Google Shopping Updates

Due to stricter policy changes at Google Shopping we will be restricting the products that we will be submitting to Google Shopping in the near future.

Starting on the 21st of September eBid will no longer be submitting items that do not pass the following tests A, B or C.

A) Media (books/cd/dvd/blu-ray/video games)
1 - minimum) An ISBN/UPC/EAN/MPC is supplied to us.

B) Clothing
1 - minimum) A BRAND is supplied to us.

C) Items that could have been purchased in a shop in their lifetime and scanned at a checkout till
1 - ideal) A UPC/EAN/MPC and BRAND are supplied to us.
2 - good) A UPC/EAN/MPC is supplied to us.
3 - minimum) A BRAND is supplied to us. although we do not guarantee acceptance by Google in this case as they are getting quite strict.

Items that come under D will require exemption from Google's Unique Product Indentifier rules

D) Custom Made, One of a Kind, Vintage, Collectable
Exemption will be required for your username (if you are not selling via an eBid Store)
or
Exemption will be required for your eBid Store (if you are selling via an eBid Store)

Google's exemption application process is currently manual via an online form. We are speaking to them to see if we can automate it somewhat but from the sounds of it they are a way off. To apply for an exemption follow the instructions below and make sure that the items in your eBid Store/Username do not come under A, B or C above.

Exemption Application Instructions

A. If your items are listed within an eBid Store then you will be applying for exemption for your eBid Store and not your username.

1. Locate the GSIN number located on your "My eBid" > "My eBid Stores" page. It is in small grey text just below the "Summary" section.

B. If you items are not listed within an eBid Store then you will be applying for exemption for your eBid Username.

1. Locate the GSIN number located on your "My eBid" > "My Personal Details" page. It is in small grey text at the bottom of the form.

A and B.

2. Visit http://www.google.com/support/merchants/bin/request.py?contact_type=unique_id_exemption
3. Enter your name.
4. Enter google.exemption@ebid.net as the login email address
5. You your GSIN number into the Account ID box. URL box can be ignored.
6. Enter some information as to why the items in your eBid Store do not or cannot have barcodes. Are they vintage, collectables, home made? Give an example link to some products in your Store.

If you see N/A as your GSIN it means that you don't have a sub-account set up yet at Google Shopping for your eBid Store/Username. Australian users will probably see this as we are still awaiting acceptance into GS OZ.

GS Exemption is a brand new process for us to be dealing with so we expect quite a few questions to be thrown up and we will deal with them as they come.

We've made a few tweeks to the uploading process today. We had a bit of a catch 22 situation going on, Google asking us not to upload items that do not comply with their policies, yet doing this means that items that need to be reviewed for exemption are not uploaded for them to check.

If you have applied for exemption and not yet been granted then keep an eye out for your items appearing on Google Shopping in the next 48hrs and once they do then re-apply for exemption using the same method as before.

I can let you know that any mixed stores with books with isbn and books without isbn are not being granted exemption. You will require separate eBid Stores. Same goes for music stores with CDs with barcodes and LPs without it seems.

Thx,
Gazza

Getting a few accounts being suspended from Google Shopping due to "wrong condition". Remember not to list an item on eBid as new if it is refurbished or used.

Gazza

Google are getting hot with promo text in titles and description. eg. "Free Shipping" will get your items removed from Google Shopping

Quote:

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Language and Promotional Messages

• Use standard spelling and grammar. Avoid any repeated, unnecessary or excessive use of punctuation, capitalization or symbols. Don't use exclamation points in your product titles unless the official product title contains them. The use of symbols, numbers, and letters have to adhere to the true meaning of the symbol.
  
  • The only exception to excessive capitalization is if your company name is written in all capital letters. In such a case it is permissible to submit your company name in all capital letters, i.e. “ACME”
• Avoid offensive or inappropriate language.
• Promotional or boilerplate text may not be included in your store name and product data. All data needs to be a clear and direct description of the submitted product. Text related to shopping or store policies is not allowed. For example, "Free shipping" is not allowed.
• Your images may not contain promotional messages of any kind, including watermarks or promotional text. You are not allowed to submit image links to logo images or other generic images.

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Make sure the first 250 characters (dont count HTML as we strip it) of your description are pure product info only.

Anyone with an eBid Store selling comics should always apply for exemption. Comics have 17 character UPC codes which are not compatible with Google Shopping at the moment.

Go to Help > Selling to read how to apply, it's a very small form to fill in.

UPDATE - Google Shopping now require at least one image for the item to be submitted