Fixing Google Merchant Center Suspensions: Feed Audits, Tax, & Shipping Setups
A Google Merchant Center (GMC) suspension can halt your shopping and performance campaigns. Suspensions are often triggered by data mismatches or policy violations. We outline a systematic feed audit process to help you resolve these issues and restore your campaigns.
1. Common Suspension Triggers: Misrepresentation and Policy Mismatches
Google enforces strict policies to ensure shopping listings are accurate. Common triggers for account suspension include 'Misrepresentation of self or product' (e.g., hidden costs at checkout), mismatched pricing between your product feed and store page, and incomplete contact information on your website.
2. Step 1: Auditing Your Product Feed Data
Export your product feed and audit key attributes. Ensure that pricing, availability (in-stock vs. out-of-stock), and product titles match the details on your product pages. Address any discrepancies to resolve feed errors.
3. Step 2: Configuring Tax and Shipping Options
Verify that tax and shipping rates in GMC match the calculations at your checkout. Google flags mismatches if the checkout price exceeds the feed price, making accurate rate mapping essential.
- Ensure clear return policy and contact links are in your footer
- Align feed pricing with product page schema values
- Configure fallback flat-rate shipping options to handle edge cases