If you belong to the category of sellers who sometimes get lost in the variety of product codes, Amazon has got you covered. When learning about being an Amazon seller, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with and understand a few different codes that are used to label products and listings. The main ones are ASIN, SKU, and FNSKU: What do they mean and how do they differ?
ASIN – Unique identifier code
ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) is a unique product identifier created by Amazon. It consists of a 10-character alphanumeric code assigned to a specific product. If multiple sellers offer the same product, they will all have the same ASIN. The same ASIN is typically used across different Amazon marketplaces, and sellers cannot modify the assigned code.
It is interesting to note that ASINs always start with B0… This format was chosen in 1996 when it became apparent that Amazon would expand its product offerings beyond books. By adopting this format, Amazon did not have to change its existing system, which was originally designed to identify books using the ten-digit International Standard Book Number (ISBN).
SKU – Your offer code
SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is a unique offer code created by sellers themselves. You can see this code only when you are logged into your Amazon Seller Central account. The main purpose of SKU is to help manage inventory more efficiently, expedite product delivery to customers, and track sales accurately. Therefore, if you sell products that are of the same manufacturer and model but have different characteristics such as colour or size, you should use different SKU codes to identify colour or size variations. This will help understand which variation of the product is the most popular.
When planning how to sell on Amazon more efficiently, you can create multiple different SKU codes for a single ASIN. For example, if you sell a product using both FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant) and FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) methods, you can create two separate SKU codes for the product. You can achieve this by creating a new product listing and entering the existing ASIN code and the desired SKU code. If you don’t enter the SKU code yourself, Amazon will generate it for you.
Amazon advertising operates at the SKU level because you advertise not just a specific product that can be sold by multiple sellers, but your own offer.
If you need to change your offer’s SKU code for any reason, you can only do so with the assistance of Seller Support. However, the entire process of changing the code can be costly and time-consuming, taking up to several months, depending on the amount of inventory you have sent to Amazon warehouses (if you are using FBA and managing inventory using FNSKU codes). This is because Amazon will need to relabel your inventory with the new codes. This procedure is not necessary if you manage your inventory in Amazon warehouses using the manufacturer barcode.
FNSKU – Product’s barcode
FNSKU (Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit) is an Amazon-generated code that identifies products in Amazon warehouses. This code is relevant only for sellers using the FBA Amazon method. Inventory tracking and management can be done using the FNSKU code, which is associated with the SKU code or the manufacturer barcode. If you use the FNSKU code and change the SKU, the FNSKU will also change, requiring the relabeling of barcode stickers in Amazon warehouses.
When you create a product listing, Amazon automatically generates the FNSKU code for you. It is used for creating shipments of inventory to Amazon warehouses and later serves as an identifier for your products within the warehouses.
Still have questions? About being an Amazon seller, what are the differences between Amazon codes, and so on? We are always sharing the most important information and tips about selling on Amazon, however, we can also assist your business personally. Contact the team of Amazon specialists, DIGITAL FREAKS, and enjoy easy and smooth selling on Amazon.