How to fix Google Shopping GTIN error for antique coins?

Shopify Apps

Topic summary

A Shopify merchant selling antique coins encountered Google Merchant Center errors due to missing GTIN (barcode) identifiers, which antique products typically lack.

Solution Provided:

  • Use Google Merchant Center feed rules to set “identifier_exists” to “no” instead of submitting brand/GTIN/MPN
  • Set product condition to “used” (not “new”) since coins are antiques
  • Process the feed after applying rules to ensure changes take effect

Additional Issues Resolved:

  • Account suspension occurred because “Buy on Google” doesn’t accept used products
  • Fix: Disable “Buy on Google” in feed settings while keeping Shopping Ads and Free Listings active
  • Products flagged as adult content: Use feed rules to add “adult” attribute set to “yes”

Key Resources Shared:

  • Official Google documentation on products without identifiers
  • Step-by-step video tutorial on feed rule implementation
  • Guide for reprocessing Content API feeds

The merchant successfully resolved the initial GTIN error and suspension. Later discussion involved clarifying feed processing steps and setting up adult content attributes for coin products.

Summarized with AI on November 19. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
4

Hey Emmanuel,

Thank you for your quick response! I just completed the steps in your video and liked + subscribed to your channel!

However now I am facing an issue with my account being suspended by google merchant due to my products being “Used or Refurbished” and then imported into the Buy Now Google Listings which violates there policy.

Is there a way for me to filter the data feed from Shopify to only direct to the Free Listings in my Merchant account to keep my account from being suspended? ( I assume if I delete then in GMC now they will just repopulate when the next pull occurs)

Thank you so much for your help!!