Google Search Results: Missing field 'hasMerchantReturnPolicy' (in 'offers')

Topic summary

A Shopify store owner encountered a Google Search Console warning about a missing ‘hasMerchantReturnPolicy’ field in their structured data for product offers.

Resolution provided:

  • This is a non-critical issue that won’t prevent products from appearing in search results
  • If return policies are already configured in Google Merchant Center, adding them to structured data is unnecessary
  • Most Shopify users input data via apps rather than web crawlers, making this field redundant
  • Optional coding solutions exist for those who want to add it manually, though not recommended as an extra step

Follow-up question:
The original poster also asked about setting up Google store ratings in Merchant Center, sharing multiple screenshots of configuration attempts.

Additional guidance:

  • Google Customer Reviews doesn’t work with standard pixels and requires specific script implementation
  • Third-party review platforms (Loox, Judge.me, Reviews.io) were suggested as alternatives for collecting and displaying customer reviews
Summarized with AI on November 6. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

Hi Shopify friends,

I have this same issue appear from my Google search console about my website: Vibehome.co.uk for ages but always dismissed it as it appears to be to technical for me and if I did try I would end up causing more problems.

Anyone know if this is worth fixing and if its fixable is it a big task?

Any support would be greatly appreciated :grinning_face:

  • screenshot attached of the error message -

  • Error message:

’ Missing field ‘hasMerchantReturnPolicy’ (in ‘offers’)
This is a non-critical issue. Items with these issues are valid, but could be presented with more features or be optimised for more relevant queries ’

Learn more

If you have added your returns policy in Google Merchant Center, than it is not needed to add it again in your structured data. This is designed for users who use the webcrawler as a data input, while most Shopify users, will use an app. And add the shipping and returns policy directly in Google Merchant Center.

So the option fields return policy or shipping is not needed to be added in your structured data.

However if you do want to add it, regardless, I do have some coding for this, but again, it’s an unnecessary step.

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Thank you Emmanuel for the info. Its greatly appreciated

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@EmmanuelFlossie Do you know anything about setting up store rating on google merchant - I have had this message show up and i’ve spent hours trying but no joy.

I do have a setup, however this is just for additional scripts, the google customer reviews does not work with pixels: https://feedarmy.com/kb/install-google-customer-reviews-in-shopify/

For now, maybe use a 3rd party such as loox, judgeme, reviews.io they are all pretty good.

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