Google Merchant Center Checkout Issues — What Google Checks and How to Fix
Google actively tests your checkout process during review. If customers can't complete a purchase smoothly, or if checkout prices differ from your product listings, your account can be suspended or products disapproved.
Why This Happens
Google's reviewers attempted to go through your checkout and encountered errors or inconsistencies
Prices changed between the product page and checkout due to hidden fees, taxes, or shipping surcharges
Your checkout process requires account creation or has broken steps that prevent purchase completion
Payment methods listed on your site aren't functional or don't match what's advertised
What Google Requires
Checkout must be fully functional — customers must be able to complete a purchase without errors
Prices at checkout must match product listing prices (excluding clearly disclosed shipping and tax)
Guest checkout must be available — mandatory account creation is a violation
All advertised payment methods must be functional
SSL certificate must be valid on all checkout pages
Common Mistakes
Adding hidden fees or surcharges that only appear at checkout
Requiring account registration before customers can complete a purchase
Having a broken or incomplete checkout flow that returns errors
Displaying payment method icons (Visa, PayPal) that aren't actually accepted
Checkout page not secured with HTTPS
How to Fix This
Test your entire checkout flow from product page to order confirmation as a guest user
Verify that the final price at checkout matches your product listing price plus clearly disclosed shipping and tax
Enable guest checkout so customers can purchase without creating an account
Remove payment method icons for methods you don't actually support
Ensure your SSL certificate is valid and covers all checkout pages
Test checkout on mobile devices to verify it works across screen sizes
Place a test order to confirm the entire flow completes successfully
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google actually try to buy from my store?+
Google's reviewers navigate through the checkout process to verify it works, but they don't complete actual purchases. They check that all steps function correctly and prices are consistent.
Is guest checkout required for GMC?+
Yes. Google requires that customers can complete a purchase without being forced to create an account. You can offer account creation as optional, but it must not be mandatory.
Can I add shipping costs at checkout?+
Yes, but shipping costs must be clearly disclosed before the final checkout step. Unexpected charges that appear only at the last step are considered a violation.
Check your store now
Free compliance scan — 47 rules checked in minutes.