The Amazon 8008 and 8801 error codes are common issues that come up on Amazon when trying to create variations. The 8801 error code states that a child SKU cannot be added to a parent variation because another child SKU has the same variation attributes. The 8008 error code is not specifically related to variations, although it frequently occurs in feeds with variation attributes submitted. The 8008 error on Amazon states that the submitted child SKU cannot be recognized. Resolving these error codes is necessary because having product variations is important for both sellers and shoppers on Amazon. Customers expect to see all of the color, style, and size options available for a product on Amazon. Sellers want to showcase all related products together in order to combine reviews for the child ASINs and increase detail page views. For these reasons, it’s important to resolve the 8801 and 8008 errors to fix variation issues as soon as possible. This article will provide some basic variation troubleshooting tips and go through the process of diagnosing the causes of these error codes, identifying possible solutions, and frequently asked questions about Amazon error codes.
General Variation Troubleshooting Tips
As the Amazon error code is related to Variations on Amazon Product Listings, here are some general best practices for setting up successful variations. The Variation Wizard tool can be helpful to get an accurate view of the current variation structure and attribution.
Ensure no other variations currently exist for an ASIN
Make sure brand names and categories are consistent across all child ASINs
Submit all variation attributes in a full update feed
Ensure you are using the correct Amazon Product Identification details
Now that you have a baseline understanding of general variation troubleshooting tips, let’s dig into the 8008 and 8801 error codes.
Amazon Error Code 8008 and How to Resolve
The Amazon 8008 error code is caused by Amazon’s system being unable to recognize an SKU that was submitted in a feed template. The warning states, “We cannot recognize your child SKU: []. For help on how to proceed, see https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/errorcode/8008.” The seller central help page about the 8008 error provides limited information about fixing this error code and understanding why it occurs. The 8008 error warning commonly occurs in processing feeds with variation attributes. To resolve the 8008 error, follow these steps:
Diagnose the Error Code 8008 Issue
Review the error message from the processing summary and search for the SKU under seller central inventory. If the SKU cannot be found on seller central, create the SKU manually using the “Add a product tool.” To reduce potential errors when adding new products on Amazon, create the SKU without variation attributes being submitted. After the SKU is created, submit variation information.
Ensure all Variation Attributes are Provided
Each SKU needs to be defined as a parent or child for the feed to process successfully. The variation theme also needs to be provided for all SKUs along with variation attributes.
Resubmit the File and Fix other Error Issues
Remove the variation attributes from the feed template and resubmit the file. If other errors appear in the feed, resolve these before submitting the variation attributes. If the error code is no longer in the processing feed after the update, then add the variation details and resubmit the feed.
Amazon Error Code 8801 and How to Fix
The Amazon 8801 error code appears in processing feeds that have incorrect variation information submitted. The error specifically states, “The child SKU could not be added to parent SKU because another SKU has the same variation attributes.” This means that two child SKUs in a variation have the exact same variation attributes submitted. A variation attribute is the product detail that differs between child SKUs in a variation. Variation attributes can be color names, size names, styles, materials, and more. For example, the variation attribute for a variation with a color name theme would be the color. Each child SKU within a variation needs to have its own unique variation attribute, otherwise the variation cannot be created. For the example with the color name variation theme, each SKU needs to have a different color provided in order for the variation to be created. In order to fix the 8801 error, use the following steps:
Diagnose the Issue That Caused the Error Code 8801
To understand which SKUs caused the error, review the feed processing summary. The summary will identify the type of warning by providing the error code and the warning message. The message will describe which SKUs have the same variation attributes.
Update the feed template with the correct variation attributes
If 2 SKUs have the same variation attribute submitted, update the attribute so that each SKU is unique. Also make sure that you have selected the correct variation theme. For example, if products differ by both size and color, you will not be able to successfully set up a variation for all SKUs with a color name variation theme. Instead, a size and color name variation theme would be needed in order to provide unique variation attributes for every child SKU.
Submit an Updated Feed and Monitor the Processing Report
Once the variation information has been corrected, resubmit the feed and monitor the processing report. If the 8801 error code continues to appear in the processing report, check the detail pages or variation wizard tool to see if a variation already exists for these ASINs. If no variation currently exists, open casework to seek more information from seller support.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions on Amazon Error Codes 8008 and 8801
What is the 8008 error code on Amazon?
The Amazon 8008 error code is caused by Amazon’s system being unable to recognize an SKU that was submitted in a feed template.
How can I fix the 8008 error code on Amazon Seller Central?
You can fix the 8008 error code when you remove variation attributes from the feed template and resubmit the file. Fix other errors that appear in the processing feed and resubmit the template with the variation information.
How do I update a variation attribute for a child SKU?
Submit the correct variation attribute in a full update feed and wait 24 hours. Check the detail page and open casework to update the detail if it is not displaying correctly.
How can I create variations on seller central?
You can create variations on Seller Central a few different methods, see this post for a more detailed explanation.
What is an Amazon variation attribute?
A variation attribute is any product detail that relates to a variation theme. For example, the variation attributes for a SizeName_ColorName variation theme are the size and color.
How do I download a template feed for seller central variations?
You can download a template feed if you navigate to “Add a product via upload” on seller central and download the spreadsheet for the category of your products.
How can I remove a variation from Amazon?
Submit an x-delete file for the parent ASIN on seller central and wait 24 hours. If the variation is still appearing on the detail pages, repeat the process and open casework.
What is the variation wizard tool?
This tool can be found on seller central under “manage inventory”. Select “Add a variation” and use the tool to determine if a variation currently exists on Amazon for a given ASIN.
Why is the 8801 error code appearing in processing feeds?
This code appears when variation attributes have been incorrectly submitted for an ASIN. Read the step-by-step instructions to resolve this error code in the article above.
Conclusion
Variations are important to both sellers and shoppers on Amazon. Variations are an important aspect to Amazon merchandising and can increase listing traffic, sales, conversion rates, and combine product reviews to a single listing. For these reasons, avoiding variation errors is crucial for sellers. To resolve the 8008 and 8801 error code and other variation errors, ensure that the variation fields are all properly filled in with correct information. If variation issues still persist, contact Goat Consulting for further assistance.
About the Author - Stella Nelson
This post was written by Stella Nelson, an Account Manager at Goat Consulting. Stella helps her clients increase sales and improve advertising performance by utilizing keyword and market research to make data-driven decisions for product listings. She assists clients with building their brand identity on Amazon through optimized A+ content, easy-to-navigate storefronts, and cohesive branding. Stella has resolved Amazon error code 8008 and 8801 for many clients. If you have an error code issue or want to ensure your variations are properly merchandised, reach out to Goat Consulting.