Untrustworthy promotions are one of the fastest ways to get a Google Merchant Center suspension — and Google can suspend on detection, without warning. The policy targets offers that exaggerate a benefit or misrepresent the terms: fake or mismatched discounts, “buy one get one free” that isn’t, “free shipping” that hides a minimum spend, and false urgency. This guide shows exactly what crosses the line, what a compliant promotion looks like, and how to fix a promotions-related suspension, with 19 questions answered at the end.
What are “untrustworthy promotions”?
Untrustworthy promotions are offers that mislead shoppers by exaggerating the benefit or misrepresenting the terms of a deal. It’s a sub-type of Google’s misrepresentation policy, so it carries the same weight: Google’s systems can suspend your account on detection and without prior warning. The core test is simple — does the promotion a shopper sees in your ad or listing exactly match what they actually get at checkout? If there’s a gap, it’s untrustworthy.
The most common promotion traps
Most violations fall into a handful of predictable patterns. “Buy one, get one free” that actually gives a lesser-value item free is a violation. “Free delivery on all products” when there’s really a minimum spend to qualify is a violation. “50% off all products” when only a limited selection is eligible misleads users and triggers the policy. And high-discount, scarcity-driven offers like “90% off for the first 10 customers” create urgency that can mislead shoppers who don’t realize how limited the deal is. The pattern is always the same: the headline promises more than the checkout delivers.
Strikethrough and “was/now” pricing rules
The single hardest rule: the price in your product data source must match the price on your landing page. Google shows the data-source price in ads and free listings, so if your feed says one price and the product page shows another, that mismatch alone can trigger a suspension. “Was/now” or strikethrough pricing is allowed, but the “now” price must be real and consistent everywhere, and the “was” price must be a genuine prior price — not an inflated number invented to make the discount look bigger.
Compliant vs non-compliant promotions
The difference between a safe promotion and a suspension is accuracy and disclosure. Compliant: “Free shipping on orders over $50” stated clearly, with the threshold shown before checkout. Non-compliant: “Free shipping” with the minimum hidden until the cart. Compliant: “20% off selected kitchenware” with the eligible range clear. Non-compliant: “20% off everything” when only some items qualify. Compliant: a genuine “was $80, now $60.” Non-compliant: a “was $200, now $60” where the item never sold at $200. State the real terms up front and your promotion stays safe.
How to run compliant promotions
Run promotions that match reality everywhere and you’ll avoid this suspension entirely. Follow these steps.
- Match feed price to landing-page price. Ensure the price in your product data source is identical to the price shown on the product page, including any sale price.
- State conditions up front. If there’s a minimum spend, eligible-product limit, or quantity cap, say so clearly in the offer — not just at checkout.
- Use real reference prices. Only show a “was” or strikethrough price that the product genuinely sold at before; never inflate it.
- Make sure the deal is actually deliverable. If you advertise BOGO or a percentage off, the checkout must apply exactly that, to exactly the products advertised.
- Avoid fake urgency. Drop countdown timers that reset, “only X left” claims that aren’t true, and “first N customers” offers that mislead.
- Keep it consistent across channels. The offer in your ad, listing, site banner, and checkout should all say the same thing.
What to do if you’re suspended for untrustworthy promotions
Fix every promotion-to-checkout gap before you appeal, because this is classified under misrepresentation and reviews are limited. Audit your active promotions, your strikethrough prices, your shipping-threshold messaging, and your feed-vs-site prices, and correct each mismatch. Remove deceptive urgency elements entirely. Then submit a single appeal that lists the specific changes you made. Because untrustworthy-promotion suspensions are detected automatically, the fix has to be real and verifiable on the live site, not just promised.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as an untrustworthy promotion?
Any offer that exaggerates a benefit or misrepresents its terms — a discount that doesn’t apply as stated, a “free” item that’s lesser value, “free shipping” with a hidden minimum, or a price that doesn’t match checkout. The test is whether the advertised offer equals what the shopper actually receives.
