Save 20% on Google Shopping with our free CSS

What is a CSS?

A Comparison Shopping Service is simply a price comparison site. The CSS program exist because of a European Commission ruling: in the European Economic Area and Switzerland, Shopping ads must be open to independent comparison shopping services, not only to Google's own.

Every Shopping ad already runs through a CSS. By default that is Google Shopping (Google's own CSS). You can switch to an independent CSS like BrickHunter at any time.

Where the 20% discount comes from

To comply with the EU remedy, Google operates its own Shopping CSS as a separate business that has to turn a profit on its own. It does that by taking a fixed margin out of every click bid - but only when the ad runs through Google's own CSS. When your ads run through an independent CSS instead, that margin is not applied, so your full bid goes into the auction. In practice this means roughly 20% more bid for the same money, or the same position for a lower cost-per-click.

Why use BrickHunter's CSS

• It's free. We do not charge for the CSS service and we take no share of your ad spend.
• No access to your Google Ads account. We never need your Google Ads login. We have no visibility into your budget, your bids, or your performance data.
• You stay in control. You keep running and optimising your campaigns exactly as you do today. Nothing about your day-to-day workflow changes.
• No lock-in. There is no minimum term and no exit fee. You can switch back to Google Shopping or to another CSS whenever you like.
• Your data stays private. CSS access in Google Merchant Center is scoped. Other merchants using the same CSS cannot see your products, prices, or performance.

What we need from you

To associate your Merchant Center with our CSS, we need your Google Merchant Center account ID(s). That's it. Granting us a user role on your Merchant Center account is optional and only helps us assist you faster if something needs fixing - see the CSS Terms of Service for what limited support means without it.

How it works

1. You send us your Merchant Center account ID using the form below.
2. We associate your account with the BrickHunter CSS.
3. Your Shopping ads start running through our CSS, with the discounted cost-per-click applied automatically in the auction.

Frequently asked questions

Will I see the 20% discount as a line item?

No. There is no separate discount shown anywhere in Google Ads or Merchant Center. The saving happens inside the auction: your bid is no longer reduced by Google's CSS margin, so you win more clicks for the same spend. You'll notice it as improved efficiency, not as a visible rebate.

Do I have to give you access to my Google Ads account?

No. The CSS association happens entirely in Google Merchant Center. We never ask for your Google Ads credentials and we cannot see your campaigns, budgets, or results.

Am I locked in?

No. You can leave at any time by switching your Merchant Center back to Google Shopping or to another CSS. There is no notice period and no fee.

Can my competitors see my data if we use the same CSS?

No. Merchant Center access is per-account. Being associated with the same CSS does not give other merchants any visibility into your account.

Does this change how I build or optimise campaigns?

No. You continue to manage everything in your own Google Ads account exactly as before. Only the CSS behind your listings changes.

Ready to start? Fill in the form below and we'll get back to you.