Common conflicts
- identifier_exists is false, but GTIN or MPN is present.
- identifier_exists is true, but GTIN, MPN, and brand are blank.
- Custom products use made-up barcodes instead of a true identifier strategy.
- Feed rules override Shopify fields in Merchant Center.
- Multiple feed sources send different identifier values for the same item.
How to inspect it
- Find several affected item IDs in Merchant Center.
- Export the Shopify product data for those exact products and variants.
- Compare GTIN, barcode, MPN, brand, vendor, and identifier_exists side by side.
- Look for app rules, supplemental feeds, or Merchant Center feed rules changing the final value.
Important warning
Do not set identifier_exists to false just to silence warnings if the product actually has manufacturer identifiers. That can create bigger product data quality problems later.
Need a safer review?
Run the free feed checker first, or order the $97 audit if you want a prioritized review of your CSV and diagnostic evidence.
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