Shoppers want to know what delivery costs and how long it takes before they buy. Google expects your shipping information to be accurate and consistent between your site and your Merchant Center settings.
What to publish
- Countries or regions you ship to.
- Shipping costs, including free-shipping thresholds.
- Processing time (how long before an order ships) and delivery time (how long in transit).
- Where orders ship from, if that matters to shoppers — and make sure it is true.
- What happens with customs duties for international orders.
Keep everything consistent
The most common problem is contradiction: “free shipping on all orders” in a banner, a €4.95 fee at checkout, and a third answer in Merchant Center. Pick one set of rules and publish the same everywhere — banner, product pages, policy page, checkout and Merchant Center shipping settings.
Ships-from claims
If your site says “shipped from our warehouse in France” but parcels come from another country with long delivery times, that is a misleading claim. State the real origin and realistic delivery times.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need exact delivery dates?
Give realistic ranges (for example 2–4 business days processing, 5–8 business days delivery) and keep them consistent with your Merchant Center settings.
Official sources
- Shipping settings / shipping costs guidance - Google Merchant Center Help
- Misrepresentation - Shopping ads and free listings policy
MerchantLion is independent and not affiliated with Google. Google’s documentation is the authoritative source; policies change, so check it before making decisions.
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