BUG REPORT: Google Merchant Center Shipping mismatch suspension when Priority Mail is not available

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

A merchant is experiencing Google Merchant Center suspensions due to a shipping mismatch bug, despite their Shopify checkout functioning correctly.

The Core Issue:

  • Google Merchant Center tests products using Priority Mail shipping options, even when Priority Mail is not offered for those products
  • When GMC detects these “imaginary violations” (which never occur in actual Shopify checkouts), it suspends both the Merchant Center account and Google Ads
  • The merchant has provided screencast evidence demonstrating the bug

Business Impact:

  • Complete suspension of Google Ads for all products
  • Operations shut down over a non-existent problem
  • Shopify handles shipping rules correctly, but Google ignores this and suspends the account anyway

Current Status:

  • The merchant has an open support ticket with Google
  • Another user (EmmanuelFlossie) suggests verifying that GMC shipping prices match checkout prices, then contacting Google support with complete details
  • Recommendation to escalate through the Google Ads community forum if direct support contact fails

The discussion remains open and unresolved, with the merchant seeking others who may have experienced similar suspensions.

Summarized with AI on November 20. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

This was quite a mystery to us for a while:

  • TLDR - research and trying to understand the issue:
    https://www.screencast.com/t/ghz5RkWtyH
    Google Merchant Center is using Priority mail options to “test” our products in cases where we do NOT offer Priority mail, when it finds “imaginary violations” (that would never occur IRL and do not occur in Shopify) we get unfairly suspended both in Google Merchant Center and Google Ads.

  • We can demonstrate proof of this bug here:
    https://www.screencast.com/t/SSXeek4tgkk

We have a ticket open, but if you have any of these suspensions, then this may be the droid you are looking for.

Google Merchant Center Shipping Mismatch Suspension

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Your Merchant Center Account Has Been Suspended - email

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Thy mysterious “prices”

Value on the landing page [this means shopify checkout page]

Value in the data feed [we think google picks this, randomly, for Priority mail when it does not apply]

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THE BUG

This “First Class Package” option is NOT AVAIALBE ON THIS PRODUCT

Shopify handles this correctly, but Google ignores this rule and “suspends” us.

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THE END RESULT: Google Ads Suspension of ALL products.

Shutting down our whole eCommerce operation over a NON EXISTANT problem.

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2

If you have verified visually that the product shipping prices in GMC matches the shipping prices in the checkout.

Then contact Google support and demonstrate the details. Make sure to explain it simply but complete.

If you can not contact them. Then please create a thread here: https://support.google.com/google-ads/community?hl=en

Please add your case id. and full details. I will need to see your full URL as I would like to test it myself. So I can forward your case to our CMs and they can escalate it for you.