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Amazon Variations

How to create variations for Amazon Vendor Central using PDX

Updated over a week ago

The Amazon Vendor and Seller direct channels within PDX do not currently support the creation of variations. However, we can still create variations through PDX using a custom built configured channel.

Note: This variations configured channel is not able to create parent items, but can be used to create the variation template. Parent item lines must be added to the spreadsheet manually after submitting through this configured channel, explained below.

If you currently have an active Amazon channel and need to set up variations, please reach out to your account manager to add the variation configured channel. They will also be able to provide a sample version of the Variations template for you to compare against.

  1. Start by setting up your items as individual items through the Amazon Vendor or Seller direct channel and submitting those through PDX to Amazon.

  2. After items are submitted and accepted, their assigned ASINs will be visible within PDX and you will need them to set up variations. To download them, select the items from your Amazon channel, then select Export Data from the blue circle action menu in the top right.


  3. Click download on the next popup, no need to add any additional export columns.


  4. On the downloaded excel file, delete row 1 and column A as these contain background code.


  5. Then leave only a column for your PDX ID and the [External ID] which you can rename to "ASIN."

  6. Import that file back into PDX so that you have the ASINs in your master data for those submitted Amazon products. Make sure to create the new column for ASIN during import mapping.


  7. Add the same set of items to the Amazon Vendor or Seller Variations configured channel and the variations category. Select "Amazon Vendor Variations" as the receiver.


  8. Map all required attributes to your master data attributes the same as you would in any retail channel. Here are some tips:

    Item type keyword, Item type name, and Model name: Grouping attributes are required and must be identical for child ASINs to be grouped into one single family. Provide identical grouping attribute values for all the products in the variation so that ASINs managed by Automatic Variation Services (AVS) can be placed in the same variation group.
    Item type keyword can be what the items are ex: "area rug"
    Item type name can be the same as the Item type keyword
    Model name should be the name of the collection or variant grouping

    Product Type: can be the same as the Item Type Keyword, ex: "area rug"

    Department: should be the gender group ex: unisex, male, female, etc

    Model Name, Style, Closure type, and Item form are optional grouping attributes and are only required if the request is to variate a family further. If one ASIN has this optional grouping attribute updated, then all ASINs must have the optional grouping attribute updated with similar values.

    Model number: The slicing attribute is required only when there is more than one varying attribute, and must be similar in such scenarios. This should be the SKU number or manufacturer model number of the individual item.

  9. Once all requirements are met and errors are corrected, you can select your new variations and click Submit from the blue circle action menu.

  10. Submitting your items will provide a pre-populated and pre-validated version of the Amazon variations setup spreadsheet which you can download.

  11. Once the spreadsheet is created, there are additional steps to be done on the sheet directly to properly set up the variations.

  12. Start by putting a filter on row 4 where the columns say "required"

  13. Then sort the items by Style Name (column H) which should indicate the separate variation groupings.

  14. Add 2 blank rows between each variation grouping.

  15. Column A: VARIATION GROUP - Each number represents a separate variation family where the ASINs will be grouped together. To create multiple variation families, the same variation group number must be included with all the (C) child ASINs in the same specific family.
    Your first variation group should have the number 1 all the way down this column for all of the items that belong together in the first group. Your second variation group should have the number 2 all the way down in this column, and so on.


  16. Column B: P=Parent, C=Child - In this column, on the row right before a grouping, add a line with P for the parent. On all other individual items in the grouping, add C to this column for child.


  17. On the Parent line of each group, you must fill in the following attribute columns:

    Title: The title of the parent product must be the common name for all the child products (minus the variation specific attributes). The title of the child products must contain the details of the variation.

    Brand: Just copy up from the first item in variation

    Variation Theme: Just copy up from the first item in variation

    Style Name: Just copy up from the first item in variation


  18. Your spreadsheet should look like this and there should be a blank line between each variation group:


  19. Once your variations spreadsheet is completed to the specifications above, you will create a ticket with Amazon Vendor or Seller to create the variations.

  20. If you are working with Amazon variations and need assistance, please reach out to your account manager who will be able to help and can also provide a sample version of a completed variations template for you to compare against.

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