Are countdown timers against Google’s policy?
Genuine, accurate limited-time offers are fine, but fake urgency is not. Countdown timers that reset, perpetual “sale ends today” banners, or false scarcity create misleading urgency and can trigger the policy.
Can I use strikethrough or “was/now” pricing?
Yes, if it’s honest. The “now” price must match your feed and landing page, and the “was” price must be a real prior price. Inflating the “was” price to exaggerate the discount is a violation.
Why was my product approved but my promotion disapproved?
The product data can be compliant while the offer’s terms are misleading or mismatched. Promotions are evaluated on whether the advertised deal matches the real checkout experience, separately from the product itself.
What are the rules for “free shipping” offers?
If free shipping has conditions — a minimum spend or specific regions — you must state them clearly up front. “Free shipping on all products” when a minimum applies at checkout is a classic untrustworthy-promotion violation.
Is “Buy One Get One Free” allowed?
Yes, if it’s literally true. If the “free” item is actually a lower-value product or has conditions, the BOGO claim is misleading and violates the policy. Advertise exactly what the customer gets.
Does the feed price really have to match the landing page?
Yes — this is one of the most common triggers. Google shows the price from your data source in ads and listings, and it must match the price on the product page exactly, including sale prices.
Can I advertise “50% off everything”?
Only if it’s genuinely everything. If only a selection qualifies, say “up to 50% off” or specify the eligible range. Claiming “all products” when it’s a subset misleads users and triggers the policy.
Will I get a warning before suspension?
Often not. Untrustworthy-promotion violations can lead to suspension on detection without prior warning, so it’s better to audit promotions proactively than to wait for an alert.
Are “first 10 customers” style offers risky?
They can be. A very high discount limited to a tiny number of buyers creates urgency that can mislead shoppers who don’t realize how limited it is. If you run one, make the limitation unmistakable.
How is this different from a general misrepresentation suspension?
Untrustworthy promotions are a specific sub-type of misrepresentation focused on offers and pricing. The enforcement and recovery approach is the same: fix the real issues, then appeal with specifics.
Do sale badges and discount labels count?
Yes, if they imply a deal that isn’t real. A “Sale” badge with no actual price reduction, or a discount label that doesn’t reflect the checkout price, is misleading.
What if my promotion app adds urgency timers automatically?
You’re still responsible for what appears on your site. Disable auto-resetting timers and false-scarcity widgets, since they can trigger the policy even if a third-party app generated them.
Can I show different prices to different regions?
You can have region-specific pricing, but each region’s feed price must match what that region’s shoppers see on the landing page. The mismatch, not the variation, is what causes problems.
How do I fix a promotions suspension?
Audit and correct every promotion-to-checkout gap — prices, shipping thresholds, BOGO terms, strikethrough prices — remove deceptive urgency, then appeal once with a specific list of the changes you made.
How long does reinstatement take?
With the AI-led review, decisions often come within hours to a few days once you’ve fixed everything. Submitting before the fixes are live almost always fails.
Do these rules apply to Performance Max and free listings?
Yes. The promotions and pricing accuracy rules apply across Shopping ads, Performance Max, and free product listings, since they all draw on the same Merchant Center data and policies.
Are dropshipping stores more likely to trigger this?
Often, because dropshipping templates frequently ship with fake countdown timers, inflated “compare at” prices, and aggressive discount widgets. Strip those out and keep prices honest and matched.
Can iComchain help fix an untrustworthy-promotions suspension?
Yes. iComchain audits your promotions, pricing, and feed-to-site consistency, removes the elements that trigger the policy, and prepares a clean appeal. Message us on WhatsApp at +1 (347) 797-6845.
Suspended and not sure which promotion triggered it? Use our Merchant Center diagnostic hub to pinpoint the cause, then review the broader misrepresentation recovery guide.
Want it handled for you? See our Merchant Center misrepresentation reinstatement service — free 15-minute review, typical reinstatement in 7–14 days.