Amazon Seller Glossary: ASIN, Buy Box, FBA and More

This glossary explains the Amazon terms sellers meet every day, in one or two sentences each: product codes such as ASIN, UPC and FNSKU; seller terms such as seller ID, storefront and Buy Box; ranking terms such as Sales Rank and browse node; and fulfillment and selling models such as FBA, FBM, wholesale and arbitrage. Each term links to a full guide.

Products and codes

ASIN

The 10-character code Amazon gives every product page in a marketplace, for example B0XXXXXXXX. Every seller of the same product sells on the same ASIN. What an ASIN is and how to find it

Parent and child ASIN

Variations of a product, such as colours and sizes, each have their own child ASIN. They are grouped under a parent ASIN, which cannot be bought directly.

UPC and EAN

The product’s barcode numbers (GTINs). The brand gets them through GS1, and they are the same in every shop.

ISBN

The number of a book edition. For most books, the ASIN is the ISBN-10.

SKU

A seller’s own stock code for a product. It differs from seller to seller.

FNSKU

The label code Amazon uses for FBA units. It ties each unit to one seller’s offer.

Sellers and offers

Seller ID (merchant ID)

The code Amazon gives every seller account, usually starting with A. It stays the same when the store name changes. Amazon seller ID: what it is and how to find it

Seller profile

The page with a seller’s ratings, feedback and, for many sellers, business name and address. Its address contains seller= and the seller ID.

Storefront

The list of products one seller offers. Its address contains me= and the seller ID. How to find all products sold by an Amazon seller

Offer

One seller’s price and conditions for a product. A product page can have many offers.

Buy Box (Featured Offer)

The offer in the box with Add to Cart. Amazon picks one eligible offer to feature, and most buyers buy it. What the Amazon Buy Box is

Offer list

The list behind Other sellers on Amazon or See all buying options: every offer for the product, with price, condition and who ships it. How to find who sells a product

Ranking and categories

Sales Rank (Best Sellers Rank, BSR)

How well a product sells compared with other products in the same category. Lower is better. Amazon Sales Rank: what it means

Category path (breadcrumb)

The line of categories at the top of a product page, from the broadest to the most specific. The last one is the product’s exact category.

Browse node

The ID of an Amazon category, shown in a category page’s address after node=. How to find a product’s exact Amazon category

Gated category (Apply to sell)

A category, brand or product that needs Amazon’s approval before you can sell it; Seller Central shows an Apply to sell button. Amazon Apply to Sell: gated categories, brands, products

Fulfillment and fees

FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon)

Amazon stores the seller’s stock, ships orders and handles returns, for fees. FBA vs FBM

FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant)

The seller keeps its stock and ships orders itself.

Prime and Seller Fulfilled Prime

Prime offers promise fast delivery to Prime members. Most are FBA; with Seller Fulfilled Prime, a seller ships Prime orders itself.

Referral fee

The percentage Amazon takes from each sale. It depends on the category.

Delivery location

The address or postcode Amazon uses to show prices, delivery dates and some offers. Changing it can change what you see.

Ways to sell and research

Wholesale

Buying stock of an existing brand from the brand or a distributor and reselling it on its existing ASINs. How to find wholesale brands to sell

Online and retail arbitrage

Buying products cheaper in online or physical shops and reselling them on Amazon. Arbitrage, wholesale and private label compared

Dropshipping

Selling products that a supplier ships directly to your buyer. On Amazon it is allowed only if you are the seller of record and only your name appears on the shipment. Amazon dropshipping: rules and risks

Private label

Selling products under your own brand on your own product pages.

Reverse sourcing

Starting from a product that sells on Amazon, then looking for a supplier that sells the same product for less.

Product research

Finding products with steady demand and competition you can match. Amazon product research

ASIN research

Starting from a product’s ASIN and finding the products in its exact category. ASIN research: how to find related products