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Post by PickyChicky on Mar 12, 2014 18:15:29 GMT -6
I've never used the GTIN attribute as I've always used the individual attributes (ie, ISBN, UPC, etc.). On my eCrater store, I have them listed under the specific attributes, but I haven't received any notice that I need to change those to GTIN. I'm not sure if this is because they automatically convert them or not. So, my questions are: - Is it an absolute requirement that the GTIN attribute be used instead of the specific ISBN, UPC, JAN, or EAN attributes? Or are the specific attributes still being accepted by Google?
- If you have more than one of those specific attributes, can you have more than one GTIN attribute? For example, I have the ISBN and UPC for a product. Can I have a GTIN attribute for each of the numbers I have?
- What if I have more than one product in a listing? Say I have two books -- can I have four GTIN attributes for the two ISBNs and two UPCs?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2014 18:59:21 GMT -6
I would assume that different sites handle this differently. So I guess asking the site would be appropriate. Google has guidelines that apply generally, but it has been my experience with eCrater, Bonanza, and Etsy and now Presto that they then translate some things in a particular way that doesn't apply to the other site(s).
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Post by PickyChicky on Mar 12, 2014 19:27:48 GMT -6
Actually, I'm asking what GOOGLE will accept...not a marketplace venue or Presto. This is related to submitting one's own feed, which is what I will be having to do for my own stand alone site, so I need to know what GOOGLE wants.
I only mentioned eCrater because I don't know how they're handling it behind the scenes and, therefore, do not know what GOOGLE is and is not accepting. This is where a major problem lies...everyone is doing things differently depending on where they sell.
So, it's difficult to know what applies to who and is why I obviously need to make this perfectly clear. LOL The thing is, I won't have a middleman's crazy way of doing things to deal with -- just Google's crazy ways. LOL So, that's the answer I'm looking for... what does GOOGLE want?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2014 20:03:07 GMT -6
I think the best thing to do is go to their forum and ask. Their Forum pro's are pretty knowledgeable about all this. Judy and Scott both used to hang out there and this is where they got all the info they shared with us. Just be prepared to take everything with a grain of salt. Google changes things like folks change their sheets and what was correct last week may no longer be acceptable. This is why I recommend EVERYONE keep a link to the Google Forums on their computer so you can follow changes as they occur.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2014 20:06:43 GMT -6
I think this is the link, if someone has a better one maybe they can post it: (copy and paste the whole link to get to that page) productforums.google.com/forum/#!categories/merchant-center/products-feed-specification-changes |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2014 20:10:45 GMT -6
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Post by cindybear on Mar 12, 2014 20:34:43 GMT -6
actually, the market places are translating it to gtin...as per google requirements now
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Post by PickyChicky on Mar 12, 2014 22:06:50 GMT -6
@momspennies Thanks for those links. Unfortunately, EVERY single question I have ever asked on Google's forums has gone completely ignored, whether related to Blogger or Shopping. It's not like I don't surf the forums looking for answers, but there's usually a specific question I have that I can't find an answer for. So, I've basically just given up on even going there anymore. cindybear Thanks for that info. If the venues are converting them to gtin, then that's what I need to be using. Now, if I could just find out how many we're allowed and how to notate multipacks, if necessary. I'll try to find the answers in their forums, but I won't hold my breath. LOL If I find out, I'll post the answers here for anyone else who needs the info. |
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Post by PickyChicky on Mar 13, 2014 1:38:04 GMT -6
I'm just going to post some helpful links here and may move or copy them to other posts later: Updated Google Shopping Feed Specification - support.google.com/merchants/answer/3097504?hl=enInternet UPC Database Website - www.upcdatabase.com/ISBN Lookup - isbndb.com/GTIN Info - www.gtin.info/Check UPC Ownership - www.gtin.info/check-company-prefix/Check Digit Calculator - www.gtin.info/check-digit-calculator/Multipacks Info | For products that come in bundles, Google now has a multipack attribute in the feed. “Multipacks are packages that include several identical products to create a larger unit of sale, submitted as a single item. Merchant-defined multipacks are custom groups of identical products submitted as a single unit of sale,” states Google. “The ‘multipack’ attribute indicates the number of identical products in a merchant-defined multipack.” This added feed specification should be helpful for merchants who sell in bulk, or have combination pack products. Is it possible to add multiple UPIs for a single product? | Yes, multiple values are allowed for gtin, but not mpn and brand. For a tab-delimited feed separate each gtin value with a comma. For an xml-feed list each value as a separate tag (attribute). The gtin must exactly match the manufacture-assigned values for the products being shipped to customers. Can I submit products that include multiple items? | Regarding custom packaged item-offers. Brand: This is the most straightforward. The only time this can be confusing is if you retail products that are not branded (e.g., many overseas bulk items will not have a brand). In this case, you can use your own company name as the brand. Source: Google Shopping "Unique Product Identifiers" Tips NOTE: This needs to be verified since the source is not Google. |
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Post by PickyChicky on Mar 13, 2014 1:38:15 GMT -6
Google Merchant Center: Products that have two or more GTIN Numbers? These are usually considered a custom packaged item-offer. Google must be contacted for an exemption; global-trade data (mpn, gtin, brand) should not be submitted for exempted items unless someone at Google indicates otherwise. Google may be contacted here: www.google.com/support/merchants/bin/request.py?contact_type=unique_id_exemptionBefore requesting the exemption, be certain all other (single) item offers within the feed have required and exact global-trade data directly from the brand-manufacturer or the product packaging: www.gs1.org/barcodes/technical/bar_code_typeswww.gs1.org/barcodes/technical/idkeys/gtinIf required and exact global-trade data does not exist for any other items, then such items must also be given an exemption by Google or cannot be submitted to product-search. All merchants selling the same product should be submitting identical global-trade data that can be traced back to a specific brand-manufacturer and an exact item by the consumer, regardless of merchant. Otherwise, an exemption is required and global-trade data should not be submitted for the that (multi-part) item-offer.
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Post by thecornerstonecowboy on Mar 13, 2014 4:28:54 GMT -6
Google changes things like folks change their sheets and what was correct last week may no longer be acceptable. FYI, back in the mid 70s when I was in college I only changed the sheets in my dorm room once or twice a semester......  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2014 8:09:56 GMT -6
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Post by PickyChicky on Mar 13, 2014 15:03:31 GMT -6
I never could find out how many GTIN attributes are allowed, but did find out that multiple instances are allowed. I'm still not sure if that means I can have GTINs for more than one product, though. I haven't been able to find any recent info on the subject of listing lots. I may try posting some questions in their forums, but I don't expect to get any answers since my questions usually go ignored there. LOL
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