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Why do you HAVE to Delete and Relist listings? 🤔 The Answer Might Surprise You!
Hello Sellers 👋
We understand the frustration that comes with encountering difficulties in updating your products and receiving requests from Seller Support to delete and then relist the listings. But why is this necessary? Let's dive into it. 💡
When you submit updates to your listings, you're adding new information to the attributes without removing any previous contributions. This can lead to errors, like conflicting contributions for the same ASIN from different SKUs. Simply editing the listing won't fix it because the old contributions stick around, causing conflicts and errors.
This is where deleting and relisting comes into play. By deleting the listing and waiting at least 24 hours, you allow Amazon's system to fully clear out the old contributions, eliminating any conflicting information causing errors. ⏳
The recommended method for deleting and relisting is by using a File Template and the EAN as the Product ID (if it has one). This ensures that your contributions are stored in a flat file, enabling bulk changes. 📝
While it can be frustrating, deleting and relisting is a powerful tool in managing your listings effectively, whether with or without Seller Support.
Have you had any success stories with deleting and relisting? What aspects of the experience do you think could be improved?
If you have specific questions about listing errors, please start a new thread with your most recent Seller Support Case.
Thank you for your attention and have a great day 🌟
30 replies
Seller_mMeu0qmt8e8SD
Hi Ezra,
It is kind of undertandable. But what about lost customers reviews?
As i lost on one of my asin's all customers reviews while we updated (relisted thrue flat file) and now insted of combining customers reviews i lost compleatly one of Variation listing revievs.
Can you guid how to get them back?
Kind Regards
Karolis
Seller_d8YGbIjNqwFxn
Whilst a lot of this is true there are some caveats.
Firstly if you share the listing with other sellers and they have made contributions this will not delete their contributions if the ASIN is still active in their catalogue.
Secondly if Amazon bots have changed some of the listing information then this is not normally removed when you delete the item.
Thirdly if you no longer have permissions to create ASINs for brand then deleting it will remove your contributions but you will not be able to add new contributions in when you relist the item.
Seller_CJAn9FclIoBJn
I have deleted listings and relisted and it can work. But sometimes you cannot relist as there is some sort of a clash. It seems risky to delete and relist on a fast moving product. We try tooth and nail to correct while live. Had to abandon a few listings due to relisting problems. If desparate delete and spend a nerve racking 24 hours waiting to see what appears on the other end. Products with variations are the most difficult to relist without issue. Seller support are not worth speaking to - they just send cut and pasted emails about unrelated subjects. Raising a case might be worth it if you want to spend 3 days emailing! Might have to sometimes though.
Seller_ZQyopdiwkUHOZ
This is where deleting and relisting comes into play. By deleting the listing and waiting at least 24 hours, you allow Amazon's system to fully clear out the old contributions, eliminating any conflicting information causing errors. ⏳
This doesn't actually happen, though. I've deleted our own branded products that we set up and were the only historical seller of on Amazon, left them for multiple weeks, used a file upload to re-add the products using 'Update', which is SUPPOSED to overwrite any existing data anyway, and then when the listings populate, they still hold old data.
It's also a lie that this needs to be done, as I've had it happen that *eventually* someone from the brand registry team could be bothered to do their job, and deleted the old data out of the listing for me, so I could then correct it with the new.
They did this without needing to remove the listing. They did this despite the fact I couldn't, even though allegedly the system treats the brand owner's contributions as higher priority than those of the Amazon staff.
Lastly, why is this the system? This isn't some system Amazon dug out of the Earth with a mysterious, divine origin; Amazon made this system. Amazon coded and operate it. There is no reason at all that they need to make it this difficult. There should obviously be a tool that lets a Brand Representative remove inaccurate information in a simple and direct manner. They shouldn't have to fight the system to correct problems.
Seller_i38MVIJDH23AY
This is totally what I wanted to say.
Seller_m4fZYr7VSq0bR
The process of updating Amazons catalogue is to my mind rather archaic and very time consuming. Why do you keep changing the flat files? Sellers need to download and repopulate a new version every time we want to make an update.
Secondly, old attributes do stick around despite the 24 hours thing, and if you are brand registered then why do certain attributes become locked? Surely as the brand owner we can be trusted to amend our own Manufacturer part number , size or images? It often takes multiple delete and updates taking best part of a week plus half a dozen seller support replies before some of these locked attributes become changed.
The system comes across as rather clunky and outdated from a sellers perspective. I have earned to work with it but updating listings should really not be as aggravating as it is.
Seller_K8edOfPu9HEmN
eBay has a far more superior way of listing products. The sensible option would be to ditch the catalogue system which is very much open to abuse and manipulation and let sellers have their own listings.
Seller_zjYfcV4aBG8cV
Amazon have resorted to click bait youtube-esque titles and emojis now rather than trying to fix any one of the numerous 1000's of complaints raised by amazon sellers a day... good sign of things to come.
Seller_tRuvBEHDedp4q
When you submit updates to your listings, you're adding new information to the attributes without removing any previous contributions. This can lead to errors, like conflicting contributions for the same ASIN from different SKUs. Simply editing the listing won't fix it because the old contributions stick around, causing conflicts and errors.
This is where deleting and relisting comes into play. By deleting the listing and waiting at least 24 hours, you allow Amazon's system to fully clear out the old contributions, eliminating any conflicting information causing errors. ⏳
As others have pointed out - if a listing has offers from several people then the above can never work. You are always fighting against other contributions (which may be in error). Deleting a listing can only delete your own contributions - not everyone else's - the listing is NEVER completely deleted. It cannot otherwise it would be deleted for all sellers.
So when updating a listing, as you can only ever amend your own contributions anyway, then a simple UPDATE is the only thing that should be required - not this ridiculous delete wait 24 hours then relist. Why Amazon insist that is the only way I have no idea - smacks to me more of programmer incompetence.
I have been a computer/website/database programmer in the past and I can see no reason at all why an update cannot work over a delete/relist cycle,
Seller_lFMc9TmKS0CO5
So, you mean, we have to deal and struggle, losing money and time, with the lame system of Amazon, cause apparently you are not in the mood to solve it and make it work properly in a near future, isn't it?
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