From the File menu of your Monsoon Marketplace server, you can import a tab-delimited text file to add or modify inventory. If you set up a data exchange, inventory automatically imports using a default import template or a custom import template.
Monsoon Marketplace imports and exports text files (files with a .txt extension) only. By default, Monsoon Marketplace exports a tab-delimited text file. When you create custom import and export templates, we recommend that you also use a tab delimiter.
When you import a file using the default Monsoon Marketplace template, the column headers and data types in your import file need to exactly match the Monsoon Marketplace column headers and data types defined in: Inventory Column Definitions.
If you use the Import/Export Templates wizard, available on the Settings tab, you can create a custom template that specifies which columns to import and, if you use a data exchange or other external system, how the column headers in an import file map to columns in Monsoon Marketplace. For instructions, see To add an inventory import template.
When you create an import file, you should start with one of the sample files available for download in To create an inventory import file in Excel.
You can also create a custom import/modify file by exporting your inventory from the File menu using the default Monsoon Marketplace template, and then importing only required columns and any columns that you want to modify. For instructions, see To export inventory from the File menu.
You can create an import file to add new (never before received) inventory to Monsoon Marketplace using the a, or add, operator. If you import multiple files at the same time, they queue for processing in the order they are imported.
The tables below show the required and optional column headers that you can import to add a new SKU to Monsoon Marketplace.
| Required - Add a new SKU | |
|---|---|
| MonsoonOP |
Use the a, or add, operator when you are adding a new SKU, adding quantity to an existing SKU, or adding a locator code to an existing SKU. |
| ASIN, UPC, ISBN, or EAN |
You must include at least one product identifier to match your item to the Amazon catalog. We recommend importing both ASIN and UPC for listing accuracy. If you know your UPC is associated with more than one ASIN (for example, if you are selling an item that is available as both a single item and a multi-pack), import the exact ASIN you want to match against. When you do not import both ASIN and UPC, Monsoon Marketplace evaluates the UPC using best match logic to list your item against the Amazon catalog. If there are multiple ASINs for a single UPC, Monsoon Marketplace determines which is the best match based on four unique factors: the ASIN's category, whether the ASIN is offered by Amazon (market listing), the ASIN's sales rank (which is the lowest), and the number of total offers for the ASIN (which has the most). (For more information about sales rank, see Amazon Sales Rank.) When you import an Amazon product category with the UPC, the best ASIN match within the category is selected. When you do not import category, the ASIN that is offered by Amazon with the lowest sales rank and highest number of total offers is selected. |
| Condition |
The condition you assign to an item determines which offer listings it prices against. (For more information, see Custom pricing strategies.) When you do not include the Condition column in your add file or you leave a line item's condition blank, the condition that is selected in the Inventory Import dialog box is applied. |
| LocatorCode or WarehouseLocator |
Required only when your system is set up to use a locator code or you use Monsoon Marketplace Warehouse. When you create your import file, include only one of the locator code columns: LocatorCode if you use Monsoon Marketplace, or WarehouseLocator if you use Monsoon Marketplace Warehouse. When you add a locator code to Monsoon Marketplace, be sure its format matches the one you have selected on the Settings tab under Locator Code—either numeric (123456) or alphanumeric (ABC123). Each SKU/locator code combination in Monsoon Marketplace is considered a unique item. Once a SKU is assigned a particular locator code, the locator code cannot be removed. If you are adding a locator code to an existing SKU:
For Monsoon Marketplace Warehouse:
|
| Quantity |
The quantity you import is added to local inventory. When you do not include the Quantity column in your add file or you leave a line item's quantity blank, your inventory is added with 0 quantity. Although the a operator is typically used for adding new SKUs to your inventory, you can use it to add quantity to an existing SKU's quantity instead of overwriting it. If you are adding quantity to an existing SKU:
|
| Recommended - Add a new SKU | |
|---|---|
| Cost of goods |
When no cost of goods is imported, the cost of goods that is defined for the item's inventory group is used. For more information, see Cost of goods. |
| Default price |
When no default price is imported, the default price that is defined for the item's inventory group is used. For more information, see Default price. |
| eBay item specifics |
When an item requires eBay item specifics and they are not included in your import file, the item will not list on eBay until item specifics are added, either on the My Inventory tab or through another import. For more information, see eBay category and item specifics overview, To add, filter for, and edit eBay item specifics, and Using an import file to add or revise eBay item specifics. |
| Price ceiling |
When no price ceiling is imported, the price ceiling that is defined for the item's inventory group is used. For more information, see Price ceilings. |
| Price strategy |
When no price strategy is imported, the price strategy that is defined for the item's inventory group is used. For more information, see Custom pricing strategies. |
| Profit | When no profit is imported, the profit that is defined for the item's inventory group is used. For more information, see Profit. |
| SKU |
You can import a custom SKU up to 63 characters in length. Before importing a custom SKU, be sure to review maximum SKU length requirements by marketplace. (For more information about SKU lengths, see Custom SKU Creation.) When you add a new item but do not import a SKU, Monsoon Marketplace first tries to match the item to an existing SKU. If an exact match is found, Monsoon Marketplace overwrites the existing SKU's quantity with the quantity in your import file. If an exact match is not found, the item is automatically assigned a unique 10-digit Monsoon Marketplace SKU. Monsoon Marketplace determines whether an imported item exactly matches an existing SKU by comparing a set of data fields. When you use the a (add) operator and import any of the following columns, Monsoon Marketplace automatically creates a new SKU if there is any difference between what is in Monsoon Marketplace and what is in your import file: ASIN, Classification, Collectible, Condition, DustJacket, EAN, ISBN, JacketCondition, Notes, NumericUserData1–25, Signed, UPC, UserData 1–25. |
For a list of fields you can import and export, see Inventory Column Definitions.
