How to update identifier_exists through Shopify ?

[user072319]

Hello there,

We've activated Google Shopping shopify app for our store a month ago. In Google Merchant Center > Products  > Diagnostics , we're getting warning like Limited performance due to missing identifiers [gtin, mpn, brand]

To fix this error, how to update identifier_exists for the products which gives this warning?  How to bulky update the products identifier_exists as we've to update 5000+ products? (If we've to do it via excel upload, what is the column name and value we've to provide?)

Any help would be appreciated. 

[EmmanuelFlossie]

From other merchants, I have read that you can no long bulk upload Google Shopping related data.

To resolve the issue, make sure to add a bar code and brand value in Shopify.

If you don't have this, go to Google Merchant Center > Products > Feeds > click on the feed > feed rules.

Now add a feed rule to set identifier exists to the value no

More info: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/7450276?hl=en

[viky]

How long does it take for that error to go away?

[EmmanuelFlossie]

 If you have added the data correctly, within 24 hours. If its not added within 24 hours, then something went wrong. You should contact the app support team you are using.

[viky]

It worked. Thank you

[RuthO]

This is really helpful, thank you!

Should the feed rule be set to:

Idenifier_exists set to "no", or set to "false"? Is there a difference?

Thank you in advance.

[EmmanuelFlossie]

False is the original value, last year Google changed it to no (I guess to save a few bytes of data)

You can use both currently, however, I would set it to no as this is the new updated guideline.

Reference: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6324478

[melOn-Design]

I have literally spent all day going around in circles, from 'link to link' to work this out and I wanted to help people save time and unnecessary stress!

First of all.....STOP searching in Shopify and head over to your Google merchant centre account, go to the left hand menu and click 'feeds'.

If you sell custom products and don't have a clue about 'feeds', gtin's / mpn's etc. then here's how to get rid of the 'missing identifiers' error you're probably seeing at the bottom of your product diagnostics page.

(this is for anyone who has linked their store to Google from Shopify, (added as a sales channel), which automatically uploads all your products using 'content API').....I'm not sure if you will have the same options if you've uploaded your products one by one, sorry!

1. Click on the content API link under 'feed name'

2. There you will find the elusive 'feed rules' menu....click!

3. Click the blue + button to create new feed rule

4. Choose processed attributes

5. Scroll down to choose 'identifier exists' and set to 'no'

6. Then click 'save as draft' and click test, (or apply if test doesn't work) *

* For me, the 'test' didn't work, so after waiting approx 10 mins, I tried again, still didn't work....so after another few mins, I clicked 'apply', waited 10 mins, went to back to feeds - content API - feed rules - and your new attribute rule should be there, set to no!

To check it worked properly, go back to your product diagnostics in the left hand menu....and voila! your error message should be gone 🙂

I really hope this helped.....as it has driven me crazy for the last couple of months, but today was the day to sort it out!!!! 

(I think the last 2 steps in the screenshots might be the wrong way around, but I ran out of brain cells by the time I realised, hope it still makes sense) 🙂

Good Luck,

Mel xx

[daron76]

What about if you have only a few custom products and you want to set identifier exist to NO only for those custom products and not for the entire feed?Thank you!

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Either use feed rules to target these specific products: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/7450276?hl=en

Or create a supplement feed: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/7439058?hl=en

[tonybabel]

Hi Mei,

I followed your steps and created the feed rule.  However those warnings did not go away 1 hours after applying the changes.  I refreshed the merchant center pages many times still no luck.     Any steps did I miss?  Thank you!

[EmmanuelFlossie]

As of July, certain products regardless if you remove product identifiers, still require product identifiers. Which categories these are, I don't know but you would see the limited performance warning, if you still have no brand, mpn and gtin, and have set identifier exists to no.

You can check what you did in Products > All Products > click on a product > check the final attributes.

[tonybabel]

Hi  EmmanuelFlossie, 

Thanks for replying!  I had two warnings before I set feed rule " identifier exists to no":

warning #1   Limited peformance  due to missing identifiers [gtin,mpn,brand] 

warning #2  Limited performance due to missing value [gtin]

After setting " identifier exists to no" and resynced products to google via content API,  warning #1 is gone but warning #2 still persists.   

I wonder what's the difference between the two warnings?   How do I fix the second warning?   Will "Account isn't eligible for enhanced free listings" error gone after I fix the second warning?

Thank you very much!

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Number two is most likely because you have products in a category that requires barcodes. Nothing you can do to resolve that other than submitting barcodes. If you don't have any, then not much can be done and you have to accept the limitations.

Enhanced listings is connected to submitting accurate product identifiers, so if you don't have valid data, you will not be eligible for free listings.

[aburak256]

Hi, I have a similar problem with Google Merchant Store. I am selling Aquarium Filters and I think this is one of the categories that require GTIN barcodes.

