My google search consol show some issue.
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.
Topic summary
Issue: Google Search Console flags missing ‘hasMerchantReturnPolicy’ and ‘shippingDetails’ fields in product structured data as non-critical warnings.
Key Solutions Offered:
-
Google Merchant Center approach: Configure shipping and returns policies directly in Merchant Center rather than structured data. Google automatically pulls this information for Rich Results when products are connected via identifiers. This is Google’s recommended method since shipping rates change frequently.
-
Structured data approach: Manually add the missing fields to product markup using schema.org properties. Code example provided for hasMerchantReturnPolicy including return window, method, and fees.
Important Clarifications:
- Search Console doesn’t communicate with Merchant Center, so warnings may persist even when policies are properly configured in Merchant Center.
- If data exists in Merchant Center, adding it to structured data is redundant and unnecessary.
- Google prioritizes Merchant Center feeds over structured data when both exist.
- Creating policy pages in Shopify Settings > Policy and linking them in the footer may help, though this addresses different requirements.
Status: Multiple users seeking implementation help for their specific stores. Discussion remains open with ongoing requests for assistance.
1 Like
Hi, could you share your store URL? Did you create policies pages within Settings > Policy? If not, please do so. Once you’ve done that, it’s best to link them in the footer as “helpful or quick links” or somewhere globally visible. Google is likely searching for these pages under your property and doesn’t find them.
Thanks for your reply. I am setup the policy page shipping and return.
Here is the link: themodernheritage.com
Please check it and give a solution.
Resubmit your sitemap to Google and wait a few days since it’s not critical.
Hey @rupa-biswas
Google will automatically pull the shipping and returns information from Merchant Center and it’s actually their recommendation to use Merchant Center. They do this by connecting the structured data with your product feeds via the product identifiers. From there, they’ll be able to include the shipping and returns information in Rich Results.
Search Console however doesn’t talk to Merchant Center so you end up receiving emails saying the fields are missing and it shows up in the Rich Results testing tools.
You can configure the delivery information in Merchant Center using this doc or there is a setting in the Google Sales channel to automatically pull it from Shopify.
You can configure the returns information in Merchant Center using this doc.
I recently published an article on the new setting in the Google app for Shopify that allows you to configure if Merchant Center uses what’s in Shopify shipping, or defaults to Merchant Center. Search Console still won’t know either way, but I expect Google to soon detect that it’s been set up so you don’t have to add it to your structured data.
Either way, you don’t have to enter it into your structured data for Search Console because Merchant Center is easier to manage. Even Google says that adding the data to your structured data can be very difficult because shipping rates change so frequently:
"Alternative approach to configuring shipping and return settings with Google
Retailer shipping policies can get complicated and may change frequently. If you’re having trouble indicating and keeping your shipping and return details up-to-date with markup and have a Google Merchant Center account, consider configuring your shipping settings and return policies in Google Merchant Center Help. "
You can modify your structured data by adding (change what you need):
"hasMerchantReturnPolicy": {
"@type": "MerchantReturnPolicy",
"applicableCountry": "US",
"returnPolicyCategory": "https://schema.org/MerchantReturnFiniteReturnWindow",
"merchantReturnDays": 7,
"returnMethod": "https://schema.org/ReturnByMail",
"returnFees": "https://schema.org/FreeReturn"
},
Could you make it for my site I got both issues of Missing field ‘shippingDetails’ (in ‘offers’) and Missing field ‘hasMerchantReturnPolicy’ (in ‘offers’).
And my site was www.grabnpay.in
I need to update shippping policy too ?
You can modify the code above, if you are not well versed in editing coding. Then best to contact your theme developer, or someone who can do this for you.
Please note, that you don’t need this, if the info is already available in Google Merchant Center.
No you don’t, the shipping policy on your website, has nothing to do with structured data HasMerchantReturnPolicy And ShippingDetails
I need an help to solve those following indexing to my GSC as pic i included below , Please kindly help me to validate it
and
How should I solve this if i make validate it shows like fig 1
Please remember, that if you have setup your shipping and returns policy in Google Merchant Center, then there is no need to set this up again in the structured data. However, if you feel the need, then follow this guide: https://feedarmy.com/kb/shopify-microdata-for-google-shopping/
Regarding your Search Console can not validate, I don’t know the issue.
Could you make it for my site i got both issues of Missing field ‘shippingDetails’ (in ‘offers’) and Missing field ‘hasMerchantReturnPolicy’ (in ‘offers’)
And my site is: https://www.mushq.pk/
Please remember that there is no point adding the returns policy and shipping details in structured data, as it is only used in Google Merchant Center. And if you have already added it in Google Merchant Center, then nothing will change.
So essentially what I am saying is, the extra work to get the optional attributes added, will not yield anything different. So a bit of a waste of time.
there is no point adding the returns policy and shipping details in structured data, as it is only used in Google Merchant Center
That’s not accurate. The shipping and returns markup is also used on organic Rich Results.
One can enter the data in Merchant Center which is then used for both their ads and organic results. If you enter that data in Merchant Center, it’s not required in structured data.
Not everyone can use Merchant Center so it may still be important to add shipping and returns structured data but it’s not required.
There is however an order to which one Google will use first. From Google’s docs:
Here’s what takes precedence for shipping and return policy information (ordered by strength, with feeds being the strongest):
- Product-level feeds submitted in Merchant Center
- Return settings in the Content API for Shopping
- Settings in Merchant Center or Search Console
- Product-level merchant listing markup
- Organization-level markup
@ilanadavis Unfortunately that is not correct regarding returns policy.
Returns policies, can only be added in GMC setttings, not product level. Content API is also not applicable, as all it does is submit the policy in the GMC settings.
Feed level returns policy also does not exist.
The only way you can add returns policy is in the GMC settings.
Or in the structured data.
Regarding shipping, that is correct.
I have the same problem now. My domain is https://vashoy.com/ Can you help to give a solution as well?