Product Feed Errors: Complete Guide to 50+ Errors and How to Fix Them

Product feed errors cost e-commerce businesses billions annually in lost sales, wasted ad spend, and missed opportunities. The average merchant experiences a 15-25% product disapproval rate due to preventable feed errors. This comprehensive guide covers every common feed error across major shopping platforms, with specific solutions and prevention strategies.

Understanding Feed Error Categories

Before diving into specific errors, understand how platforms categorize issues:

Error Severity Levels

Error Categories by Platform

Missing Data Errors

1. Missing Required Attribute

Error Messages:

• Google: “Missing required attribute: [field_name]”
• Facebook: “Required field [field_name] is missing”
• TikTok: “Missing required property: [field_name]”

Description: One or more mandatory fields are absent from your product data.

Required Fields by Platform:

Solutions:

Step 1: Identify affected products
- Export feed and filter for empty required fields
- Use platform diagnostics to list specific products

Step 2: Source missing data
- Check your e-commerce platform for unmapped fields
- Verify data exists in source system
- Create data where legitimately missing

Step 3: Update feed
- Add missing field mappings
- Ensure field is populated for all products
- Re-upload or trigger feed refresh

Prevention:

• Validate feeds before submission
• Use feed management tools with required field checking
• Create data quality rules in your e-commerce platform

2. Missing GTIN/Product Identifier

Error Messages:

• Google: “Invalid or missing GTIN for product”
• Google: “Missing value for [gtin]”
• Amazon: “Missing product identifier”

Description: Google requires valid GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers) for most products. Without them, products may be disapproved or receive limited visibility.

GTIN Requirements:

Solutions:

If you HAVE GTINs:
1. Verify GTIN format (correct number of digits)
2. Validate check digit using GTIN calculator
3. Ensure GTIN matches actual product
4. Map GTIN field correctly in feed

If you DON'T have GTINs:
1. Set identifier_exists = "false" (for custom/handmade)
2. Provide brand + mpn combination
3. Contact manufacturer for official GTINs
4. Register for GTINs at gs1.org (if you're the manufacturer)

GTIN Check Digit Validation: The last digit of a GTIN is a check digit. Invalid check digits cause errors:

Example: UPC 012345678905
Calculation:
- Odd positions (1,3,5,7,9,11): 0+2+4+6+8+0 = 20
- Even positions (2,4,6,8,10): 1+3+5+7+9 = 25 × 3 = 75
- Sum: 20 + 75 = 95
- Check digit: 10 - (95 mod 10) = 10 - 5 = 5 ✓

Prevention:

• Validate GTINs at product entry
• Use barcode scanning for accuracy
• Cross-reference with manufacturer databases

3. Missing Brand Information

Error Messages:

• Google: “Missing brand attribute”
• Google: “Add a brand for this product”

Description: The brand field is required for most products on Google Shopping. Missing brand information reduces visibility and may cause disapproval.

Solutions:

For branded products:
1. Add official brand name exactly as recognized
2. Match spelling and capitalization to manufacturer
3. Don't include model numbers in brand field

For unbranded/generic products:
1. Use your store name as brand if you're the seller
2. For truly generic items, use manufacturer name
3. Set identifier_exists = "false" if appropriate

Common Brand Field Mistakes:

Format and Data Type Errors

4. Invalid Price Format

Error Messages:

• Google: “Invalid value for attribute: price”
• Google: “Incorrect price format”
• Facebook: “price is not in a valid format”

Description: Price values must follow specific formatting rules including proper decimal handling and currency codes.

Correct Price Formats:

Common Price Errors:

❌ $29.99           → Missing currency code, has symbol
❌ 29,99 USD        → Comma instead of decimal
❌ 29.99USD         → Missing space before currency
❌ USD 29.99        → Currency code in wrong position
❌ 29.99 US Dollars → Text instead of code
❌ 29.990 USD       → Too many decimal places

✅ 29.99 USD        → Correct format
✅ 1499.00 EUR      → Correct with 00 cents
✅ 0.99 GBP         → Correct for low-value items

Solutions:

# Price formatting logic example:
def format_price(price_value, currency="USD"):
    # Remove currency symbols
    cleaned = re.sub(r'[$€£¥]', '', str(price_value))

    # Replace comma with decimal
    cleaned = cleaned.replace(',', '.')

    # Convert to float and format
    price_float = float(cleaned)

    # Return formatted price
    return f"{price_float:.2f} {currency}"

Prevention:

• Standardize price formatting in your source system
• Use feed rules to transform prices automatically
• Test currency handling for international feeds

5. Invalid Availability Value

Error Messages:

• Google: “Invalid value for attribute: availability”
• Facebook: “availability should be one of in stock, out of stock…”

Description: Availability must use exact accepted values—no variations allowed.