You can create an import file to change details or add new details to an existing SKU using the m (modify) operator. If you import multiple files at the same time, they queue for processing in the order they are imported.
The table below shows the required column headers that you can import to modify a SKU.
| Required - Modify a SKU | |
|---|---|
| MonsoonOP |
Use the m (modify) operator when you are modifying an existing SKU. |
| LocatorCode or WarehouseLocator |
Required only when your system is set up to use a locator code or you use Monsoon Marketplace Warehouse. When you create your import file, include only one of the locator code columns: LocatorCode if you use Monsoon Marketplace, or WarehouseLocator if you use Monsoon Marketplace Warehouse. Each SKU/locator code combination in Monsoon Marketplace is considered a unique item. Once a SKU is assigned a particular locator code, the locator code cannot be removed. If you want to a add a new locator code to an existing SKU, use the a (add) operator instead of the m (modify) operator. If you use locator codes, changes are applied to unique SKU/locator code combinations only. If a SKU exists in multiple locations not included in the file, no changes are made to those locations. For Monsoon Marketplace Warehouse:
|
| Quantity |
When you import the Quantity column using the modify operator, the quantity in your import file overwrites the local quantity in Monsoon. If you want the quantity in your import file to add to the quantity in Monsoon instead of overwriting it, use the a (add) operator instead of the m(modify) operator. |
| SKU |
When a SKU in your import file already exists in Monsoon Marketplace, the data in your modify file overwrites existing data. If you use locator codes, changes are applied to unique SKU/locator code combinations only. If a SKU exists in multiple locations not included in the file, no changes are made to those locations. |
For a list of fields you can import and export, see Inventory Column Definitions.
You can create an import file to decrease a SKU's quantity using the d (decrease) operator. When you import multiple files, they queue for processing in the order they're imported.
The table below shows the required column headers that you can import to decrease a SKU's quantity.
| Required - Decrease a SKU's quantity | |
|---|---|
| MonsoonOP | Usethe d (decrease) operator when you are decreasing the local quantity of an existing SKU. |
| LocatorCode or WarehouseLocator |
Required only when your system is set up to use a locator code. When you create your import file, include only one of the locator code columns: LocatorCode if you use Monsoon Marketplace, or WarehouseLocator if you use Monsoon Marketplace Warehouse. If you use locator codes, changes are applied to unique SKU/locator code combinations only. If a SKU exists in multiple locations not included in the file, no changes are made to those locations. For Monsoon Marketplace Warehouse:
|
| Quantity |
When you import the Quantity column using the decrease operator, the quantity in your import file is deducted from the local quantity in Monsoon Marketplace. For example, 100 (quantity in Monsoon Marketplace) - 50 (quantity in import file) = 50 (new quantity in Monsoon Marketplace). |
| SKU |
Each SKU/locator code combination in Monsoon Marketplace is considered a unique item. If you use locator codes, changes are applied to unique SKU/locator code combinations only. If a SKU exists in multiple locations not included in the file, no changes are made to those locations. |
For a list of fields you can import and export, see Inventory Column Definitions.
The time to process an import file depends on its size and the speed of your server. A very small file can take less than a minute while a very large file can take over an hour. No matter the size of your file, the import process runs in the background so you can continue to work.
When an import is complete, a confirmation message displays on the Event Viewer tab.
If an import file contains errors, a message will display on the Event Viewer tab with a link to a file that details the lines that failed to import and why. If an import fails, open the error file to review details, make corrections, then import again only those lines that failed the first time.
As a best practice, you should first import files in training mode so that you can correct any errors before importing the file in production mode. To do this, on the Home tab, click Switch to Training mode, import your file, correct any import errors, and then test the import again. When the import is successful in training mode, on the Home tab, click Switch to Production mode, and then import the file.
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