Google Base

[jimmyservis]

I got the below email over the weekend, and it seems like i've got a pretty big job on my hand of entering EAN codes? Is it for real? Currently none of my products have brands or EAN listed! Some of my products are from small independent companies who don't use these codes! Just when i thought it was all sorted..

Hello,

Thank you for participating in Google Product Search. We are reaching out to you to inform you about important changes we’re making to our Product Search attribute requirements for unique identifiers and tax and shipping information.

Starting May 3rd, 2011, we’ll require your product listings to include at least two of the three unique identifiers (Brand, MPN, GTIN). In order to provide as much information as possible to our users, we need your help in matching your products to our "product pages", where users are able to view useful data such as product specifications or reviews. While these attributes will not be required for your data feed to process correctly, they may prevent your items from appearing in Product Search results if not included. For more details, including what specific identifiers you should include for each category of item, please see our Help Center at http://www.google.com/support/mercha...?answer=160161

Starting June 6th, 2011, we’ll also require your product listings to include tax and shipping information to provide buyers with important price information. This information will be required at either the account or item level (in the “tax” or “shipping” attribute) in order for your items to process and appear in Google Product Search results. For instructions on how to include tax and shipping information, please visit http://www.google.com/support/mercha...&answer=160162

Please update your account settings or data feeds as soon as possible to ensure that you are complying with these new requirements by the dates specified above. For more information about these changes, please visit our Google Merchant blog at http://googlemerchantblog.blogspot.c...ct-search.html

Sincerely,

The Google Product Search Team

[Gillf]

One off, hand crafted and bespoke items plus apparel is exempt. You can apply for exemption. See this page: http://www.google.com/support/mercha...e_id_exemption

[Red Devil]

There's a new Bluepark update

[pinkypie]

Thanks for the link Gill, I've just applied for exemption but it says that if others have a barcode (and I know some companies do) then I'll not be able to get exemption.

IF they do not grant me it I shall use the style number in the place of the barcode I suppose. You can export the information then copy and paste the the style number column into the barcode column and then upload it back onto the site can't you? I really do not touch any of the exports other than the google base one as I am so nervous about mucking it up.

[Gillf]

Thanks for the link Gill, I've just applied for exemption but it says that if others have a barcode (and I know some companies do) then I'll not be able to get exemption.

IF they do not grant me it I shall use the style number in the place of the barcode I suppose. You can export the information then copy and paste the the style number column into the barcode column and then upload it back onto the site can't you? I really do not touch any of the exports other than the google base one as I am so nervous about mucking it up.

You are exempt because you sell apparel. I don't know if Google will revisit the subject of apparel again because some is bar coded and then I guess it will be necessary to ask for exemption on apparel that does not have bar coding.

[pinkypie]

Thanks Gill, should be oK then. Most appreciated.

[chubster]

If you are in the "All other" category, then if I am reading it right you do not need to use the barcode at all....you could just use brand and part number for your products to get included. And if your supplier doesnt have a part number, make it up. Does google REALLY know every single part number of every single product ??