Google Merchant Center Suspension Prevention Checklist for Shopify
Run through this checklist before submitting your Shopify store to Google Merchant Center to avoid painful suspensions.
Quick Answer
Prevent Google Merchant Center suspensions by auditing your Shopify store against this checklist: verify your business identity, complete all policy pages (Contact, About, Shipping, Returns), and ensure your feed data perfectly matches your landing pages.
1. Business Identity Checklist
- Business name in Merchant Center matches your legal entity.
- Business address in Merchant Center matches your Shopify settings.
- Customer service email and phone number are verified.
2. Contact Page Checklist
- Dedicated "Contact Us" page exists and is linked in the footer.
- Contains at least two of: email, phone, physical address.
- Does not rely solely on a generic contact form.
3. About Page Checklist
- Explains the history of the business.
- Uses real photos of the team, office, or products (no stock photos).
4. Shipping Policy Checklist
- Linked prominently in the footer.
- Clearly states handling times and transit times.
- Explains shipping costs and methods.
- Discloses where products ship from.
5. Return Policy Checklist
- Linked prominently in the footer.
- Specifies the exact return window (e.g., 30 days).
- Explains who pays for return shipping.
- Details any restocking fees.
6. Privacy Policy Checklist
- Generated and customized via Shopify.
- Linked in the footer.
7. Product Feed Checklist
- All required attributes are mapped (title, description, price, link, image).
- GTINs are provided for manufactured goods, or identifier_exists is false.
8. Image Checklist
- Primary images have no watermarks, logos, or promotional text.
- Primary images have a solid white or light background.
9. Price & Availability Checklist
- Prices on the site match the feed exactly (beware of currency converters).
- Out-of-stock items are accurately reflected in the feed.
- Automatic Item Updates are enabled in Merchant Center.
10. Appeal Evidence Checklist
- Business registration documents ready.
- Utility bill matching business address ready.
- Supplier invoices ready (if dropshipping or reselling).
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Already suspended? Request a Recovery Audit from FeedIQO.