ASIN
What is an ASIN?
The abbreviation ASIN stands for Amazon Standard Identification Number and is a ten-character code consisting of letters and numbers. It serves as a product identification number and is essentially the ID of a product on Amazon. Unlike other identification numbers, such as the ISBN (International Standard Book Number), GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), UPC (Universal Product Code), or EAN (European Article Number), the ASIN does not represent an international or European standard. Instead, it refers only to the catalog of the online giant. Amazon uses the ASIN instead of the EAN.
What is the ASIN used for?
The ASIN is used, like its international counterparts EAN and ISBN, for the unique identification of products. Customers can search for products using these numbers, allowing them to find exactly the product they are looking for. This is particularly helpful for school books that come in different editions. The corresponding copy does not need to be painstakingly compared with similarly looking older editions. Instead, this identifier can simply be entered into the search field, and the correct product appears immediately in the corresponding edition. This way, Amazon enhances the shopping experience for its customers.
If books have an ISBN-10, it corresponds to the ASIN. This is not the case with ISBN-13.
The ASIN is also helpful for sellers on the Amazon marketplace. Using this catalog number, sellers can assess the potential of a new product when considering adding a specific item to their product catalog. This can be done through a manual check using the search field on Amazon, as well as with the support of smart tools.
Where can you find the ASIN?
The ASIN can be found on Amazon on the detail page of the respective item under the additional product information.
To perform a quicker ASIN check on Amazon, one can also search the product’s URL for the alphanumeric code. The ten-character combination is always located between two slashes: /xxxxxxxxx/. It is usually found near the beginning, following the letters dp or after the product designation.
If multiple ASINs for different products need to be searched, ASIN check tools can also be used.
How does an Amazon seller obtain the ASIN for their product?
While other identification numbers, such as the EAN, must be requested by the manufacturer, the ASIN is assigned to sellers by Amazon.
When a seller wants to add a new item to their product catalog, they must always provide the product identification number when creating the listing.
If an item is already listed in Amazon’s catalog, the seller must provide the ASIN directly. The listing will then be added to the existing product page.
If, as in the case of private labels, a product does not yet exist on Amazon, the seller instead provides the EAN or UPC when creating the listing. A new detail page with a new code will then be created. Therefore, Amazon sellers do not need to purchase the ASIN.
Every seller has the permission to create ASINs. However, the number that a seller can create in a week is limited and depends on the sales history of the shop operator with the online giant.
If an Amazon seller works with inventory management systems like Tricoma, they should store the ASINs of their products there to ensure the proper functioning of these tools.
ASIN for product variations
Product variants refer to a product that is available in different versions. This applies, for example, to T-shirts that are offered in various colors and sizes. Although there is a connection between the items, each product variant also has its own code assigned by Amazon.
Customers can easily find the T-shirt in the correct size using an ASIN, leading to a positive shopping experience. Sellers also benefit from this, as they can easily associate product variants using the identification number and add them to existing product pages on Amazon.
How can you convert an ASIN into an EAN?
To convert an ASIN to an EAN, one can use so-called “ASIN to EAN converters.” These tools are usually free and automatically convert an EAN to an ASIN or vice versa. After entering a code, the systems search for the corresponding products and provide the other product identification number.
The converters can be easily found on Google using search terms such as: “asin to ean,” “ean to asin,” “asin to ean converter free,” “asin 2 ean,” and “ASIN EAN Converter.”