Running a WordPress store and trying to get your products listed on Google Shopping? Then you’ve probably crossed paths with Google Merchant Center — and maybe also wanted to throw your laptop when it threw yet another confusing error your way.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
GMC can feel like a picky gatekeeper, but once you understand what it wants (and how to give it that), things start to click. This guide breaks down the most common issues WordPress and WooCommerce users face — and more importantly, how to fix them without pulling your hair out.
So, What Exactly is Google Merchant Center?
Think of Google Merchant Center as your digital product catalog for Google. You upload your product info — like title, price, image, availability — and GMC shares it with Google Shopping, search results, YouTube ads, and more.
But it’s not a “set it and forget it” situation. Google wants super clean, accurate data. If something’s off, even just a missing price or the wrong image size, it can block your products from showing.
Why WordPress Users Run Into So Many GMC Errors
If you’re using WordPress and WooCommerce, you’re likely relying on plugins to create your product feed — that’s the file Google uses to get all your product info.
But here’s the catch:
- Not all plugins are set up correctly by default
- Themes and other plugins can interfere with data
- Caching tools can serve outdated info
- Or… sometimes your data just isn’t in the right format
Bottom line: little things can trip up Google — and it doesn’t exactly explain itself in plain English.
Let’s go over the biggest issues you might see in GMC and how to fix them step by step.
1. Product Feed Errors
What’s happening: Your product feed file (XML or CSV) gets rejected or shows a bunch of red warnings.
Why it’s happening: Google expects certain fields (like title, price, image_link, etc.) and a specific format. If your plugin misses anything, you’ll get errors.
Fix it:
- Use a plugin like CTX Feed or Product Feed PRO (they’re both great and free to start with).
- Double-check that all required fields are included.
- Test your feed with Google’s Feed Testing Tool.
- Set it to update daily so your feed always reflects your real store info.
2. Disapproved Products
What’s happening: Some products are uploaded but aren’t showing — or they’re marked “disapproved.”
Why it’s happening: Usually because of missing info like availability, brand, or product identifiers.
Fix it:
- Head to your Merchant Center dashboard → Products → Diagnostics.
- Check the reason under “Item issues” (they actually do explain it, just in a Google-ish way).
- Update the info in WooCommerce or your feed plugin.
- Resubmit the feed and give it a bit of time to refresh.
3. Price Mismatch Errors
What’s happening: Google thinks your product price doesn’t match what’s on your website.
Why it’s happening: This can be caused by tax settings, sale prices, or your caching plugin showing old info.
Fix it:
- Make sure your prices include tax if they show that way on your site.
- If you’re using sale prices, use the correct WooCommerce field (
sale_price) and make sure it’s also in your feed. - Set your feed to update often — even hourly if you’ve got dynamic pricing or flash sales.
- If you use caching plugins like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache, exclude product pages from being cached (or at least don’t cache for logged-out users).
4. GTIN (Product Identifier) Issues
What’s happening: Google is asking for GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers), and you either don’t have them or they’re wrong.
Why it’s happening: GTINs help Google uniquely identify products, especially branded ones. It’s mandatory for many products.
Fix it:
- If you sell branded products, check the box for GTINs (usually on the product packaging or barcode).
- Use the WooCommerce UPC, EAN and ISBN plugin to add them.
- If your product is handmade or doesn’t have a GTIN, tell Google by using
identifier_exists = FALSEin your feed.
5. Policy Violations
What’s happening: Google suspended or disapproved your product due to a policy issue.
Why it’s happening: You might be selling restricted items, using banned phrases, or just not being transparent enough.
Fix it:
- Avoid sketchy phrases like “best price” or “only 1 left!” unless they’re 100% accurate.
- Add a clear refund and return policy to your footer — this is a big one.
- If you’re unsure what’s allowed, check Google’s Shopping Ads Policies.
- Make sure you’re not listing restricted products like weapons, supplements with unapproved claims, etc.
6. Image Problems
What’s happening: Your product images are either missing, too small, or don’t meet Google’s guidelines.
Why it’s happening: Google wants clean, professional product images. Placeholders, logos, or watermarks? Big no-no.
Fix it:
- Use images that are at least 250 x 250 pixels.
- No watermarks, logos, or text overlays.
- Make sure the full image URL is showing up in your feed.
- Double-check that your images aren’t being blocked by your robots.txt file or lazy-loaded with JavaScript.
7. Shipping & Tax Errors
What’s happening: Google says your shipping or tax info isn’t matching up.
Why it’s happening: Google needs to know exactly what shoppers will pay — and that it matches your site.
Fix it:
- Set up shipping rates inside Google Merchant Center under Tools > Shipping & Returns.
- Make sure the rules you enter match what’s on your site.
- If you offer free shipping, tell Google that!
- For taxes, either configure them in GMC or make sure your feed reflects your total pricing with tax included.
8. Crawl and Fetch Issues
What’s happening: Google can’t load your product pages.
Why it’s happening: Your site might be blocking Google, or your pages aren’t loading correctly for bots.
Fix it:
- Use Google Search Console to test your URLs with “Inspect URL.”
- Make sure your robots.txt file isn’t blocking
/product/or/shop/. - Don’t password-protect your site or use maintenance mode if you’re actively submitting products.
- Use HTTPS and make sure all pages load fast (CDN + clean code helps).
Pro Tips to Keep Things Running Smoothly
Once you fix the big stuff, here’s how to stay ahead of issues:
- Automate your feed updates. Daily or even hourly if you’ve got lots of inventory changes.
- Use dedicated SEO plugins like Yoast WooCommerce SEO to make sure your structured data (schema) is clean.
- Check your Merchant Center diagnostics weekly. Don’t wait for disapprovals to pile up.
- Keep product titles and descriptions clear, keyword-rich, and honest.
- Avoid using aggressive sales language or urgency hacks — Google doesn’t like them.
Plugin Recommendations (That Actually Work)
Here are a few WordPress plugins that make managing your feed and GMC integration a lot easier:
- CTX Feed – Easy setup, Google-ready templates, supports multi-language/currency.
- Product Feed PRO – Great for advanced users; tons of customization options.
- Yoast WooCommerce SEO – Helps with structured data, image SEO, breadcrumbs, and more.
- WooCommerce UPC, EAN and ISBN – Essential for adding GTINs and product identifiers.
Wrapping It Up
Google Merchant Center can feel like a maze at first, but once you learn how to navigate it, it becomes a powerful tool to get your products in front of more buyers.
Most of the issues you’ll run into — disapprovals, image problems, missing GTINs, or price mismatches — all come down to communication. Google wants clean, clear data. If you give it what it needs, it’ll reward you with visibility and traffic.
So take a deep breath, check your diagnostics, tweak your settings, and you’ll be back on track in no time.
Need help optimizing your product titles, feed setup, or want me to review your diagnostics? Just say the word — I’m here to help!
