Google Shopping Channel - GTIN?

[Fiona_Duong]

Hi, I have provided as much information as I could to my products in the Google Shopping channel but the error 'Barcode GTIN missing: GTIN is required for this product.' is always present. I have put in UPC/EAN codes for the items I have in stock in products and these are located under 'SKU'.

Is this possibly the wrong label and column to put them in for Google to not recognize these barcodes? There was another label called 'barcode' too.

And for the changes to take place, will it take a few days for Google to recheck?

Thank you.

[Josh_Uebergang]

If your products do not have a GTIN, you need to ensure the identifier_exists field is false which will skip the GTIN requirement. If your products do have a GTIN, then enter it in the barcode field.

[Fiona_Duong]

Hi Joshua, thanks for responding!

My products do have a GTIN (we sell shoes and accessories). For those products without available stock, I can see the google merchant center still picks them up and says I need the barcodes/GTIN.

Is it possible to let google know the variant is not available so I don't have to put a barcode in or is it something to ignore?

[EmmanuelFlossie]

If the manufacturer has not assigned a barcode to the products, then do not submit a value in GTIN, MPN and Brand. And tick the box next to custom product. More info: https://help.shopify.com/manual/sell-online/google-shopping/adding-product-data

For some brands, if you send the brand name and mpn, then Google may require additional info such as a barcode. This can happen when Google has identified that other merchants have submitted a barcode.

Hope this helps.

[Fiona_Duong]

For some brands, if you send the brand name and mpn, then Google may require additional info such as a barcode. This can happen when Google has identified that other merchants have submitted a barcode.

Hi Emmanuel,

This makes sense. Most product we sell do have barcodes which I am currently in the process of scanning into each Shopify product. GMC picks up on variants without inventory saying they need barcodes, but because we sold out, there is no barcode to scan. What can I do with these errors?

Screenshot of an example product here with missing barcodes: https://s33.postimg.cc/6086fg71b/Screen_Shot_2018-06-26_at_3.39.34_PM.png

[EmmanuelFlossie]

I recommend you remove them from the data feed until you have them back in stock and then you can scan it and resubmit it. Some data feed management tools allow you to delete specific products from the feed.

Alternatively, you can contact the manufacturer and ask for a spreadsheet. Some are very happy to provide this data.

Hope this helps.

[Carol_Yeh]

Hi there,.. I'm having a somewhat related issue.

All my products have GTIN (UPCs) and I've inputted them. They were propagating to GMC and my Shopping ads just fine, up until May 28th. Then about 1/3 of them became invalid with the error "Policy violations: Product data GTIN requirements" - which is super strange since they were all fine for several years before. 

Any thoughts on what the issue might be?? TIA!

[EmmanuelFlossie]

1) Review the data you submitted for the ones that are in violation. Go to Google Merchant Center > Products > Lists > click on the specific product > scroll down and check final attributes.

Make sure you have correct values for Brand, GTIN and set  Identifier Exists to yes.

Hope this helps.

[Fiona_Duong]

Hi Emmanuel,

I went through the GMC product list to check one product's final attributes. I can see that the brand is there, but I cannot find the GTIN number listed there (this variant has a barcode already inputted) and Identifier Exists is No. 

Where can I change Identifier Exists to be Yes? 

Here is a screenshot of the Final attributes I have for a shoe. https://ibb.co/nMjxPJ

[EmmanuelFlossie]

Hi Fiona, depending on your data feed system, you need to check the documentation or contact support. Some applications or data feed management systems will allow you to easily change this, but as there are hundreds of tools out there you need to contact the support team or developer of the tool you are using.

Hope this helps.

[Fiona_Duong]

Hi Emmanuel,

I am using Shopify's Google Shopping Feed (version 2). I think it's very limited in what information you can add/change. Should I contact Shopify to ask about this?

[EmmanuelFlossie]

In the old one, there was an option to set product has product identifiers, but would not know where this is in the new one, so yes contact Shopify, they will be able to assist.

[ecompro]

Thanks

[Joanna11]

@Josh_Uebergang  You wrote :If your products do not have a GTIN, you need to ensure the identifier_exists field is false which will skip the GTIN requirement.

 How to do it?

 My products  are hand made and do not have GTIN. 

All the best,

Ewa

[Josh_Uebergang]

If you're using Shopify's Google channel, you have to check that it's a custom product:

[Joanna11]

@Josh_Uebergang  I have that, from long time. 

But In merchant cennter support  told me my products are not having  GTIN/MPN.

I told them my products are hand made. They wrote me back-  I need to change  it for "False" or "No" .

What is wrong then? 

[Josh_Uebergang]

Look at the product data inside Merchant Center. That will tell you exactly what is being submitted to Shopify. If identifier_exists is set to true and you've got that checked with the Shopify app, then contact Shopify support and report the bug.

[LiLi-5]

Hi Josh,

I am having the same issue, 2 years later.

Do you know where I can find this field, to mark the GTIN as not required?>

Many thanks, LiLi

[Bikes-Angel]

I realize this is an old thread but.... There is NO  identifier Exists  within the google channel info on shopify.  This is driving me crazy  All my products are custom google keeps telling me my gtin is missing.  😞  I'm pulling out my hair with all of this.  

[Bikes-Angel]

this does not work  All of my items are marked custom  true and google is still telling me that my gtin is missing!!!!!!