Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google Merchant Center’s New Out-of-Stock Button Policy
Google Merchant Center now requires that product pages for out-of-stock items display a grayed out, disabled “Buy” button. Fully hiding or keeping the button clickable is not allowed. This update ensures availability information matches product data, preventing customers from attempting to purchase unavailable products.
Optimixed’s Overview: Ensuring Compliance with Google Merchant Center’s Updated Out-of-Stock Button Guidelines
Key Changes to Product Landing Pages
Google Merchant Center has revised its landing page requirements to improve the shopping experience by clearly indicating product availability. Specifically, for any item that is out of stock, the “Buy” or “Add to Cart” button on the product page must be visibly disabled and grayed out, rather than hidden or left active.
Why This Matters
- Accurate Availability Matching: The product page’s availability status must align with the product data submitted through Merchant Center.
- Customer Experience: Prevents shoppers from attempting to purchase unavailable products, reducing frustration and potential order issues.
- Policy Compliance: Google explicitly prohibits hiding the button or leaving it fully clickable when stock is depleted.
Implementation Recommendations
Merchants should update their e-commerce platforms to:
- Disable the “Buy” button visually and functionally when products are out of stock.
- Update the availability attributes in product feeds to reflect current stock status accurately.
- Test product pages regularly to ensure compliance with the new requirements and avoid disapproval or penalties.
