How long does it take for an
inventory file upload to process?
Processing time will depend on the file size. Small files may load in minutes, while
larger files (greater than 5 MB) may take up to eight hours to process. If a small file
is not processed within an hour, it is potentially stuck. Likewise, if a large file is
not processed within eight hours, it is potentially stuck. In the event that this
occurs, contact Seller Support to cancel the inventory file
upload so it can be resubmitted.
How can I fix inventory file upload
errors?
If you receive any errors after you upload an inventory file, refer to the processing
report to obtain more information about each error. We recommend that you open your
inventory file and processing report side-by-side, so you can determine which fields in
your inventory file resulted in upload errors.
To download and review processing reports, see Review a processing report
Why won’t product information I
submitted in an inventory file upload successfully?
There are several reasons why product information might not appear to upload
successfully.
-
Has the inventory file been
delayed? To determine if a submitted inventory file has been processed, check
the Monitor Upload
Status section within the Add Products via Upload
page in Seller Central. The status of submitted inventory files will appear as
"Request Submitted,"
"In Progress," or "Done." Processing time will depend on the file size.
Small files can load in minutes, while larger files (greater than 5 MB) might take up
to eight hours to process. If a small file is not processed within an hour, it is
potentially stuck. Likewise, if a large file is not processed within 8 hours, it is
potentially stuck. In the event that this occurs, contact Seller Support to abort the inventory
file upload so it can be resubmitted.
-
Did any records have errors? To
determine if a processed inventory file had any errors, visit the Monitor Upload Status
section on the Add Products
via Upload page in Seller Central. In the Upload Status column,
you will see the number of records with errors, and you can find details in the Processing Report.To troubleshoot inventory
file errors, please see the FAQ above: How can I fix inventory file upload
errors.
-
Are any records suppressed?
It’s possible for you to submit an inventory file that processes without errors, but
when you visit the associated product detail page, the listing cannot be found. This
usually occurs when one or more detail pages lack product images. In this scenario,
the SKU might be suppressed.
-
Do you have Detail Page
Control? It is possible that product data you upload will not be
reflected in the catalog due to Detail Page
Control. Detail Page Control rolls up contributions from multiple sellers
into a single "reconciled" view for buyers in the catalog.
How do I use inventory files to create
variations (that is, parent/child relationships)?
You can create variations in most product categories on Amazon. In inventory files, you use
variation themes (i.e. Size, Color, SizeColor) to describe how your products vary. Variation
themes differ by category. To view a list of available variation themes, go to Add
products via Upload to download the inventory file template for your product’s
category and refer to the Data Definitions tab; the Variation Information section will
contain a list of available variation themes. You can also refer to the Valid Values tab of
the inventory file template for a list of available variation themes.
When you create variations, you create a child SKU for
each variation (Size, Color, etc.) of the product, and you create a single parent SKU that
acts as a display case in the catalog for the child SKUs. For instructions on how to create
variations after you’ve downloaded an Inventory File Template and chosen a variation theme
for your product, see Create parent-child relationships.
Can I modify shipping settings using
inventory files?
Use the Shipping Settings feature in your account to customize your standard service
levels, shipping regions, and shipping rates. To make product-level shipping
exceptions, use the Shipping Overrides
Template. Sellers typically use shipping overrides to offer free
shipping on products and to set custom shipping rates for oversized or overweight
items.
Can I upload images in bulk using inventory
files?
Yes, simply include URLs to your images in your inventory
files. You can find more information on the help page Preparing Product
Images.
Note: You cannot delete images
with inventory files. To do so, please contact
Seller Support.
How can I fix inventory file upload errors related to a product
identifier?
-
Confirm that the EAN/UPC is valid (check its validity with an online check digit
calculator).
-
If the EAN/UPC begins with a leading zero (e.g. 013803156881), format the standard
product ID column to ensure that the leading zero isn’t removed after you enter the
EAN/UPC.
-
If you received a product identifier exemption in a certain
category, refer to the email you received when you were granted the exemption for
instructions on how to use the exemption.
How can I update the price and quantity of my products using inventory
files?
You can update the price and quantity of your products by
using:
-
The Price & Quantity file (the easiest way)
-
The Inventory Loader file
-
The appropriate category-specific inventory file
Note: you can update prices and
quantities by modifying your existing inventory file, or you can upload a new inventory
file that contains only SKUs, prices and quantities, and use the Partial-update
feature.
Can I
update the category of a product using inventory files?
You can change the category of a product by including the
product in an inventory file for the category you prefer; however, the category
must be appropriate for the product and the change is subject to Detail
Page Control.