2 weeks of time after I submitted my products to Merchant Store, products are still pending with GTIN warnings. Even though I set products as custom on Shopify Google app, data on Merchant Store says that the API posted identifier_exist as true, so Google tries to search for a barcode at this situation. When I add a rule for it to change identifier_exist to false, then it says This item has an internationally recognized, unique identifier. Submit a valid GTIN, and either set this value to true or remove this value. So how can I solve this problem, is deleting the product category is going to solve this problem? I am selling these products on Amazon and my own store too, can I use the ASIN number for this?

Or there is no way for me to list my products on the Google Merchant Store?

[EmmanuelFlossie]

First double check with the manufacturer, that these products indeed have no bar codes, and also check the packaging of the products, there should be a bar code.

If so, fill out the required data. (Brand+GTIN)

If the products don't have a barcode, remove brand, mpn and gtin values, and set identifier exists to no. Double check what the results are of your rules by going to Google Merchant Center > Products > all products > click on your product > scroll to the bottom and view the final attributes.

If there is no brand, mpn and gtin, and identifier is false or no. And Google complains, then most likely there are valid barcodes in existence as otherwise Google would not complain.

[khamir]

This is hugely helpful. I've spent a long time trying to figure this out with google and shopify and just went in circles.

Followed the steps as suggested but the test got stuck at 50% at which point i just applied it.

Now, the problem i was trying to solve for was how to get approved products published. 

The steps which you explained were the ones google's content api team suggested i take. Now that i've done that, when can i expect the products to get published assuming i've gone about it correctly?

Also, in my previous (failed) attempt to do this i ended up creating something which i can't seem to get rid of..

Will this be an issue?

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Click on all other attributes, when a new page opens, delete the supplement feed.

[khamir]

Started here and clicked on the All attributes..

[image: image.png]

When i attempt to delete it by click on the dustbin icon in the right
corner...

[image: image.png]

This is what i see and am forced to save it as a draft...

[image: image.png]

which brings me back to this previous page..

[image: image.png]
and upon discarding the draft i'm back to square one..

[image: image.png]

What should i be doing differently?

[EmmanuelFlossie]

None of your images are showing.

[khamir]

yup...just learnt that hitting the reply button in the email to post a message doesn't post the images. Just posted here on the forum directly and you should be able to see the images.

[khamir]

Oops...looks like the images didn't come through..sharing them here based on the sequence of screens i see..

1. Click on All attributes

2. Trash icon only offers 'save as draft' option or cancel the whole step

3. Saving as draft brings me back here where i choose the 'discard' option

4. Which brings me back to square one

[EmmanuelFlossie]

You always need to save as draft, then after simply click on apply draft and your gold.

[khamir]

This is simply fascinating. Managed to delete as you suggested.

I'm wondering how come google's support on phone/chat/faq/search couldn't tell me about this one last step.

Finally done....phewwww!!!!

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Because Google support does not use their own tools as you and I. They tend to read scripts, and answer based on the provided scripts.

If you have questions, simply ask the community, the answers tend to be from experience, rather than scripts.

https://support.google.com/google-ads/community?hl=en

[khamir]

It's been 3 days since i made the changes but i continue to see...

Is that normal? Can i ask Google to re-crawl my site or is it a wait-n-watch scenario from here on?

[EmmanuelFlossie]

You need to contact Shopify support, or use a different data feed app.

[melOn-Design]

Hi,

Glad it helped you 🙂

I have just created a test feed to see how it would be deleted, (screenshot attached)......I hope this helps.

Thank you @EmmanuelFlossie 🙂

[ABCC]

I just wanted to say "Thank you so very much". I have been on numerous emails with shopify and google. A month after adding all of my products, I am still listed as a "Parked Domain" because my products are not uploaded to google. I can't upload them until google approves them so the whole mess is just frustrating. I was about to pay a shopify expert $115.00 per hour for help, knowing that it was most likely something simple but also something that google was unwilling to help me with. I just kept getting pre-made responses and no one has called me as requested in two weeks. I found your post this morning and in ten minutes my problem is fixed. OMG! I can't believe it. You saved my bank account and my sanity.

Much appreciated

Cathy

[melOn-Design]

Hey Cathy,

You're very welcome......I'm so glad this helped you....I was literally tearing my hair out with it.

I'm glad I stopped you spending a small fortune too!

This made my day, so thank you so much for letting me know.

Mel :O)

[Roxee541]

This solution actually works. Thanks MelOn-Design! I have been wrestling with this for a several weeks now as over 600 of our products were limited by this issue. So, I created the supplemental feed for Content API for 'identifier exists' and set it to 'no', went ahead and just applied it, checked back about 20 minutes later and those 600 products are off the list! Wa-la!

[melOn-Design]

@Roxee541 

Yaaaaay! I'm so happy to hear this helped you....my head was about to explode, so I feel you! 🙈

Have a great Christmas and relax knowing you're all set 🎄😃

[MidCenturyStyle]

A million thank you MelOn-Design!!!! This solution worked flawlessly, the first time, even the test! It took a long time to go through but I waited it out. Then clicked apply and it's done! I had to fuzzle around a bit to find everything but these issues were all solved! Thank you so much for helping me in this maddening e-commerce world.