Local Inventory – Troubleshooting & FAQ

Local Inventory – Troubleshooting & FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Q: What is Local Inventory and why do I need it?

A: Local Inventory allows you to show which products are available at your physical store locations when customers search on Google. This drives foot traffic to your stores by letting nearby shoppers see real-time product availability.

Q: How much does Local Inventory cost?

A:

  • Basic Plan: $30/month with a 15-day free trial
  • Premium Plan: $0/month (included with ShoppingFeeder Premium package)

Q: How many locations can I set up?

A: There’s no limit on the number of locations you can configure. Each location requires its own Google Business Profile and store code.

Q: How often does inventory update?

A:

  • ShoppingFeeder syncs with your platform every 24 hours
  • Feeds update automatically at 12:00 AM SAST
  • Google Merchant Center fetches updates every 24 hours

Q: Can I update inventory manually?

A: Updates are automatic. However, you can manually trigger a feed re-fetch in Google Merchant Center if needed:

  1. Go to Data sources
  2. Click on your local inventory feed
  3. Click “Fetch now”

Setup & Configuration

Q: Where do I find my Google My Business store code?

A:

  1. Go to Google Business Profile Manager
  2. Select your business location
  3. The store code is displayed in your business profile details

If you can’t find it, your business may not be verified or approved for Local Inventory Ads.

Q: Can I use the same store code for multiple locations?

A: No. Each physical location must have its own unique Google Business Profile and store code. Using the same code for multiple locations will cause conflicts.

Q: What is a “Feed Label” and why is it set to “ZA”?

A: The feed label identifies the geographic region for your inventory. “ZA” represents South Africa. This must match between ShoppingFeeder and Google Merchant Center for proper syncing.

Q: Can I change my location configuration after setup?

A: Yes. Navigate to Inventory Locations in ShoppingFeeder, update the location details, and save. Changes will be reflected in the next feed update (within 24 hours).

Q: What happens if I enter the wrong store code?

A: Google won’t be able to match your inventory to the correct business location. Update the store code in ShoppingFeeder → Inventory Locations → Save, then wait for the next automatic update.

Feed Management

Q: How do I know if my feed is working?

A: Check Google Merchant Center:

  1. Go to Settings → Data sources
  2. Look at your local inventory feed under Supplemental sources
  3. Status should be “Active” with a recent “Last updated” timestamp

Q: What does “No username and password provided” mean?

A: ShoppingFeeder feeds are publicly accessible via their unique URLs and don’t require authentication. This is the correct setting.

Q: My feed shows warnings. Should I be concerned?

A: Warnings are typically non-critical suggestions from Google. Review them, but they won’t prevent your feed from working. Focus on fixing any critical errors first.

Q: Can I have different feeds for different product categories?

A: The Local Inventory feed contains all your location-specific inventory. Product filtering happens automatically based on your primary product feed setup.

Inventory & Products

Q: Why aren’t my products showing local availability on Google?

A: Common reasons:

  • Feeds still processing (allow 24-48 hours initially)
  • Google Business Profiles not verified
  • Account not approved for Local Inventory Ads
  • Primary product feed has issues
  • Inventory not assigned to locations in your platform

Q: How do I assign inventory to specific locations?

A: This depends on your e-commerce platform:

  • Shopify: Use Shopify’s built-in location inventory management
  • Custom integration: Ensure your platform properly segments inventory by location

Q: Can I set different prices for different locations?

A: Yes, if your e-commerce platform supports location-specific pricing, this will be reflected in the local inventory feed.

Q: What if a product is out of stock at one location but in stock at another?

A: ShoppingFeeder automatically handles this. Each location feed only includes products available at that specific location.

Q: Do I need to have all products available at all locations?

A: No. Each location feed shows only what’s available at that specific store. Customers will see the nearest locations with the product in stock.

Google Merchant Center Integration

Q: Do I need a primary product feed before setting up local inventory?

A: Yes. Local inventory is supplemental data that adds location information to your existing product catalog. Your primary feed must be set up and approved first.

Q: Can I use the same Merchant Center account for multiple websites?

