How to fix (and avoid) Amazon listing errors

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When you’re listing products for sale online, it might feel like error codes are just slowing you down—but they can ultimately help you craft high-quality listings that win over customers and attract more sales. To help you resolve issues as quickly as possible, this post covers:

• What are Amazon listing errors—and what causes them?
• 3 types of listing errors and how to resolve them
• How to resolve other error codes

What are Amazon listing errors—and what causes them?

Amazon listing errors are messages that contain information paired with a reference number. They appear when there’s a potential problem as you try to list a product for sale in the Amazon store. The cause of an error message depends on its specific code, with common triggers being typos, missing or conflicting information, permissions, and other issues that could potentially be problematic for sellers and customers.

3 types of listing errors and how to fix them

Fixing a listing error can sometimes be as simple as reviewing and verifying the product details, swapping out a mismatched photo, or double-checking Amazon policies. Let’s walk through three types of errors and solutions for common error codes within each group:

1. Product matching errors
2. Brand name errors
3. Generic product errors

1. Product matching errors

Product matching simplifies the listing experience by allowing you to match new offers to products that are already for sale in the Amazon store—so you don’t have to recreate pages from scratch. Each product has its own product detail page, which serves as a home for the information, images, and videos associated with that product.

Product ID errors

If you get a product ID error, you might be trying to create a new detail page for a product that’s already listed, or the product ID you entered might be associated with a different product.

First confirm the product ID you entered is accurate. Make sure it’s the exact Global Trade Identification Number (GTIN) that appears on the product’s barcode.

Next, review the error message and check if the product we’ve suggested in the error message is the one you’re trying to list. If it’s the same one you’re trying to list, copy the Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) from the error message and enter it in the “Product ID” field to resolve the error. If the product is different from the one you want to list, reach out to Seller Support for assistance.

Product attribute errors

A product matching error can occur when product attributes conflict with information in the existing product listing. You might be able to update the attribute value you receive an error for, matching the attribute with the information for the existing product.

You can also use the Fix Your Products tool in Seller Central to resolve attribute errors. In the main menu, hover over Inventory, then select Manage All Inventory. Select the tab for Search Suppressed and Inactive Listings. From here you can select Incomplete listings, then look for matching conflicts. Select the Accept Amazon’s Value button to update the attribute.

Try the Fix Your Products tool

SKU errors

You might get an error message related to stock-keeping units (SKUs) if you’ve entered a SKU that’s already associated with a different product, either in your inventory or the wider Amazon store. To solve the issue, delete the listing you started, then recreate it using a unique SKU.

2. Brand name errors

In some cases, you might encounter error codes related to the Amazon Brand Name policy, which provides a framework for how brand names work in the Amazon store. It also helps protect the intellectual property (IP) of brand and product owners.

Error code 5461

Error code 5461 indicates you don’t have permission to create new product detail pages for a brand. Make sure you’ve entered the correct brand name with no variations in spelling or spacing. Also, if your Brand Registry account and selling account aren’t already associated, make sure you associate your accounts. For more info, search “Brand Registry selling roles” in Seller Central, and review the help content for that topic.

If those steps don’t solve the issue, check the error message for a link to a selling application. Use the link to complete the application if you would like to get permission to create product detail pages for the brand.

Learn more about error code 5461

Error code 5664

If you get error code 5664, you might be listing a generic product but not using “generic” as the brand-name value. Try recreating the error by following the Add Products workflow. During the listing creation process, follow the link in the error message and complete the application if you want to list the product under a brand name.

Error code 5665

When adding a product, you might receive error code 5665 if you enter a brand name that hasn’t been approved by Amazon. Enroll the brand in Brand Registry, or request permission to use an unregistered brand name, if you don’t have a pending or active trademark.

To request permission to use an unregistered brand name, complete a selling application for catalog authorization in Seller Central. Follow the link in the 5665 error message to the application form. When you have permission to use the brand name, you can start to list products with it.

Learn more about resolving brand name errors

3. Generic product errors

In the Amazon store, generic products don’t belong to an identifiable brand, and an unbranded product doesn’t have a distinctive name or logo. Amazon’s Generic Product policy provides guidelines for sellers, and helps customers differentiate between branded and generic products. It also protects sellers by preventing unauthorized offers and changes to product detail pages.

Error code 5882

If you’re creating a generic product listing and receive error code 5882, there might be an intellectual property issue. Check our Intellectual Property Policy for Sellers. If you believe you’re following all policies, select Help in the upper-right corner of Seller Central, then choose Get help and resources. Select My issue is not listed, and include a note explaining that you want to list a generic product but received error 5882. A member of Seller Support will reach out to assist.

Error code 5885

You might get error code 5885 if you try to update a detail page for another seller’s generic product, or if you try to add offers to another seller’s generic product listing. You might also get error code 5885 if you try to copy a detail page for another seller’s generic product to an Amazon store for another country or region. As a solution, you can create a new product listing for a generic product, or contact Seller Support for assistance if you think you have permission to add the product. A member of Seller Support will reach out if next steps are necessary.

Error codes 5886 and 5887

Error codes 5886 and 5887 indicate that you’re trying to make changes to a product detail page that you don’t have permission to modify. Similar to error code 5885, this could happen if you’re trying to add offers to another seller’s generic product listing, or if you’re trying to copy a detail page for another seller’s generic product to another Amazon store.

You cannot appeal errors 5886 or 5887. But to avoid running into these errors, you can try listing the product generically. For example, if you want to sell a generic cell phone case, create a new product detail page by providing all the required information and images in the Add Products workflow.

Learn more about fixing generic product errors

How do you resolve other listing errors?

Whether exceeding character limits or missing attributes, listing errors take a variety of forms, but you can often find a solution. Review the error code for specific guidance to fix the issue, like correcting details or getting required permissions. As needed, you can also explore any help content associated with the code by using the top search bar in Seller Central, or reach out to Seller Support for assistance.

Here’s how to find error codes and identify listing issues that might need your attention:

1. Log in to your selling account.
2. In the main menu of Seller Central, hover over Inventory, then select Manage All Inventory.
3. Use the “Listing status” filter to identify and fix issues.

You can use this same process to monitor the status of listings anytime. Discover which listings are active, along with suggestions for steps you can take to make improvements.

Learn more about error codes and fixes

Minimize listing errors and get products in front of customers faster

Navigating Amazon listing errors can help you improve product discoverability, get listings live quickly, and keep listings visible to customers. Along the way, our tools and resources can help optimize your operations and make the listing process as efficient as possible. Check out Seller University for free educational materials about listing products and related topics.

Looking to speed up your day-to-day tasks so you can focus on other aspects of growing your business? Check out ecommerce automation for listing products, monitoring inventory, and more solutions.

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