How Google Shopping Works

Consumer information

When you use Google Shopping, you’re browsing products from advertisers and sellers who have chosen to feature their products on Google Shopping.

By default, ranking of product listings on the Shopping tab is based on relevance to a user’s current search terms. Personalized listings on Google are shown to users based on recent activity, such as searches.

The collection of user data is controlled by Web & App Activity. The use of data is controlled by personal results settings

The relative importance of these parameters is determined by algorithms to maximize listings’ relevance to users.

Offers that have the “Sponsored” label means that advertiser payment to Google may also influence how items are ranked and grouped. Google is compensated for clicks on these ads.

To customize your Google Shopping results, you can sort or filter by things like price, product category, and brand.

You can view your activity from your Google Account by going to My Activity and visit Google's Consumer Ads Help Center to learn more. To block specific advertisers, opt out of personalized ads or confirm your opt-out status, visit Google's Ads Settings. Learn more about how users can control the information used to personalize their experience.

The products displayed on Google Shopping search results may not include all available products.

Product information

Sellers and advertisers who feature their products on Google Shopping are participating in commercial activity. They must comply with Google Shopping policies that spell out what can and cannot be listed on Google Shopping.

Google Shopping will remove items that don’t comply with these policies and may suspend a seller who violates these policies.

Advertisers provide details about their products and update their listings on a regular basis. After an advertiser updates a listing, there may be a slight delay before the new information shows up on their listing on Google Shopping.

Shopping Reviews and Ratings

To help you research products and merchants, we gather reviews through the Google Customer Reviews program. These reviews are completely voluntary and we don’t compensate reviewers for submitting their opinions.

We also gather reviews from advertisers, sellers, and third-party review providers. They are required to provide all reviews (both positive and negative) and they may have compensated reviewers for giving their opinions.

An automated system processes these reviews before they show up on Google to remove spammy or inappropriate language. Spammy content includes reviews with the same content posted multiple times or from multiple accounts.

After a review is published, it can’t be modified or updated by Google and we aren’t able to contact reviewers or ask reviewers to update what they wrote. However, we may take down reviews that are flagged to us, in order to comply with legal obligations. A review can appear on Google for as long as the reviewed item is listed on Google.

Reviews may be sorted in a number of different ways, including chronologically.

Ratings are compiled from reviews across sources and aggregated into an overall rating for display on Google. As a result, Shopping ratings may not match the ratings available on a given merchant's website.

Note: Reviews aren't verified by Google.

Making a purchase

When you find something you’re interested in on Google Shopping, you’ll see the item price and applicable taxes. You can click on the product to go to the seller’s site and purchase it.

Shipping costs can vary depending on destination, shipping method, and seller so it’s a good idea to check the final price on the seller’s website. On the seller’s site, you’ll also find information about any applicable insurance or warranties.

Each seller is responsible for their own customer support. If you have any issues with your purchase, please contact the seller directly.

Notice to purchasers regarding Connecticut sales and use tax
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-408f(b)(1) Notice: Connecticut tax may be due on purchases delivered to persons in the state. Connecticut requires purchasers to file a use tax return if sales tax due was not collected by the retailer. Visit this link for additional information.

About Google Shopping

Google Shopping is:

  • Powerful: Google Shopping applies Google's search technology to help you find and research products from online stores across the web and then points you directly to where you can buy them.
  • Comprehensive: Find everything from common to unusual products.
  • Fast: Almost instantly after entering a search, you'll see photos of relevant products and links to more information, including the stores that sell them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Google Shopping?

Google Shopping is a new product discovery experience. The goal is to make it easy for users to research purchases, find information about different products, their features and prices, and then connect with sellers to make their purchase.

How does Google Shopping work?

Google Shopping enables users to view product information from the sellers that is updated on a regular basis by sellers. Online retailers submit feeds containing product information to Google Shopping. Since this product information comes directly from the seller, this means we’re able to show the current prices, latest offers and current product availability.

To learn more about how our product feeds and submissions work, visit our Google Merchant Center Help Center.

How can I use Google Shopping to find exactly what I'm looking for?

When you do a search within Google Shopping you'll see a variety of filters (like price, size, technical specifications, etc.) that can help you quickly narrow down to the right product. When viewing certain apparel product detail pages (like dresses, coats and shoes), you'll also see items that are “visually similar” to the item you've selected. These are just a few of the many tools within Google Shopping and we look forward to providing more in the future.

Can I search for products within a particular category?

You can narrow your results by category. For example, a search for "bulb" shows results for both the plant and lighting categories. By clicking on your desired category, you'll see results only in the category you’ve selected.

How does Google Shopping compare with other shopping sites?

Google Shopping does not sell products directly to shoppers; instead we collect product information from participating sellers and make those products searchable for you. When you find what you’re looking for, you can go to the store’s website to buy it.

How up to date is the product information?

Most of the information that you see on Google Shopping is provided by participating sellers. When a seller updates its information - such as changing the prices of a product - there may be a delay before that information goes live on Google Shopping. Therefore, you should check the seller's product landing page for the most up to date information.

How do I report suspicious activity?

To report suspicious activity, fill out the Report an ad or listing form.

Can I ask a seller a question about an item?

Some sellers let you ask questions about items before you place an order. While you browse Google Shopping, you may find the option to message a seller on a product page or a product listing:

  • To send a message about a product to a shop:
    1. Select 'Message shop'.
    2. Enter your message to the shop.
    3. Click Send.
  • You will receive an email response when the seller answers your question.
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