The Amazon error code 8016 error on seller central is a common issue that impacts sellers’ ability to set up product listing parent/child variations. The error can be caused by the seller failing to provide enough product identification information about the variation in the feed or by submitting information that is different from the content currently in Amazon’s catalog. Grouping Parent/Child variations is better for the Amazon customer experience as it combines all of the size, color, and style options available to them. From a seller’s perspective, all of the individual SKUs are grouped together to help rank higher on the search results page resulting in more clicks and sales. Given how beneficial variations are, it is important that Amazon sellers are able to set them up properly and ensure they are displaying on the detail pages. Submitting changes to variations can be difficult when faced with Amazon error codes. The Amazon error code 8016 variation error is one of the most common issues that prevents variations from being set up properly. This post will tell you more about the Amazon error code 8016, steps for how to resolve the Amazon error code 8016, and other tips around ensuring proper variation setup.
What is Amazon Error Code 8016?
The Amazon 8016 error occurs when the variation information that has been submitted is incorrect or incomplete. The exact error message is:
“The product data provided was insufficient for creating a variation (parent/child) relationship for SKU: [SKU]. Ensure that the parent and child share the same VariationTheme and that there is a submission for variation theme attributes (for example, size and color for SizeColor VariationTheme). For more information, see https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/errorcode/8016.”
This message doesn’t provide specific information and can lead to further confusion. I have found, this error message is essentially telling the seller that the variation information (including the variation theme, parent SKU, and relationship type) does not match what is currently in Amazon’s catalog. This indicates that the child ASIN with the 8016 error is already connected to another variation. If this is the case, the original variation will need to be broken before the child ASIN can be added to the new variation.
How to Resolve Amazon Error Code 8016?
There are two steps for resolving the Amazon Error code 8016: ensure you have the correct variation fields filled in and correct the existing parent variation.
Ensure Correct Variation Fields are Filled
The first step to resolving the 8016 error code is to review the processing feed. Identify the ASINs with the 8016 issue and check the variation fields. For child ASINs, check that the correct parent SKU is provided and that the Variation Theme and Relationship Type fields have been filled in correctly. Make sure that you have submitted the relevant theme attributes (i.e. ensure the color name field is filled in for ColorName theme variations). For parent ASINs with the 8016 error, check that the parent SKU field under variation attributes has been left blank. The rest of the variation fields should be filled out for the parent ASIN. Submit the file with the corrected fields and monitor the processing report. If no error codes are found then you are done.
Correct the Existing Parent ASIN
If errors are still present in the processing feed then the existing variation will need to be deleted. An easy way to see if an ASIN is associated with an existing variation is by checking the Variation Wizard tool. Navigate to Manage Inventory in Seller Central and select “Add a Variation” in the top right, above the listings. Next, select “Add to or update an existing variation family”. Paste in the ASIN with the 8016 error into the search bar and hit enter. If a red error message appears, then the ASIN is not associated with any existing variations. If a variation details populate then this is the variation currently associated with the submitted ASIN. This variation will either need to be edited or deleted in order to resolve the 8016 error code on seller central.
How to Delete a Variation on Seller Central?
It can be frustrating for sellers who find themselves unable to create a new variation or edit the fields of the existing variation, which happens when variations are incorrectly set up with the wrong variation theme or for the wrong product category. Sellers often try to delete the parent SKU on the Manage Inventory page. This doesn’t delete the variation from Amazon’s catalog, however. Deleting the product and listing under Manage Inventory will only remove a seller’s offer for the ASIN, but will not delete the ASIN from Amazon’s catalog. In order to break a variation, the parent ASIN will need to be completely deleted from Amazon’s catalog. This can be done by submitting an x-delete file. Once the x-delete file has processed successfully, the seller should submit a full update for all child ASINs that were associated with the parent ASIN. This full update should have variation fields that are blank. After 48 hours, check Variation Wizard to see if the variation still exists in Amazon’s catalog.
