When you first get started on Amazon, there is a lot to figure out, which is why we created the eBusiness Boss blog. This time around, I will be answering the question: What is a product ID on Amazon?
This doesn’t have to be a complicated subject; I’m going to take you through what you need to know quickly.
Let’s jump right into the main questions I generally receive about product IDs.
What is a Product ID on Amazon?
When you create a new product listing on Amazon, Product ID is one of the mandatory fields you need to complete.
A product ID is basically just the barcode of your product, which is a unique set of identifiers called Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs).
GTINs include:
- Universal Product Codes (UPCs). This is a standard product identifier.
- International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs). This is specifically used for books.
- European Article Numbers (EANs). This is specifically for the European marketplace.
- Japanese Article Numbers (JANs). This is specifically for the Japanese marketplace.
It should be noted that product IDs are not the same as Amazon Standard Identification Numbers (ASINs).
Your ASIN is your unique Amazon identification code for a product; every Amazon listing has one. You might also have seen the word SKU; if you wonder what that means, I explain it all in this article.
To obtain a product identifier, a seller would need to request a GTIN from the manufacturer. If you plan to manufacture the products yourself, you should refer to the GS1 standards website.
A lot of private label Amazon sellers get confused when they read manufacturer. Most assume this is the factory or company that created the product on their behalf a lot of the time; this is incorrect.
If you sell a private label/white label brand on Amazon, in most cases, you will be classed as the manufacturer as you take sole responsibility for any product under your brand.
How Do I Find My Product ID?
To locate your product ID, refer to the product packaging.
You will find a series of numbers and letters above and/or below the barcode – this is your product ID. I also recommend you check the product ID requirements for your particular category to ensure you know what GTIN you are looking for.
You can find a full list of product ID requirements on the Seller Central website here.
Source: Seller Central
Another point to add on this, if the product you are looking at is an Amazon-specific product, it might just be labeled with the Amazon barcode; this is called the FNSKU label. If your barcode doesn’t look like one of the examples above and is exclusively sold on Amazon, it could be an FNSKU.
For more information on FNSKU, read this article.
If you have any further questions about Amazon’s product ID requirements, leave me a comment below.
On the subject of product IDs, I recommend you also read through my guide on Amazon product packaging and inserts here.
Hopefully, you found this article useful; if you didn’t, let me know where I can improve it!
More useful content is coming soon!
Tags: Amazon beginner, amazon FBA, amazon questions, amazon seller, amazon seller questions
