Missing Pickup Method
pickup_method is a Local Inventory Ads attribute that tells Google how shoppers can pick up your product locally. Valid values: 'buy' (buy online, pick up at store), 'reserve' (reserve online, pay in store), 'ship to store' (ship to local store for pickup), 'not supported' (no pickup available). Without this attribute, your products can't appear in Google's pickup-focused search results, a growing segment of local shopping traffic.
Missing value [pickup_method]Impact: Missing pickup_method only matters if you offer in-store pickup. For merchants running Local Inventory Ads or Buy Online Pickup In-Store (BOPIS), missing pickup_method excludes your products from pickup-specific searches. Shoppers searching 'buy online pickup in store near me' won't see your products without it.
Root Causes
- 1You offer in-store pickup but don't include pickup_method in your feed.
- 2Your primary feed targets online-only shipping but you've enabled Local Inventory Ads without updating the feed structure.
- 3Pickup availability varies by location but your feed only submits a single value.
- 4You offer pickup at some stores but not all, and your feed doesn't differentiate.
- 5Platform doesn't natively support pickup attributes in the feed export.
Fix by Platform
- 1Shopify supports local pickup: Settings → Shipping and delivery → Local pickup → enable for your locations.
- 2For Local Inventory Ads: enable the feature in GMC (Tools → Local inventory) and configure a local products feed.
- 3Add a pickup_method metafield: Settings → Custom data → Products → Add definition. Namespace: 'google', Key: 'pickup_method', Type: Single line text.
- 4Set value per product based on what pickup type you offer: 'buy' (for BOPIS), 'reserve' (reserve-in-store), 'ship to store' (ship to local store), or 'not supported'.
- 5In your feed app: map pickup_method to the metafield. For most BOPIS-offering stores: default value = 'buy' for all products available for pickup.
{{ product.metafields.google.pickup_method | default: 'not supported' }}When This Doesn't Apply
Check your store now
Free compliance scan — 47 rules checked in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the valid pickup_method values?+
Four values: 'buy' (shopper pays online, picks up in store — standard BOPIS), 'reserve' (shopper reserves online, pays in store at pickup), 'ship to store' (product shipped to nearest store for pickup, not immediately available), 'not supported' (no pickup offered). Use 'not supported' explicitly rather than omitting the attribute if your feed is a local inventory feed.
Do I need pickup_method if I only do online shipping?+
No. pickup_method is specific to Local Inventory Ads and in-store pickup scenarios. If you only ship online and don't offer in-store pickup, skip this attribute entirely. Your standard shipping feed doesn't need pickup_method.
How does pickup_method interact with pickup_sla?+
pickup_method = how shoppers pick up (buy, reserve, ship to store). pickup_sla = how quickly pickup is available after purchase ('same day', 'next day', '2-day'). Together, they describe the pickup experience fully. pickup_sla is optional but recommended — shoppers value knowing when they can pick up, especially for 'same day' searches.
Can pickup_method vary by product?+
Yes. Some products may be immediately available for pickup ('buy'), while larger items may need to 'ship to store' from a central warehouse first. Set pickup_method per product based on actual availability. For consistent catalogs where all products are BOPIS-enabled, you can set a single default value across the feed.