Overview

Amazon sellers encounter Error 6000 when a time value in a flat‑file or XML feed does not meet Amazon’s strict formatting rules. The feed is rejected, preventing updates to inventory, pricing, or availability. Fixing the issue requires reformatting every time entry to the exact six‑digit HHMMSS pattern and resubmitting the file, a step that can be automated to avoid future disruptions.

Key Points

• Error trigger — The feed is blocked when any time field deviates from the required six‑digit, separator‑free format, causing Amazon’s validation engine to reject the entire submission.
• Six‑digit rule — Time must be expressed as a continuous six‑digit string (e.g., 235959), with no colons, dashes, spaces, or AM/PM markers.
• Acceptable range — Valid values span from 000000 (midnight) to 235959 (one second before the next day), covering the full 24‑hour clock.
• Resubmission requirement — The only remedy is to correct the offending values in the source file and upload the revised feed through Seller Central or the API.
• Common source — Spreadsheet exports and third‑party inventory tools often insert colon separators or retain 12‑hour clock formats, leading to automatic rejections.
• Automation safeguard — Adding a pre‑submission validation step that enforces the HHMMSS pattern can eliminate the error for large catalogs and scheduled uploads.

How the Time Format Works

1. Extract hour, minute, second — Identify the three components of the time you need to convey. For instance, a sale that ends at 9:45 PM translates to hour = 21, minute = 45, second = 00.
2. Convert to 24‑hour numeric string — Concatenate the components without any punctuation: 21 + 45 + 00 becomes 214500. This six‑digit string is the exact value Amazon expects.
3. Validate range — Ensure the hour portion is between 00 and 23, the minute between 00 and 59, and the second between 00 and 59. A value like fails because both minutes and seconds exceed their limits.