Overview

Sellers see error 96006 when Amazon’s feed engine finds the same SKU listed more than once or paired with conflicting attribute data in a single upload. The rejection stops the entire batch, delaying new product launches or inventory updates that rely on timely feed processing.

Key Points

• Duplicate SKU in one file — If the column item_sku contains the same identifier on two rows, Amazon flags the feed and discards all rows that share that SKU. For example, a spreadsheet that repeats “ABC‑123” for a t‑shirt and a coffee mug will trigger the error.
• Conflicting attributes for one SKU — Supplying two different values for the same attribute (e.g., two prices or two titles) on the same SKU also generates error 96006. A seller who uploads a price of $19.99 on one line and $24.99 on another line for SKU XYZ‑789 will see the feed rejected.
• Whole‑record skip — Amazon does not attempt a partial fix; every record that contains the duplicated or contradictory SKU is omitted from processing. Consequently, even unrelated products in the same file remain unprocessed until the issue is cleared.
• Unique SKU requirement — Each SKU must appear a single time per submission, accompanied by one consistent set of attribute values. If a seller needs separate listings, they must assign distinct SKU codes such as “SHIRT‑001” and “MUG‑001”.
• Error does not affect account health — The rejection is a technical feed problem, not a policy violation, so it does not impact performance metrics, but it can still stall sales‑critical updates.
• Early detection saves time — Using spreadsheet tools to highlight duplicates before upload can prevent hours of troubleshooting and re‑submission cycles.

How Error 96006 Is Detected and Fixed

1. Identify duplicate rows — Amazon’s feed parser scans the uploaded file for repeated item_sku values; when it finds a match, it logs error 96006. A seller who accidentally copied a row while preparing a bulk update will see the duplicate flagged.
2. Sort or filter by SKU — Open the flat file in Excel or Google Sheets, sort the item_sku column alphabetically, and look for adjacent identical entries. For instance, sorting a 5,000‑row inventory will group all “BLUE‑001” entries together, making repeats obvious.