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Managing Your Inventory on Amazon |
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Manage your inventory on a daily basis by using the Amazon inventory loading tools to make regular additions and deletions and your Inventory Source Product File Download services. The best way to manage your inventory is to upload a file of your complete and current inventory, then maintain this inventory information by regularly sending small batches using the Add/Modify/Delete or Modify/Delete methods. The best way to have this file in an easy to load format is to use your Inventory Source Product File Download Account to create the file (this service is FREE with the Full Inventory Automation Account for all of your supplier subscriptions) or have Inventory Source build a Custom File to meet your needs.
These upload types ensure that you are deleting only those listings that need to be removed, while adding new inventory (as opposed to removing and reloading the entire inventory with a Purge and Replace). As a general rule, change only the listings that need to be changed and leave everything else alone.
If you have more than 50,000 listings, Amazon recommends that you use the Purge and Replace feature no more than once a week. The Inventory Soure Custom File can also help you with this process.
Amazon recommends that sellers use the Purge and Replace feature of our Inventory Loader no more than once a week. For a large inventory, Purge and Replace uploads can take a long time to process. If you have items to delete from inventory, this processing time increases the risk that you will make a Marketplace sale for an out-of-stock item while your file is uploading.
Purge and Replace has a long processing time because this upload type checks the status of every listing, even those that will remain unchanged.
Some of the largest and most successful Amazon sellers rarely use Purge and Replace. These sellers keep their Amazon inventory up to date by submitting only modifications and additions. Not surprisingly, these sellers tend to have very low refund rates because they have very few stock-outs.
Use the Modify/Delete upload method to make quick changes.
If you need to change prices or quantities, or simply to delete listings, use the Modify/Delete upload format, which loads very quickly due to its small size. Inventory Source Services can be used to apply your Custom Price Settings.
Use the Add/Modify/Delete upload method to add new inventory.
If you have new inventory to add, create an Add/Modify/Delete upload file that contains only the new titles you wish to add. This type of upload also processes quickly.
Using these methods will help you maintain a more accurate inventory, which means a better experience for your buyers. When your inventory is up to date, you will have fewer sales of out-of-stock items, which means fewer refunds and higher feedback ratings.
For smoother uploads, break large Inventory Loader files into small batches.
To shorten processing times, break large Inventory Loader files into batches smaller than 10MB (this equals about 25,000 listings). As mentioned earlier, shorter processing times mean that your live listings are more accurate. The Inventory Source Product File Download area of your Inventory Source account, already breaks the files down for you for each dropship wholesale supplier added to your account.
To avoid making frequent Purge and Replace uploads, you should reconcile your current Amazon inventory against your actual on-hand inventory.
To determine the difference between your current Amazon inventory and your actual on-hand inventory:
1) Generate an Open Listings Report through your Amazon Seller Account. By comparing your open listings report to your current on-hand inventory, you can determine which Marketplace listings need to be modified, deleted, or added.
2) A more sophisticated way to reconcile your inventory is to maintain a list of your Amazon listings on your own computer system. Keeping your own up-to-date list allows you to skip generating an open listings report. If all of your dropship products are managed through your Inventory Source Account, then we take care of this need for you each day!
Amazon recommends that sellers use the Purge and Replace feature of the Inventory Loader no more than once a week. For a large inventory, Purge and Replace uploads can take a long time to process. If you have items to delete from inventory, this processing time increases the risk that you will make a Marketplace sale for an out-of-stock item while your file is uploading.
Purge and Replace has a long processing time because this upload type checks the status of every listing, even those that will remain unchanged.
Some of the largest and most successful Amazon sellers rarely use Purge and Replace. These sellers keep their Amazon inventory up to date by submitting only modifications and additions. Not surprisingly, these sellers tend to have very low refund rates because they have very few stock-outs.
After your file finishes processing, review the error log.
Several hours after you have submitted your upload, you will receive an e-mail message informing you that the file has been accepted or rejected from Amazon. If any listings were not properly uploaded, it will be important to understand why by reviewing the error log. Click here for more information on error messages.
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