How to Fix Error 6000: Date Format Issues in Seller Central Uploads
Error 6000 blocks bulk uploads when dates aren’t in Amazon’s ISO format. Accepted patterns are a simple date (YYYY‑MM‑DD, e.g., 2023‑11‑15) or a full ISO‑8601 timestamp (e.g., 2023‑11‑15T08:30:00‑08:00). Hidden spaces or Excel’s auto‑reformat to 11/15/2023 also trigger the error.
Overview
Amazon sellers frequently encounter Error 6000 when bulk‑uploading product data that contains dates not formatted to Amazon’s ISO‑compliant standard. The error appears during the file‑validation stage and blocks listings from being created or updated. Correcting the date format eliminates the rejection and keeps inventory and promotion schedules on track.
Key Points
- Accepted formats — Amazon accepts either a simple date (
YYYY‑MM‑DD, e.g., 2023‑11‑15) or a full ISO 8601 timestamp (YYYY‑MM‑DDTHH:MM:SS±HH:MM, e.g., 2023‑11‑15T08:30:00‑08:00). - Spreadsheet auto‑reformatting — Excel, Google Sheets, and similar tools automatically change entered dates to regional styles such as 11/15/2023, which Amazon rejects.
- Timezone offset requirement — When a timestamp is used, the offset must be expressed relative to GMT (Pacific Standard Time = ‑08:00, Pacific Daylight Time = ‑07:00; Eastern Standard Time = ‑05:00, Eastern Daylight Time = ‑04:00).
- Simplest path — If a precise time is unnecessary, stick with the
YYYY‑MM‑DDformat to avoid offset complications. - Hidden characters cause failures — Extra spaces, line‑breaks, or non‑printing characters introduced during copy‑paste can still trigger Error 6000 even when the visible format looks correct.
How to Prevent Date‑Formatting Errors
- Set column type to Text before entry — In Excel, right‑click the date column, choose Format Cells, select the Number tab, and pick Text. This forces the program to store whatever you type without converting it to a locale‑specific date.
- Enter dates using the exact ISO pattern — Type
2024‑02‑29for a simple date or2024‑02‑29T14:45:00‑05:00for a timestamp. Because the column is already text, the entry remains unchanged. - Lock the format after data entry — Once all dates are entered, re‑apply the Text format to the entire column to ensure any later edits retain the required pattern.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
Incorrect date formatting can halt product listings, causing downtime and lost sales. Fixing the format saved the example seller several hours and eliminated repeated support tickets. Consistent ISO dates keep promotion schedules and inventory updates on track.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon only accepts dates as YYYY‑MM‑DD or ISO‑8601 timestamps like 2023‑11‑15T08:30:00‑08:00.
- Excel, Google Sheets, etc., automatically convert entered dates to regional styles such as 11/15/2023, which Amazon rejects.
- Setting the date column to Text before entry prevents auto‑reformatting and preserves exact characters.
- Export the file as CSV UTF‑8 (Comma delimited) and never reopen it in a spreadsheet before uploading.
Recommended Actions
- →In Excel, right‑click the date column > Format Cells > Number tab > Text before typing any dates.
- →After entering dates, use File > Save As > CSV UTF‑8 (Comma delimited) and do NOT reopen the file in Excel.
- →Open the saved CSV in Notepad++ or VS Code, search for the date column with regex ^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$ or the full timestamp pattern, and strip any ...
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