Overview

Error 8560 is one of the more frustrating upload errors Amazon sellers encounter when adding products through inventory file templates. It typically means Amazon cannot match your product data to an existing ASIN or create a new one, and it often stems from mismatched templates, incorrect product identifiers, or missing required fields. Understanding the root causes can save you hours of troubleshooting and get your listings live faster.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Wrong inventory template — Using a template designed for one product category when your item belongs to another is the single most common trigger for error 8560. Each category has its own required fields.
• Invalid product identifiers — UPCs must be exactly 12 digits, EANs 13 digits, and ISBNs 10 digits. Even one missing or extra character will cause the error.
• Leading zero problem — Spreadsheet software like Excel may strip the leading zero from UPCs or EANs that start with "0," silently corrupting your data before upload.
• Expired GTIN exemptions — If you previously had a GTIN exemption that has since expired, submitting products without a UPC, EAN, or JAN will now trigger this error.
• Duplicate or conflicting SKUs — A SKU that is already mapped to another listing, whether active or archived, can prevent Amazon from processing your new submission.

Common Causes and How to Fix Them

The most frequent cause of error 8560 is simply using the wrong flat file template. Amazon organizes its catalog into hundreds of product categories, and each one has a dedicated template with specific required fields. If you try to list a product using a template from a different category, the upload will fail because the required attributes do not align. Always download a fresh template directly from Seller Central by navigating to the "Add Products" section, selecting "Download a blank template," and choosing the exact product type that matches your item. This small step eliminates a large percentage of 8560 errors before they happen.

The second major cause involves product identifier errors. Amazon requires valid GTINs — typically UPCs for North America, EANs for Europe, and ISBNs for books — and these must conform to strict digit-count requirements. Before uploading, run your identifiers through an online validation tool to confirm they meet industry standards. If your UPC or EAN begins with a zero, add an apostrophe before the number in your spreadsheet to prevent Excel from stripping it. Once corrected, resubmit your inventory file.