We have a custom product that does not require the use of GTIN, MPN, BRAND. Based on the existing settings in Shopify it is not possible to send the product data from Shopify to Google Merchant Center in any way that allows for an approval. This creates suspensions that are difficult to understand and correct.
Error list:
Google Merchant Center: Limited performance due to missing identifiers: GTIN [gtin], MPN [mpn], brand [brand]
Google Merchant Center: Suspended account for policy violation
Google Merchant Center: Invalid text value [brand]
Google Merchant Center: Invalid text value [mpn]
Google Merchant Center: Invalid text value [gtin]
Shopify: Google Channel â There is an issue with one or more of your accounts
Shopify: Google Channel â Product Not approved
Shopify: Google Channel â Google has suspended your Merchant Center account. Visit settings for info.
Expected Behavior:
When we do not enter any value for GTIN [gtin], MPN [mpn], brand [brand] the SHOPIFY XML FEED via the API should send the following values:
CRITIAL: Tell us what rules should be in place in Google Merchant Center to correct this issue (see image below for the rules we are using)
IMPORTANT: Patch the Shopify GMC XML API to send the correct values according to Google SPEC
IMPORTANT: Add the following TEXT FIELD into the Shopify Google Channel popup: identifier_exists
Enhancement ideas and suggestions:
AWESOME:
Add overrides for ALL Google Product Data into the Shopify Google Channel popup
Example: [html input field] + [checkbox] âoverride valueâ for each of these: https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/7052112
HELPFUL:
Add an info box to âThis is a custom productâ checkbox that shows in Shopify Google Channel popup
disambiguate what that box is and does (provide documentation)
I Am based in South Africa and I am having the very same issue. My products went into expiration in 1 day and disappeared as if Google cannot see them at all let alone deny their approval..
I have managed to get my products back on to Google merchant center but it was long tedious process that I would not like to repeat.
There has to be some support from Shopify regarding this matter.
In Google Merchant Center feed rules, choose the option clear in the modification options for brand, mpn and gtin. I did not say, set the value to no.
The only value you want to set no to, is identifier_exists
Additionally, after you implement the rules. You need to wait till Shopify pushes all products again. Or alternatively force an update by adding a supplement feed, with only the IDs. This will then reprocess all content API data and feed rules.
Thank you for your reply. Alas, maybe the ârules have changedâ - take a look at the error we get when we set those items to âclearâ
Can you send a screenshot of the setting you are using in Google Merchant Center?
We have attempted the following combinations:
brand = empty in shopify (no rule in GMC)
mpn = empty in shopify (no rule in GMC)
gtin = empty in shopify (no rule in GMC)
identifier_exists = no (using rule in GMC)
request review, waited 3 days - returned error
brand = ââ [empty] (using rule in GMC)
mpn = ââ [empty] (using rule in GMC)
gtin = ââ [empty] (using rule in GMC)
identifier_exists = no
request review, waited 3 days - returned error
but⌠I am kind of horrified that this is the overly elaborate process in place here from Shopify to âpush a feedâ. I feel like that should be a button⌠because from a dev standpoint I have no problem with this, but I do not see how the âprimary demographicâ Shopify targets would ever accomplish this without releasing a lot of cortisol into their body in the form of stressâŚ
I was going through the solutions you have laid out here. New to linking our Shopify shop to GMC and like the rest, our items are disapproved.
I tried doing @EmmanuelFlossie instructions as it was the easiest to understand (brand, dtin, mpn > clear// identifier exists> no), just waiting on the results (How long will that take, btw?).
Did you get results yet @c_zagarskas ? And did it work?
None of the âonline solutionsâ posted anywhere actually worked
We could not wait any longer, we had already missed Black Friday (mind you we started in October)
We started SEM advertising (about $300 a day across FB and Google)
We could not use Google Shopping AdsâŚ
So we manually created all campaigns via traditional SEM setups (search, display, ectâŚ)
Once we had spent $3500 in Google Ads (after 10 days) Google took us âseriouslyâ enough* to assign a Google Ads Rep
Once we had a Google ADS rep and money was involved it still took us another 35 days to resolve the issue
Resolution:
NO IDEA.
Google told us it was Shopifyâs fault, Shopify said it was GoogleâŚ
Google said maybe its a bug, had us delete things, reconnect them, wait 7 days after EVERY ticketâŚ
chaos and confusion
After ALL that, we reconnected the store WITH a Google Merchant Center DEV team on a conference call
the error occurred again, they put is on hold, 5min later it âmagically workedâ as if there was never a problem. They would not tell us what was wrong and had the audacity to say âthere is no problemâ
Things to keep in mind:
Once you have 10 days of Google Ads SEM and have paid Google more than $3000 in Ads then Google will âassign a Google Ads repâ to your account - only way to get ârealâ support from Google
Google Merchant Center DEV team is not the same as âGoogle Supportâ what we had to go through to talk to them was difficult and stressful
Shopify NGAF across the board.
Shopify only did âpretend supportâ with tickets and âim sorry you have trouble. goodbyâ
Shopify gave us the brush off - support reps just told us to do the same things then closed the tickets or passed them to someone new who said the same things or made us explain ourselves over and over
Along the way I have made it crystal CLEAR what the problem is
Identifier EXISTS needs to be set to FALSE/NO
Shopify needs to create a way for us to do this
The ultimate solution is simple and elegant:
EVERY VALUE IN THE PRODUCT FEED should be editable within Shopify.
Thats it. Thatâs all that needs to be done. Just a few days of real coding by the dev team. Editable fields for every feed attribute value on a per product basis.
Hi Emmanuel - question for you on this one, if a brand is ongoing using the Google Sales channel, can this be updated in the feed, or would we need to use a feed manager like Datafeedwatch or similar? Because there is no such field in the manual import and export fields from Shopify. So in effect the main solutions to the error are:
Go to supplier to get GTIN
Create a barcode if there isnât one
Use a feed manager to update NO or FLASE to âidentifier_existsâ (which isnât an option to do manually in product import, but could be done with a feed manager (e.g feedarmy or datafeedwatchâŚetc)
I do not fully understand your question, but here is the general rule.
If a manufacturer has assigned a barcode then you are required to add this info in the GTIN field. Alongside the brand value with identifier exists to yes.
If the manufacturer has not assigned a barcode, then remove the values brand, mpn and gtin and set identifier exists to no.
