Overview

When using Amazon's Send to Amazon workflow, sellers can provide box content information by uploading a pre-formatted Excel spreadsheet. However, errors during the upload process can stall your shipment workflow and delay inventory from reaching fulfillment centers. Understanding these common error codes helps you quickly diagnose and resolve issues so your shipments stay on track.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Use only the Amazon-generated Excel file — Amazon provides a specific, password-protected Excel template for box content uploads. Using a different file format (such as CSV or PDF) or a modified version of the template will trigger validation errors.
• SKU data must match your pack group — The SKUs and quantities listed in your spreadsheet must correspond exactly to the pack group you're uploading against. Uploading a file intended for a different pack group is a common mistake.
• Quantity totals are strictly validated — The total number of units for each SKU across all boxes must match the expected quantity for the shipment. Even a single unit discrepancy will cause the upload to fail.
• All box weight and dimension fields are required — Every box in your shipment must have complete weight and dimension data entered in the spreadsheet. Missing values for any box will result in an error.
• Data formatting matters — Fields like quantity, weight, and dimensions require numerical values. Entering text or special characters in these fields will cause an invalid input error.

Understanding the Error Codes

Amazon returns specific error strings when your box content Excel upload fails. The most common is the SKU mismatch error, which occurs when the spreadsheet contents don't align with the pack group you selected. This typically happens when a seller accidentally uploads a completed file that was prepared for a different shipment or pack group. To fix this, verify that you downloaded the Excel template from the correct pack group's page and that you haven't mixed up files between shipments.

The invalid file error appears when the uploaded file doesn't match Amazon's expected format. Amazon generates a password-protected Excel file specifically for box content entry, and certain fields are locked to prevent accidental modification. If you open the file in a spreadsheet application other than Microsoft Excel, the password protection may be stripped, potentially corrupting the file structure. Additionally, uploading a completely different file type — such as a PDF, CSV, or an unrelated spreadsheet — will trigger this error. Always use the exact file Amazon provides and preferably edit it in Microsoft Excel.