Understanding Error 90246: How to Fix Malformed Attribute Issues in Your Amazon Listings
Error 90246 occurs when Amazon receives a product attribute in an incorrect format during listing submissions. Sellers need to identify and correct the malformed attribute to successfully publish or update their listings.
Overview
Error 90246 is a product listing error that Amazon returns when a feed submission or listing update contains an attribute value that doesn't conform to the expected format. This error typically surfaces during inventory file uploads, API-based listing updates, or manual edits in Seller Central when one or more product attributes are structured incorrectly. Understanding this error is essential for sellers who manage large catalogs or use automated listing tools.
Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know
- Root Cause — Amazon's system has detected that an attribute in your product data is malformed, meaning it doesn't match the required format, data type, or structure for that specific field.
- Attribute Details Provided — The error message includes an
{attribute_details}placeholder that, in practice, will display the specific attribute name or value that triggered the issue, helping you pinpoint exactly what needs to be corrected. - Common Triggers — This error frequently occurs with fields that have strict formatting rules, such as item dimensions, weight values, dates, bullet points with invalid characters, or browse node IDs.
- Feed and API Impact — If you're submitting inventory files or using the SP-API, a single malformed attribute can cause the entire product submission to fail, preventing your listing from going live or updating.
Common Causes
Malformed attribute errors typically stem from a handful of recurring issues. Incorrect data types are among the most frequent — for example, submitting text where Amazon expects a number, or providing a decimal value in a field that only accepts whole numbers. Special characters and encoding problems also trigger this error, particularly when product data is copied from spreadsheets or external databases that use different character encodings. Another common cause is exceeding character limits or using unsupported HTML tags in fields like bullet points or product descriptions. Sellers who use flat file templates may encounter this error when columns are misaligned or when values don't match Amazon's accepted value lists for restricted fields like color, size, or material.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
This error can block product listings from going live or updating, directly impacting seller visibility and sales. Sellers using bulk uploads or API integrations are especially susceptible and need to understand proper attribute formatting.
Key Takeaways
- Error 90246 means an attribute value doesn't match Amazon's expected format, data type, or structure
- The error message specifies which attribute is malformed, making diagnosis straightforward
- Common causes include wrong data types, special characters, encoding issues, and exceeded character limits
- Validating data before submission using Amazon's tools or schema checks prevents most occurrences
Recommended Actions
- →Review the specific attribute details in the error message and cross-reference with Amazon's flat file template for correct formatting
- →Use Amazon's Check My File feature or XSD schema validation before submitting product data
- →Audit your data pipeline or listing tool if this error occurs repeatedly to fix systemic formatting issues
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