Overview

On March 2024 Amazon began rejecting inventory uploads that contain lead‑time entries outside the platform’s allowed limits, generating error 13004. The issue stops any feed—flat file or XML—from updating listings, so sellers must correct the values to keep their catalog live.

Key Points

• Maximum lead‑time ceiling — Amazon caps both the “leadtime‑to‑ship” and “FulfillmentLatency” fields at 30 days; any number above 30 triggers the error.
• Permitted range — Only whole numbers from 1 through 30 are accepted; a value of 0 or 31 will be rejected.
• Integer‑only rule — Decimals such as 3.5, fractions like “3 1/2”, or text strings (“3 days”) are considered invalid.
• Applies to all feed types — The restriction is enforced for spreadsheet uploads, XML feeds, and API submissions alike.
• Blocks listing refreshes — While the error persists, the affected ASINs will not receive inventory, price, or shipping‑time updates.
• Common typo source — A simple entry mistake—entering 300 instead of 30—can cause the error across hundreds of products in a single batch.

How to Resolve Error 13004

1. Locate the lead‑time field — Open your inventory template and find the column labeled leadtime‑to‑ship (for flat files) or the XML tag . For example, a seller uploading a batch of 150 toys would see the field in column J of the spreadsheet.
2. Check the numeric range — Verify that each entry is an integer between 1 and 30. If a row shows 45, replace it with a value that reflects your actual handling time, such as 7.
3. Strip non‑numeric characters — Remove any punctuation, spaces, or word suffixes. A cell containing “5 days” should be edited to just 5.
4. Convert decimals to whole numbers — If a value reads 2.0, change it to 2; if you originally intended 2.5 days, round up or down to the nearest whole number that matches your process.
5. Run a validation filter — In Excel, apply a filter to highlight cells where the value is < 1 or > 30. A seller discovered three problematic rows by filtering for values > 30 and corrected them before re‑upload.