A: Yes, but each website typically requires its own Merchant Center account or sub-account. Local Inventory feeds should be added to the Merchant Center account that manages your primary product feed.

Q: How long does it take for local inventory to appear on Google?

A:

  • Initial feed processing: 15 minutes to several hours
  • Full approval and visibility: 24-48 hours
  • First appearance in search results: Up to 7 days

Q: Does this work with Google Shopping ads?

A: Yes! Local Inventory integrates with Local Inventory Ads, allowing you to promote in-store availability through Google Ads campaigns.

Common Issues & Solutions

Subscription Issues

Issue: Can’t find the Inventory Locations service

Symptoms: Service not visible in Manage Services menu

Solutions:

  1. Verify you’re logged into the correct ShoppingFeeder account
  2. Check that your account has necessary permissions
  3. Ensure your store is fully set up and connected
  4. Contact ShoppingFeeder support if still not visible

Issue: Subscription button inactive

Symptoms: Cannot click “Start FREE trial” button

Solutions:

  1. Complete your store setup first
  2. Verify payment method on file (for paid plans)
  3. Check for any outstanding account issues
  4. Clear browser cache and try again

Configuration Issues

Issue: Feed URL not generating

Symptoms: “The URL For This Feed” field is empty

Solutions:

  1. Ensure all required fields are filled:
    • Location Label
    • Google Store Code
    • Select Location Channel
  2. Click outside the field or press Tab to trigger generation
  3. Save the configuration
  4. Refresh the page if URL still doesn’t appear

Issue: Can’t save location configuration

Symptoms: Save button doesn’t work or changes don’t persist

Solutions:

  1. Check for form validation errors (highlighted fields)
  2. Ensure store code format is correct
  3. Verify all mandatory fields are completed
  4. Try a different browser if issue persists

Issue: Multiple locations showing same inventory

Symptoms: All locations have identical product availability

Solutions:

  1. Check inventory assignment in your e-commerce platform
  2. Verify each location has unique inventory data
  3. Ensure locations are properly configured in platform settings
  4. Contact ShoppingFeeder support to verify feed generation

Google Merchant Center Issues

Issue: Feed fetch failed

Symptoms: Error message in Google Merchant Center data sources

Solutions:

  1. Verify feed URL is correct (copy again from ShoppingFeeder)
  2. Test URL in browser – should download an XML file
  3. Check ShoppingFeeder service status
  4. Verify authentication is set to “No username and password provided”
  5. Try removing and re-adding the feed

Issue: No products in feed

Symptoms: Feed processes successfully but shows 0 products

Solutions:

  1. Check location configuration in ShoppingFeeder
  2. Verify inventory exists for this location in your platform
  3. Ensure primary product feed is approved and active
  4. Wait 24 hours for initial inventory sync
  5. Check feed content in Google Merchant Center diagnostics

Issue: Store code mismatch error

Symptoms: Google reports store code doesn’t match any business profile

Solutions:

  1. Verify store code in Google Business Profile Manager
  2. Update store code in ShoppingFeeder → Inventory Locations
  3. Ensure Google Business Profile is verified and published
  4. Check that store code is entered exactly as shown (case-sensitive)
  5. Wait for next automatic feed update

Issue: Feed stuck in “Processing” status

Symptoms: Feed never moves from “Processing” to “Active”

Solutions:

  1. Allow up to 24 hours for initial processing
  2. Check for error messages in feed details
  3. Verify feed format by testing URL in browser
  4. Review product data requirements in Merchant Center
  5. Contact Google Merchant Center support

Issue: “File format not recognized” error

Symptoms: Google can’t parse the feed file

Solutions:

  1. Verify the feed URL is complete and correct
  2. Check that you selected “Enter a link to your file” option
  3. Ensure you’re not adding HTTP authentication
  4. Test the URL directly in a browser
  5. Contact ShoppingFeeder support if feed format appears incorrect

Inventory Display Issues

Issue: Products not showing “In stock nearby” on Google

Symptoms: Feeds are active but products don’t show local availability

Solutions:

  1. Wait full 24-48 hours for initial processing
  2. Verify Google Business Profiles are verified and published
  3. Check that your account is approved for Local Inventory Ads
  4. Ensure products exist in both primary feed and local inventory feed
  5. Verify feed label “ZA” matches in both ShoppingFeeder and GMC
  6. Search using relevant local terms (product name + location)

Issue: Wrong store showing for products

Symptoms: Products appear available at incorrect location

Solutions:

  1. Verify store code for each location in ShoppingFeeder
  2. Check that store codes match Google Business Profile
  3. Ensure each location feed has unique URL
  4. Confirm location inventory in your e-commerce platform
  5. Wait for next feed update (24 hours)

Issue: Out-of-stock products showing as available

Symptoms: Local availability doesn’t match actual inventory

Solutions:

  1. Check inventory levels in your e-commerce platform
  2. Verify inventory sync from platform to ShoppingFeeder
  3. Wait for next automatic update (24 hours)
  4. Manually trigger feed re-fetch in Google Merchant Center
  5. Review sync logs in ShoppingFeeder if available

Performance Issues

Issue: Feeds taking too long to update

Symptoms: Changes to inventory not reflecting within 24 hours

Solutions:

  1. Verify automatic update schedule is set correctly
  2. Check that fetch time aligns with your business needs
  3. Manually fetch in Google Merchant Center to test
  4. Review ShoppingFeeder service status
  5. Consider increasing fetch frequency if needed (max: every hour)

Issue: High disapproval rate in Merchant Center

Symptoms: Many products disapproved from local inventory

Solutions:

  1. Review disapproval reasons in Merchant Center
  2. Check product data quality in primary feed
  3. Ensure required attributes are present
  4. Verify products meet Google’s policies
  5. Fix issues in primary feed first, then check local inventory

Getting Additional Help

When to Contact ShoppingFeeder Support

  • Subscription or billing issues
  • Feed generation problems
  • Location configuration errors
  • Platform integration issues
  • Feed URL not working

When to Contact Google Support

  • Merchant Center account approval
  • Local Inventory Ads eligibility
  • Google Business Profile verification
  • Feed processing errors in GMC
  • Product disapprovals

When to Contact Platform Support (Shopify, etc.)

  • Inventory assignment issues
  • Location setup in platform
  • Product data synchronization
  • Platform-specific inventory features

Diagnostic Checklist

Use this checklist when troubleshooting:

ShoppingFeeder Configuration

  • Local Inventory subscription is active
  • All locations configured with labels and store codes
  • “Google Local Inventory Feed (ZA)” selected for all locations
  • Feed URLs generated and copied
  • Configuration saved successfully

Google Business Profile

  • All locations verified and published
  • Store codes obtained for each location
  • Business information complete and accurate
  • Locations approved for Local Inventory Ads

Google Merchant Center

  • Primary product feed approved and active
  • Local inventory feeds added as supplemental sources
  • Feed label set to “ZA” for all feeds
  • Authentication set to “No username and password”
  • Feeds showing “Active” status
  • No critical errors in any feed

Inventory Platform

  • Inventory assigned to correct locations
  • Product data accurate and up-to-date
  • Platform connected to ShoppingFeeder
  • Sync working properly

Still Need Help?

If you’ve tried the solutions above and still experiencing issues:

  1. Document the problem: Take screenshots showing the error
  2. Gather details: Note when the issue started and what you’ve tried
  3. Check status pages: Verify no known outages
  4. Contact support: Reach out with your documentation

ShoppingFeeder Support: Support link Google Merchant Center Support: Support link

Best Practices to Avoid Issues

  1. Double-check store codes before saving configuration
  2. Keep Google Business Profiles up to date with current information
  3. Monitor feed health weekly in Google Merchant Center
  4. Maintain accurate inventory in your e-commerce platform
  5. Review product data quality regularly
  6. Test with one location first before adding multiple
  7. Allow 24-48 hours for initial setup before troubleshooting
  8. Keep documentation of your configuration for reference

Last updated: October 2025

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