Lesson 3: Understanding Amazon Product Identifiers
Amazon works on a catalog system, which means that every item listed on Amazon will have a unique product identifier. A particular model of a certain brand of shoes will have a certain product identifier, a specific publication of a certain book will have another product identifier, and so on. Any time a seller on Amazon wants to list this model of shoe or book from a given publication, they will need to provide Amazon with the item’s product identifier in order to connect to the relevant product page.
This guide will go over the types of product identifiers that Amazon utilizes, explain Amazon’s own product identifier system (ASIN), and go over cases when you might want to request a product identifier exemption from Amazon.
What are ASINs?
Amazon has its own internal catalog number for each item listed on the site, known as an ASIN – Amazon Standard Identification Number. An ASIN can act as a product identifier on Amazon, which means that if you already have a list of ASINs for your items, you can use it to list your products on Amazon.
Types of Product Identifiers
In addition to ASINs, Amazon also accepts the following universally used product identifiers: GTINs, UPCs, ISBNs, and EANs.
UPCs (Universal Product Codes) are used for identifying a variety of products. Any time you check out at a store and the cashier scans the item you’re purchasing, they’re scanning the product’s UPC.
ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers) work in a similar manner, but they’re specific to books. Every copy of a book printed in a given publication will have the same ISBN.
EANs (European Article Numbers) are the European equivalent to UPCs. They are used to identify products in Europe and the rest of the world.
The GTIN system is a standardization of UPCs, ISBNs, and EANs (among others). GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers) were created to serve as universal product identifiers that bring together all the product identifiers mentioned above. Different iterations of GTINs are used for all kinds of products and recognized all around the world.
Requesting an Exemption from Amazon
In some cases, you may not have a product identifier for the items you sell. This can be the case for sellers who sell handmade jewelry, for example, or offer products that are print-on-demand.
In cases such as these, you can purchase a UPC from GS1, or apply for an exemption from Amazon. You can also use ExportYourStore to apply for exemptions on your behalf during the setup of your Amazon store.