Accepted Values:

Common Availability Errors:

❌ In Stock        → Must be lowercase
❌ instock         → Must have space
❌ available       → Not an accepted value
❌ 1 / 0           → Not accepted format
❌ yes / no        → Not accepted format
❌ true / false    → Not accepted format

✅ in stock        → Correct
✅ out of stock    → Correct
✅ preorder        → Correct

Solutions:

Step 1: Map your inventory values to accepted values
- "Available" → "in stock"
- "Sold Out" → "out of stock"
- "Pre-Order" → "preorder"

Step 2: Create transformation rules
IF inventory_count > 0 THEN "in stock"
IF inventory_count = 0 THEN "out of stock"
IF release_date > today THEN "preorder"

6. Invalid URL Format

Error Messages:

• Google: “Invalid landing page URL”
• Google: “URL uses unsupported protocol”
• Facebook: “Invalid url format”

Description: Product URLs must be properly formatted, accessible, and use HTTPS.

URL Requirements:

Common URL Errors:

❌ http://store.com/product       → HTTP not HTTPS
❌ store.com/product              → Missing protocol
❌ /product/123                   → Relative URL
❌ https://store.com/product page → Space not encoded
❌ https://store.com/product?     → Trailing query mark

✅ https://store.com/product
✅ https://store.com/products/widget-123
✅ https://store.com/product?variant=blue

Solutions:

URL Validation Checklist:
□ Starts with https://
□ Domain is correct
□ Path is URL-encoded
□ Returns 200 status
□ Leads to correct product
□ No redirect chains (or <3 redirects)
□ No trailing incomplete parameters

Image Errors

7. Image Not Accessible

Error Messages:

• Google: “Image isn’t accessible”
• Google: “Image couldn’t be crawled”
• Facebook: “Could not fetch image from url”

Description: Google and other platforms must be able to fetch your product images. Accessibility issues prevent products from appearing.

Common Causes:

Solutions:

Step 1: Test image accessibility
curl -I "https://yoursite.com/image.jpg"
# Should return 200 OK

Step 2: Check robots.txt
# Ensure images aren't blocked:
User-agent: Googlebot
Allow: /images/

Step 3: Verify CDN settings
- Whitelist Googlebot user agent
- Whitelist Google's IP ranges
- Check geographic restrictions

Prevention:

• Use reliable image hosting
• Implement image URL monitoring
• Test images before feed submission
• Use absolute URLs with HTTPS

8. Image Too Small

Error Messages:

• Google: “Image is too small”
• Google: “Image doesn’t meet minimum size requirements”

Description: Images must meet minimum pixel requirements to be approved.

Size Requirements:

Category-Specific Requirements (Google):

Solutions:

Step 1: Audit current images
- Export image URLs
- Check dimensions programmatically
- Identify undersized images

Step 2: Replace undersized images
- Source higher-resolution versions
- Regenerate from original files
- Request from manufacturers

Step 3: Prevent future issues
- Set minimum upload requirements
- Validate on product entry
- Use image processing to standardize

9. Image Quality Issues

Error Messages:

• Google: “Image contains promotional overlay”
• Google: “Image shows placeholder”
• Google: “Generic image used”

Description: Beyond size, image quality and content must meet platform standards.

Prohibited Image Content:

Best Practice Image Specifications:

Format: JPEG or PNG
Aspect Ratio: Square (1:1) recommended
Background: White or transparent
Product Fill: 75-90% of frame
Resolution: 72-300 DPI
File Size: <16MB

Price and Availability Mismatches

10. Price Mismatch with Landing Page

Error Messages:

• Google: “Price on landing page doesn’t match feed price”
• Google: “Automatic item updates: price”

Description: Google crawls your product pages and compares prices. Mismatches cause disapprovals.

Common Causes:

Solutions:

Step 1: Verify pricing match
- Compare feed price to landing page price
- Check as anonymous user
- Test from feed's target country

Step 2: Fix pricing sync
- Reduce feed update interval
- Implement real-time pricing API
- Use supplemental feed for price updates

Step 3: Address dynamic pricing
- Show consistent price to crawlers
- Document pricing logic for compliance

Automatic Item Updates: Google may automatically update your prices if mismatches are detected. Monitor for:

• “Automatic item updates: price” notifications
• Price changes you didn’t make
• Potential incorrect auto-corrections

11. Availability Mismatch

Error Messages:

• Google: “Availability on landing page doesn’t match”
• Google: “Item out of stock on website”

Description: Products marked “in stock” in your feed but showing unavailable on your website will be disapproved.

Solutions:

Real-time inventory sync:
1. Connect feed to inventory management system
2. Update availability immediately on stock changes
3. Set conservative thresholds (mark out of stock at <5 units)

Supplemental feed approach:
1. Create inventory-only supplemental feed
2. Update every 30-60 minutes
3. Include only id and availability fields

Prevention:

• Real-time inventory sync where possible
• Conservative stock thresholds
• Remove discontinued products promptly
• Monitor stock levels actively

Policy Violation Errors

12. Prohibited Content

Error Messages:

• Google: “Disapproved: Prohibited content”
• Facebook: “This product cannot be listed”

Description: Products violating platform policies are disapproved and may result in account suspension.

Commonly Prohibited Categories:

Solutions:

1. Review platform’s prohibited products policy
2. Remove violating products from feed
3. Adjust product descriptions to remove policy-triggering language
4. Request manual review if disapproval is incorrect

13. Misleading Content

Error Messages:

• Google: “Disapproved: Misrepresentation”
• Google: “Product data doesn’t match landing page”

Description: Product data that doesn’t accurately represent what customers will receive.

Examples of Misleading Content:

Category and Attribute Errors

14. Invalid Google Product Category

Error Messages:

• Google: “Invalid Google product category”
• Google: “Category ID doesn’t exist”

Description: The google_product_category value doesn’t match Google’s taxonomy.

Solutions:

Step 1: Use valid category IDs
- Download latest Google taxonomy
- Use numeric ID or full path
- Use most specific applicable category

Step 2: Format correctly
Numeric: 2271 (Apparel & Accessories > Shoes)
Path: Apparel & Accessories > Shoes

Step 3: Map accurately
- Match product to actual category
- Don't use generic parent categories
- Update for new products

Category Optimization: More specific categories = better matching:

❌ Electronics (too broad)
⚠️ Electronics > Computers
✅ Electronics > Computers > Laptops > Gaming Laptops

15. Missing Required Variant Attributes

Error Messages:

• Google: “Missing size for apparel item”
• Google: “Missing color for apparel item”

Description: Apparel and certain other categories require variant attributes.

Required Attributes by Category:

Solutions:

For apparel products:
1. Add size attribute (use Google's size format)
2. Add color attribute (actual color name)
3. Add gender (male, female, unisex)
4. Add age_group (newborn, infant, toddler, kids, adult)

For variant products:
1. Use item_group_id to link variants
2. Unique id for each variant
3. Specific attributes for each variant

Feed Structure Errors

16. Duplicate Product IDs

Error Messages:

• Google: “Duplicate IDs found in feed”
• Google: “Offer id must be unique”

Description: Each product must have a unique ID within your feed.

Common Causes:

• Same SKU used for multiple variants
• Data import errors
• Product variants not properly differentiated

Solutions:

For variants:
Original: Same ID for all sizes
- id: SHIRT-001
- id: SHIRT-001
- id: SHIRT-001

Fixed: Unique ID with variant suffix
- id: SHIRT-001-S
- id: SHIRT-001-M
- id: SHIRT-001-L

All products share: item_group_id: SHIRT-001

17. Invalid XML/CSV Format

Error Messages:

• Google: “Feed processing error”
• Google: “Invalid XML syntax”
• Google: “CSV parsing error”

Description: Feed file doesn’t conform to expected format specifications.

Common XML Errors:

❌ Missing closing tags
<item>
  <title>Product Name
</item>

❌ Invalid characters
<description>Product with & symbol</description>

✅ Correct escaping
<description>Product with &amp; symbol</description>

❌ Wrong namespace
<g:title>Product Name</title>

✅ Matching tags
<g:title>Product Name</g:title>

Common CSV Errors:

❌ Unescaped commas in values
Product Name, Description with, comma, 29.99

✅ Quoted values with commas
"Product Name","Description with, comma",29.99

❌ Inconsistent columns
id,title,price
123,Product A,29.99
456,Product B,39.99,extra_field

✅ Consistent columns
id,title,price
123,Product A,29.99
456,Product B,39.99

Error Prevention Best Practices

Automated Validation

Implement validation before feed submission:

Pre-submission checklist:
□ All required fields present
□ No duplicate IDs
□ Valid price format
□ Valid availability values
□ All URLs accessible (200 status)
□ All images accessible and correct size
□ Valid GTINs (check digit validation)
□ Category IDs exist in taxonomy
□ No XML/CSV syntax errors

Monitoring and Alerts

Set up proactive error detection:

Regular Audits

Related Resources

• How to Create a Google Shopping Feed
• Google Shopping Feed Requirements Checklist 2025
• Product Feed Validation Best Practices
• How to Optimize Google Shopping Feeds
• AI Product Feed Optimization

Eliminate Feed Errors with AI Shopping Feeds

Manually tracking and fixing product feed errors is time-consuming and error-prone. AI Shopping Feeds automates error detection and resolution, maintaining near-perfect feed health with minimal effort.

How AI Shopping Feeds Prevents Errors

Automated Error Detection:

• Real-time validation against platform requirements
• Pre-submission error scanning
• Continuous feed health monitoring
• Multi-platform compliance checking

Intelligent Error Fixing:

• Automatic format standardization
• Data quality improvements
• Missing field completion
• Policy compliance adjustments

Proactive Prevention:

• Alert on potential issues before submission
• Trend analysis for recurring problems
• Recommendations for optimization
• Platform policy update monitoring

Results

• 95%+ product approval rates (industry average: 75%)
• 80% reduction in error resolution time
• Zero manual error checking required
• Real-time feed health monitoring

Get Started Today

Stop spending hours fixing feed errors manually. AI Shopping Feeds uses advanced AI to automatically detect and fix errors, ensuring your feeds meet all platform requirements.

Start your free trial of AI Shopping Feeds today — no credit card required. Experience automated error detection and fixing that keeps your product feeds error-free.