Merchant Centre - Misrepresentation

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

A merchant has been struggling for 3 months with a Google Merchant Centre misrepresentation issue for their site inmykitchen.co.uk. Google’s support has been unhelpful, providing only generic copy-paste responses without identifying specific problems.

Key Issues Identified:

  • Missing business details (address, email, phone, hours) in footer and contact page
  • Product page layout problems: description and shipping info positioned above add-to-cart button instead of below
  • Potentially suspicious reviews: 1,150 reviews on a 4-month-old website raises red flags for Google
  • Missing stock status indicators on product pages

Recommended Actions:

  • Add complete business information across all pages
  • Restructure product page layout
  • Review Google Merchant Center policies and guidelines (multiple resource links provided)

The merchant acknowledged the feedback and plans to implement these changes. The issue remains unresolved but now has a clearer action plan.

Summarized with AI on November 2. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

After 3 months I’m still at the Merchant Centre misrepresentation stage, I’ve spent endless evenings changing things, updating, removing, double checking and still no nearer to fixing it. Google are no help, they simply cut and paste the same message into an email to me every time i try and ask what the actual problem is and ask if they can tell me. We all know how unhelpful they are and here I still am. Am looking for an expert who can help me as you can imagine I’m at a dead end and the most frustrated I’ve ever been in my whole life!. My site is inmykitchen.co.uk

Thank You

2

I recommend you add your business details in the footer of all pages (address, email, phone, business hours, business name)

And also add this on your contact page.

Do not add the description and shipping & returns above teh add to cart button. It should be below.

The reviews look fake. Your website is just 4 months old and you have 1150 reviews, that seems unreal. Google will not approve businesses that mislead users.

Of course if they are real, then nothing to worry about.

Missing in or out of stock on the product landing page.

You will have more issues, so make sure to check the policies and guides below:

https://support.google.com/google-ads/community-guide/304792695
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6150127
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6363310/follow-the-merchant-center-guidelines
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/7052112
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/4752265
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/13693865
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6149970
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/9158778
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6150244
https://support.google.com/google-ads/community-guide/241068758

3

Thank You so much, valid points there, will apply those pointers asap and let you know how I get on, thanks again :slightly_smiling_face: