Problem #1 - The “Connect a Google Merchant Center account” function, in the settings for the Google and YouTube sales channel does not allow me to connect my existing (long-standing) Google Merchant Center account. Why not?
Problem #2 - Using the only other option, “create new”… It automatically sets up an account under my personal email address. Which has absolutely nothing to do with my Shopify profile!
In other words… I have no idea how or why is picking up my personal email address!
Any clues as to why this is going on and how I can simply link my existing merchant center account?
Most likely you are using your personal email address to set up the app but this email does not have access to your Google Merchant Center account.
The email address that you are using to set up the Google & YouTube app - under Settings - that email address needs to have admin access to the Google Merchant Account.
If you already have a GMC account, do not create a new one, this will put you at great risk of getting suspended.
It is recommended that you use the same email everywhere. Consider using a business email address for both Shopify and GMC. You can add yourself as an admin in GMC.
Then wait a day or so, and try to link again. It should work.
I have been up and down the settings and cannot find where you can identify and/or change the email address pertaining to the Google and YouTube app. Also, I don’t see anything, anywhere in the Shopify settings that indicate that my personal email address is associated with my Shopify store and/or the Google & YouTube app.
Do you know how/where I can confirm and change these settings?
It’s wonderful that they allow you (a newby beginner at this) to so easily make such a grievous mistake!
In setting up my Shopify store/acct. I specifically and intentionally used only my business-related email. At no time did I enter anything regarding my personal email.
I have been up and down the settings and cannot find where you can identify and/or change the email address pertaining to the Google and YouTube app. Also, I don’t see anything, anywhere in the Shopify settings that indicate that my personal email address is associated with my Shopify store and/or the Google & YouTube app.
Do you know how/where I can confirm and change these settings?
It almost seems necessary to uninstall the app and start from scratch.
But, I’m not sure if that is wise either.
But, what bothers me about my previous setup attempt and any that I may try in the future, is that I am still baffled as to how my personal Gmail acct. came into the picture at all.
Nothing about my setup process involved my personal Gmail acct. whatsoever. I’m stumped!
Most likely if you ever logged in your personal account on your browser, it will remember this. It does not have to be associated with Shopify. Just anywhere when using Chrome.
A bit late to the problem, but adding a solution I had to a similar issue where I couldn’t connect to an existing GMC account. May not be exactly the same, but hoping it can help somebody.
Overview: needed to reconnect our GMC account but wasn’t seeing the option in Shopify. Our account was changed from a single tenant to multi-tenant account which look to have been causing connection issues. To reconnect, I took the steps below to be able to reconnect:
Open new GOogle Profile
Create separate Google profile/account
Give new profile admin access on child account/GMC account
Connect to GMC through this profile from Shopify (do not use your main Chrome profile).