Overview

Error 990003 is a listing error that Amazon triggers when the main image you submit for a product doesn't match the main image already associated with that ASIN. This typically happens because the product identifier (UPC, EAN, JAN, or ISBN) you've provided points to an existing ASIN whose main image shows a different product than yours. Understanding how to diagnose and resolve this error is essential for sellers who need to get their listings live quickly.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Image-to-ASIN mismatch — This error fires when Amazon detects that your submitted main image depicts a different product than what's already shown on the ASIN's detail page tied to your product ID.
• Product ID reuse is a common culprit — Manufacturers sometimes recycle UPC and EAN barcodes, particularly in categories like apparel where barcodes may be reused after a few years.
• Two resolution paths exist — You can either correct your main image to match the existing ASIN, or correct your product identifier so it points to the right ASIN for your product.
• Catalog errors are possible — In some cases, the existing ASIN image may itself be wrong, which requires contacting Amazon Seller Support to resolve.

Why This Error Occurs

Amazon's catalog system relies on product identifiers like UPCs, EANs, and ISBNs to match incoming listing contributions to existing ASINs. When you submit a listing file, Amazon checks whether the product ID you've provided already belongs to an ASIN in the catalog. If it does, Amazon then compares your submitted main image against the image already on that ASIN's detail page. When the two images clearly show different products, Amazon blocks the submission with error 990003 to protect catalog integrity and prevent incorrect product data from going live.

One frequently overlooked cause is barcode recycling. In industries such as apparel and fashion, manufacturers sometimes reassign UPC or EAN codes to new products after a period of several years. This means a barcode that once belonged to a discontinued item may now appear on an entirely different product, leading to a mismatch when Amazon's system still associates that barcode with the original ASIN.