Overview

Amazon supplies distinct flat‑file templates for each media subcategory—Books, Music, Video, and DVDs—so sellers can upload large numbers of listings in a single operation. The templates replace manual entry in Seller Central, speeding up catalog creation and reducing data‑entry errors. Sellers who handle sizable media inventories should adopt the correct template to keep their listings active and accurate.

Key Points

• Separate template per media type — Amazon requires a unique file for Books, Music, Video, or DVD listings; a single universal template will be rejected.
• Bulk upload saves time — Using a flat file lets sellers add hundreds of SKUs at once, cutting listing time by up to 90 % compared with one‑by‑one entry.
• Product type drives template choice — Selecting the Books template for a DVD will trigger missing‑field errors because DVD‑specific columns such as “Region Code” are absent.
• Templates are downloadable in Seller Central — The “Add Products via Upload” page provides the latest .txt or .xlsm files for each media category.
• Required fields differ by category — For example, the Books template mandates ISBN, author, and binding, while the Music template asks for artist, label, and format type.
• Version updates occur regularly — Amazon refreshes field definitions quarterly, so sellers must verify they have the most recent file before each upload.

How BMVD Inventory Files Work

1. Download the correct template — A seller of vinyl records pulls the Music flat file, which includes columns for “Artist,” “Release Date,” and “Format.”
2. Populate required columns — The seller enters the UPC for each record, fills the mandatory “Label” field, and adds a price in the “Standard Price” column.
3. Validate data locally — Using Excel’s data‑validation rules, the seller checks that all ISBN entries follow the 13‑digit pattern before saving the file.
4. Upload through “Add Products via Upload” — The completed .txt file is selected in Seller Central, and the system parses each row to create or update listings.