Overview

Sellers uploading inventory or product listings via tab‑delimited text files sometimes see Error 6000. The message means a required double‑quotation mark is missing, which stops Amazon’s parser from reading the file correctly. Fixing the issue quickly prevents delays in getting new SKUs, price changes, or stock updates live.

Key Points

• Quotation marks mark field limits — In a tab‑delimited file, a pair of double quotes tells Amazon where a data field starts and ends, so any missing quote breaks the file structure.
• Special characters demand quoting — Fields that contain commas, tabs, line breaks, or an internal double quote must be wrapped in opening and closing double quotes.
• Inch symbols often cause the error — A product description that includes 12" or 5" uses the double‑quote character for inches, which the parser may mistake for a field delimiter if the whole field isn’t quoted.
• Official templates reduce risk — Amazon’s flat‑file templates automatically apply the correct quoting rules, so sellers who start from a template are less likely to encounter Error 6000.
• Manual edits increase exposure — Changing a downloaded file in a plain‑text editor rather than a spreadsheet program often removes required quotes, triggering the error.

How the Error Occurs

1. Parser reads the file line by line — Amazon’s system scans each row, looking for tab characters to separate columns. If it encounters a double quote, it treats the following characters as part of the same field until it finds a matching closing quote. Example: a line that reads SKU123<TAB>12" without surrounding quotes will cause the parser to think the field ends after the first quote, leaving the rest of the line orphaned.
2. Special‑character field lacks surrounding quotes — When a column contains a comma, newline, or an internal double quote (such as the inch symbol), the seller must enclose the entire column in a pair of double quotes. If the opening quote is present but the closing quote is omitted, the parser cannot locate the field’s end.