Google is implementing changes to its Merchant Center rules in two phases, affecting how sellers list products in Shopping ads and free listings. These updates will influence installment pricing, energy labels, member pricing, and US sales tax information.
Immediate Changes (Effective April 8, 2025)
- Installment Pricing: The price attribute for down payments will no longer be supported. Sellers must utilize the down payment sub-attribute of the installment attribute, while the price attribute must reflect the full upfront payment.
- Energy Efficiency Class Attributes: In EU countries, these will be replaced by the certification attribute to support graphical energy efficiency class labels. However, the original attributes will still be available for products sold in Norway, Switzerland, and the UK.
- New Shipping Attributes: Additional shipping options will be introduced at the offer level, including a new carrier shipping attribute, along with shipping handling business days and shipping transit business days attributes. These will help provide accurate delivery time estimates for Shopping ads and free listings.
