Google Merchant center Suspension Misrepresentation

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Topic summary

A merchant received a Google Merchant Center suspension for misrepresentation after leaving placeholder text on their website following a theme change. Despite removing the text and appealing, the suspension persisted.

Core Issue Identified:
The primary problem appears to be using a print-on-demand (POD) business model. Google’s policies require merchants to physically stock finished products ready for immediate shipping. POD violates this requirement since products are manufactured only after orders are placed.

Recommended Solutions:

  • Complete product field data in Google Channel (gender, descriptions, all available attributes)
  • Use correct policy page links from Settings > Policies rather than Online Store > Pages
  • Build trust signals through customer reviews and professional website presentation
  • Consider stocking finished products instead of relying solely on POD

Key Limitations:

  • POD stores fundamentally cannot use Google Shopping ads due to inventory policy violations
  • Other Google ad formats (text, display, YouTube) remain available
  • Google provides minimal specific feedback on misrepresentation issues
  • Multiple merchants report repeated suspensions despite following guidelines

Status: The discussion remains open with ongoing frustration about Google’s lack of transparency and the challenges POD/dropshipping businesses face with Merchant Center approval.

Summarized with AI on October 28. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
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Keeping stock, refers to physically holding the finished products in your hand. IE, having stock stored, ready for shipping when the item is ordered.

Printify, does not keep stock of the finished products, thus a violation of the previous mentioned policy.