What is Amazon ASIN?
ASIN stands for Amazon Standard Identification Number. It is a ten character number that contains a set of both alphabets and digits (e.g. B00X1A4UPM). Amazon assigns ASIN number to each and every product listed on Amazon except books (this category uses ISBN as a product identifier). It is a unique product identifier used by Amazon to track and manage a huge products catalog.
An Amazon engineer, Rebecca Allen created the ASIN system in 1996 when Amazon announced to sell products other than books. When a seller lists a product through EAN/UPC, the Amazon system by default creates a 10 digit unique ASIN for the listing. Once assign to a product EAN, it cannot be changed or modified.
Whether to create a new ASIN or use an existing ASIN?
Amazon is marketplace selling millions of products. It has a single product page for each unique product (EAN). The algorithm merge duplicate product pages to a single page. So, it is necessary to know as a seller whether to create a new product listing or sell on existing listing.
Suppose, you are a retailer of a brand, e.g. Sony. You selling an Android TV model, you need to first search on Amazon whether the product is listed or not on Amazon. If it listed, you will find an option to “Sell on Amazon” button on its listing page. Click the button, follow the necessary steps and start selling on it.
While searching the product on Amazon, if you did not find it, then go for another method. Open Amazon seller central, click to add products, enter the product’s UPC/EAN, chances you may find the product in the catalog. Still, if it would not work, then you have to make a new ASIN. Start with adding a new product on Amazon, enter the product details and submit the listing. Amazon will generate an ASIN for the new listing.
If you are launching a new private label business, then there is no need to search for your product on Amazon. You have to add your listing and generate an ASIN.
How to find Amazon ASIN of a particular product
Check Amazon Product URL
Amazon uses ASIN as a key product identifier. Thus, they created their URL structure based on ASIN (https://amazon.com/product-title/dp/ASIN). Check the product page URL, you will find ASIN number (e.g., https://www.amazon.com/IODIO-Mechanical-Keyboard-Ergonomic-FK-2063-US/dp/B08MWP6CK4/).
Check Product information table
The another way of ASIN look up is the product listing page details itself. Amazon has a tab in the product details table for ASIN.
Amazon Catalog
In case, you are unable to find a particular product’s listing page on Amazon search, you can use this option find the product’s ASIN. Go to add a product section in the seller central, either write the product name/model or enter the UPC/EAN/GTIN number, if the product is available in the Amazon’s catalog, it will feed you product details page URL from where you can retrieve the ASIN details.