Conclusion
Variations are important to sellers because they allow shoppers to view all size, color, and style options that are available. Variations are a useful tool that can improve organic ranking for listings and allows reviews for individual listings to be combined. The 8016 error prevents a variation from being set up which can limit a seller’s sales and cause frustration. For these reasons, it’s important to get to the root cause of the error and make the necessary adjustments quickly. For more information or assistance with resolving variation problems on Amazon, contact Goat Consulting.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions on How to Fix Amazon Error Code 8016 on Seller Central
Why is my Amazon variation not showing on the detail page?
A reason your Amazon variation not showing on the detail page could be due to Seller Central error code 8016.
What causes the 8016 error?
The 8016 error occurs when the variation information that was submitted in a feed conflicts with the information already in Amazon’s catalog.
How can I delete a variation on seller central?
To remove a variation from Amazon detail pages, the parent ASIN for that variation must be deleted from Amazon’s catalog. To do this, download an x-delete file and submit the required details for the parent SKU.
How can I change the theme of a variation on seller central?
The theme of a variation cannot be changed once the variation has been created. In order to change the theme of a parent/child variation on seller central, the original variation has to be deleted from Amazon’s catalog. Once deleted, a new variation can be created with the correct theme.
Why can’t I create variations for certain categories?
Sometimes an error message that states “variations are not available for this category” will appear when trying to edit a listing. To resolve this, download a product template for the desired category. Fill out the feed and ensure that all variation information is added. Upload the completed template and review the processing report. If the variation is displaying in the catalog, then the issue is resolved. If the variation is still not displaying, review the error code from the processing sheet and determine which details need to be changed.
How do I use seller central variation wizard?
The variation wizard tool on seller central is designed to help sellers set up new variations or edit existing variations. To use the variation wizard tool, navigate to the Manage Inventory page and select “Add a variation” in the top right corner. Next, search for one of the ASINs in the variation you would like to create or edit. If the variation information populates, then you can edit the details and add more child ASINs to the variation. If an error pops up that states, “The ASIN you searched for is not part of any variation family.” then there is no variation associated with that ASIN. If this is the case, a new variation will need to be set up.
How can I fix seller central variation errors?
Variation errors on seller central can occur for a number of reasons. To resolve Amazon variation issues, determine the error code that is preventing the variation from being created. The 8541 error may also prevent variations from being properly set up.
Where can I find a variation template on seller central?
For existing variations, you can find a template using the Variation Wizard tool. To create a new variation, navigate to Catalog > Add Products via Upload. Next, select “Get Product Template” under Update Product Details. Fill out this feed with information about your listings and be sure to add all required variation information in the applicable columns.
How do I list size variations on Amazon?
Size variations can be created by selecting “Size” or “SizeName” for the variation theme when filling out a product template. Ensure that the size name is listed in the feed as well otherwise, the variation won’t be set up correctly.
How do I separate variations on Amazon?
To separate a variation on Amazon, you will need to delete the parent ASIN. To do this, upload an x-delete file for the parent ASIN. Next, submit a full update feed for the child ASINs that were associated with the original variation and remove all information from the variation fields. Wait 24 hours and check the detail pages to see if the variation still exists. If the variation is still showing on the detail pages, contact seller support or reach out to Goat Consulting.
About the Author - Stella Nelson
Stella has experience helping brands and manufacturers compete on the Amazon store. By using research-backed recommendations about advertising and merchandising, she helps brands communicate their value proposition with Amazon shoppers. She optimizes A+ content, storefronts, and Amazon Posts frequently to keep a brand’s merchandising updated. She likes to utilize A/B tests and the Opportunity Explorer tool to make data-driven decisions for listing titles and bullet points. She has experience fixing Amazon Error Code 8016 along with other error code. If you are looking to build your brand on Amazon and achieve a cohesive style across the platform, Stella is happy to help!