You can use inventory file templates to list your products in the Amazon catalog and to offer them for sale on Amazon. Inventory file templates let you to add or edit product listings in bulk. You can create a template to suit your specific requirements and list different types of products across multiple categories using one template. First, create your template using the Add a Product via Upload tool. For more information, see Create your inventory file template.
If the items you are listing are already in Amazon’s catalogue, you can use the Inventory Loader file to add your prices and quantities for sale. This is the easiest file to use. You just need to know the ISBN, UPC or EAN.
If the items you are listing are books and are not in the catalogue, or you don’t know the ISBN, UPC or EAN, you can use the Standard Bookloader file. You supply information about the book (such as title and author) and we will check whether it already matches a catalogue item. If it doesn’t match, we will create a new catalogue entry based on the information you supplied. Booksellers may also want to load inventory using the UIEE format. With this option, if you don't have ISBNs, you can still load your items to Marketplace by taking advantage of Amazon's ISBN matching. Books that don't have ISBNs will have new detail pages created.
If the items you are listing belong in the Music category, you can use the Music Loader File. If your product is already in Amazon’s catalogue, Amazon will add your listing to the existing page. If your product is not already in the catalogue, Amazon will create a new catalogue page based on the information you supplied.
The Price & Quantity template is great for easy inventory modifications. With it you can modify or delete your existing inventory on Amazon by only submitting SKU, Price and Quantity in your upload.
We recommend that you keep a backup copy of your completed template on your computer hard drive.
The SKU is the key field in every inventory file and should not be altered or reused. Amazon uses the SKUs in your inventory file to associate your product listings (the product page ASIN and your offering) with your individual inventory level records in the Amazon catalog. This means the following:
We recommend that you always provide the UPC, EAN, JAN, or ISBN when creating a new product page on Amazon. For more information, see Product identifiers. For the requirements for each category, including exceptions and exemptions where available, see Category and product code requirements.
Customers primarily use search terms (keywords) to find products on Amazon. Good search terms go a long way toward increasing product visibility. Most products can support five keywords. Think like customers do and use search terms that are popular on your own website or for your product line. For more information about using search terms, see Use search & browse.
Some categories support variation relationships that include single parent product and multiple child products.
Parent products are non-sellable products that you list in your inventory file so you can create relationships between products.
Child products are unique, sellable products linked to a parent product. The child product is similar to other child products (or siblings) linked to the same parent product. However, the child varies from its siblings according to specific criteria. These criteria are described in the variation-theme section of the Data Definitions tab on the inventory file template. Acceptable variation themes differ by category but might include attributes such as size, color, and flavor.
Set up parent-child relationships in your inventory file whenever possible. This makes search and browse results much more manageable for customers because related child products are grouped together. When you set up parent-child relationships, distinguish each child product in the title. For example, if you sell shirts and some are red and some are blue, use "Shirt, Red" and "Shirt, Blue."
You can view the child ASINs for each parent ASIN in the Amazon catalog on the Add a Product page in your seller account.
To create inventory files, you download the appropriate text file template. The text file template is a Microsoft Excel file that contains a preformatted worksheet where you list your product data. It also contains a number of other worksheets to help understand how to use the template.
Because each category on Amazon requires a different set of product data for its detail pages, a separate product template also exists for each category. In fact, some categories might have more than one template. It is important to use only the appropriate product template that is intended for your category.
When you open the product template in Microsoft Excel, you see several tabs along the bottom of the product template workbook. These tabs include the following:
Tab | Description |
---|---|
Instructions | An overview of how to use the product template. |
Data Definitions | A detailed review of each field in the inventory file. This tab provides a label name, definition, use case, accepted values, and example for each field. |
Template | The actual worksheet on where you enter your product data using to the specifications found in the Data Definitions tab. This worksheet contains a row to help Amazon know which template you are using and a second row with column headings (label names) representing each of the fields in your inventory file. |
Examples | Examples of how to accurately format the data for different products. |
As you enter your product data on the Template tab, be sure you follow the instructions provided on the Data Definitions tab. Many fields require you to use very specific terms. Sometimes those terms are listed in the Accepted Values column of the Data Definitions tab.
After you finish populating the Template tab in the Product Template with your product data, you are ready to create the inventory file you will upload to Amazon using Seller Central.
You are now ready to upload your inventory file. For more information, refer to the Upload your inventory file.
The lead time to ship is the time it takes you to get a product to your shipment carrier. The total shipping time is then lead time + carrier time.
The following table identifies the fulfillment messaging that Amazon provides to customers based on the product-level availability you provide in your inventory data feed. Your product-level availability must be a number between 0 and 30.
Input | Availability Message | Min Days | Max Days |
---|---|---|---|
NULL, 0 | In stock | 1 | 2 |
1 | In stock | 1 | 2 |
2 | In stock | 1 | 2 |
3 | In stock. Processing takes an additional 2 to 3 days for orders from this seller. | 2 | 3 |
4 | In stock. Processing takes an additional 3 to 4 days for orders from this seller. | 3 | 4 |
5 | Usually ships in 4-5 business days | 4 | 5 |
6-10 | Usually ships in 1 to 2 weeks | 6 | 10 |
11-15 | Usually ships in 2 to 3 weeks | 11 | 15 |
16-20 | Usually ships in 3 to 4 weeks | 16 | 20 |
21-30 | Usually ships in 1 to 2 months | 21 | 30 |
Use this information to help you build your inventory file:
My product information adheres to the Data Definitions tab The Text File Template includes a Data Definitions tab containing a detailed review of each field in the inventory file. This tab provides a label name, definition, use case, accepted values, and example for each field. You will need to refer to this tab to successfully upload your products. The Data Definitions tab is located at the bottom of the Text File template.
My product information adheres to Amazon's best practices for listing products Amazon offers suggestions for listing your product information that is proven to increase both visibility and sales. For more information, please see Using Product Details.
My images meet Amazon's requirements Images greatly increase sales and therefore are extremely important. Amazon offers advice on how to list the best images for your products. For more information, please see Using Product Details.
The Search Terms for my products are the best they can be Search terms are the primary method customers use to find products. Amazon offers tips on optimising these terms. For more information, please see Using Search & Browse.
Before you upload your inventory file, check that it meets the following conditions: