

Any idea what else I need to do to make it work?

Best,

Henrik

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Make sure you have reprocessed the data, here is a guide: https://feedarmy.com/kb/how-to-reprocess-content-api-in-google-merchant-center/

[balticaudio]

Thanks for your quick answer.

I've followed that instruction and have successfully completed all steps, 15min ago. Nothing happens yet. Do I still have to wait or doesn't it work?

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Diagnostics take at least 30minutes to update. If nothing works, something went wrong with what you tried.

[balticaudio]

Well, as there is still no change, I will try to disconnect to Google Merchant, delete the products and the feed. After that I will try to reconnect with shipping set to manually. 

The problems is, that all products still have the shipping attributes "shipping price", "shipping weight" and "purchasable without shipping*"...

I don't have any idea anymore... 😞

[jabirhussain]

hi bro do you solve the problem??? because i need help, i also sell services but i have same error that you have Missing sub-attribute [country (sub-attribute of [shipping])]

[EmmanuelFlossie]

@jabirhussain services are not allowed on Google Shopping, reference: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6150006?hl=en

[Magicien]

Hello, did you manage to solve this?

All of my products are now declined because they are digital. 😕 I am clueless what to do.

[hdelara]

Yes, I solved! My products are all digital as well. Follow these steps:

1) Go to Google Merchant (https://merchants.google.com/)

2) On the left panel click Products > Feeds 

Sorry about image quality. I did this in a rush. Hope this can help.

[ZiZoouStore]

@Magicien Thanks for your help.

[RedDrumSEO]

Hey all,

I recently ran into this issue and decided to put a blog post together that walks you through the solution by creating a feed rule in your Google Merchant Center account. If you'd like, you can find out how to fix the sub-attribute [country (sub-attribute of [shipping])] issue here:

https://reddrumseo.com/missing-sub-attribute-country-sub-attribute-shipping-google-merchant-center/

[siroh_and_ivy]

Hey there, I know I'm coming in way late on this but I may have found an easy solution. I had 38 products not approved because of the missing country sub attribute. Implementing the following fix immediately made them approved. Just go to the YouTube video link below and this guys walks you through the simple fix. He shows you how to easily add a rule that sets the country as US if it is not submitted by your Shopify content API.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uNrJIrOQFA

He offers two methods. Skip to 2:33 for the method that worked for me.