Merchant Center uses a lot of specific terms. Here they are in plain language, with links to the guides that explain how to fix related problems.
Account and review terms
- Disapproval
- One product can’t be shown. Fix the item and it is reviewed again.
- Suspension
- The whole account can’t show products, often for a policy reason like misrepresentation. See misrepresentation.
- Review request
- Asking Google to re-check your account after fixing issues. See requesting a review.
- Misrepresentation
- Google’s policy against misleading shoppers about your business, products or offers.
Product data terms
- Feed
- The file or connection that sends your product data to Merchant Center.
- Landing page
- The product page your listing links to. See landing page errors.
- GTIN
- The product’s barcode number (UPC, EAN). See GTIN errors.
- MPN
- Manufacturer part number, used when a product has no GTIN.
- Mismatched value
- Your feed and landing page disagree, e.g. on price or availability.
Website and technical terms
- Structured data
- Machine-readable product information in your page’s code. See structured data.
- Googlebot / Storebot-Google
- Google’s crawlers that visit your pages; robots.txt must not block them from products or checkout.
- robots.txt
- A file telling crawlers which parts of your site they may visit.
- HTTPS
- Encrypted connection (padlock icon); required for checkout and payment pages.
Frequently asked questions
Is a disapproval the same as a suspension?
No. A disapproval affects individual products; a suspension affects the whole account.
Official sources
- Misrepresentation - Shopping ads and free listings policy
- Product data specification - Google Merchant Center Help
- Landing page requirements - Google Merchant Center Help
- How Google interprets the robots.txt specification
MerchantLion is independent and not affiliated with Google. Google’s documentation is the authoritative source; policies change, so check it before making decisions.
Related guides
Review & appeal
Google Merchant Center Approval Checklist (2026)
A complete, practical checklist to prepare your online store for Google Merchant Center review: identity, contact, policies, prices, checkout, product data and technical checks.
10 min readSuspensions & policiesGoogle Merchant Center Misrepresentation: Causes and How to Fix It
Why Merchant Center suspends stores for misrepresentation, the website issues that usually trigger it, and a step-by-step plan to fix your store before requesting a review.
9 min read