Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google Updates Merchant Return Policies and Loyalty Program Documentation
Google has **clarified key aspects** of its merchant return policies and loyalty program documentation to **eliminate confusion**. **Offer-level return policies** now support only a subset of organization-level policies, which must be defined with **Organization markup**. Loyalty program details must be separately defined from offer-level benefits and currently do not support shipping or returns benefits. These updates aim to help merchants accurately implement their policies in Google’s ecosystem.
Optimixed’s Overview: Clearer Guidelines for Merchant Return Policies and Loyalty Programs on Google
Key Updates to Merchant Return Policy Documentation
Google has refined its documentation to ensure merchants correctly implement return policies. The main points include:
- Offer-level return policies now support only a subset of the broader organization-level return policies.
- Merchant-level return policies must be defined using Organization markup, centralizing return policy information.
Clarifications Regarding Loyalty Program Documentation
Significant clarifications were also made for loyalty programs:
- Loyalty program information must be defined separately from offer-level loyalty benefits such as price discounts and points.
- This data should be marked up using Organization markup and can be placed on a distinct page or managed via the Merchant Center.
- Currently, Google does not support shipping and returns loyalty benefits.
Implications for Merchants
By updating these help documents, Google helps merchants ensure their policies and loyalty program information are properly structured. This leads to better accuracy in listings, improved user experience, and compliance with Google’s requirements for search and merchant features.
