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  2. Importing Variations to Your Etsy Store Listings

Importing Variations to Your Etsy Store Listings

Welcome to the guide on importing variations with SKU, price, and quantity to listings in your Etsy store. This comprehensive guide will help you navigate through the process seamlessly.

Getting Started
Before diving into the import process, it's essential to adhere to Etsy API rules for specifying listing variations:

  • Specify a maximum of 70 unique options per variation.

  • Each variation option should not exceed 140 characters.

  • Specify all possible variation combinations, setting the quantity to 0 for those unavailable or out of stock.

Adding Variations to the Import File using the Basic Listing Importer
When adding variations to your import file, it's crucial to follow these steps.

  1. Specify listing variations in a SINGLE CELL using a JSON formatted string.

    • If you're unfamiliar with JSON format, you can refer to a basic tutorial here.

  2. Before proceeding with the import, ensure the JSON markup for listing variations is correct. You can validate it using tools like JSONLint.

Example
Below is an example of how the JSON markup should appear:

[

  {

    "Color": "red",

    "Number of sheets": "3 sheets",

    "price": 23.05,

    "sku": "m12-233-1",

    "quantity": 22

  },

  {

    "Color": "blue",

    "Number of sheets": "3 sheets",

    "price": 23.05,

    "sku": "m12-233-2",

    "quantity": 0

  },

  {

    "Color": "yellow",

    "Number of sheets": "3 sheets",

    "price": 23.05,

    "sku": "m12-233-3",

    "quantity": 20

  },

  {

    "Color": "red",

    "Number of sheets": "2 sheets",

    "price": 20.05,

    "sku": "m12-233-4",

    "quantity": 22

  },

  {

    "Color": "blue",

    "Number of sheets": "2 sheets",

    "price": 20.05,

    "sku": "m12-233-5",

    "quantity": 21

  },

  {

    "Color": "yellow",

    "Number of sheets": "2 sheets",

    "price": 20.05,

    "sku": "m12-233-6",

    "quantity": 0

  }

]

Below is an example of what an import file with variations for the Basic Listing Importer would look like.

title variations
the title [ {"Color": "red", "Number of sheets": "3 sheets", "price": 23.05, "sku": "m12-233-1", "quantity": 22}, {"Color": "blue", "Number of sheets": "3 sheets", "price": 23.05, "sku": "m12-233-2", "quantity": 0}, {"Color": "yellow", "Number of sheets": "3 sheets", "price": 23.05, "sku": "m12-233-3", "quantity": 20}, {"Color": "red", "Number of sheets": "2 sheets", "price": 20.05, "sku": "m12-233-4", "quantity": 22}, {"Color": "blue", "Number of sheets": "2 sheets", "price": 20.05, "sku": "m12-233-5", "quantity": 21}, {"Color": "yellow", "Number of sheets": "2 sheets", "price": 20.05, "sku": "m12-233-6", "quantity": 0} ]

IMPORTANT: It's crucial to ensure that variations are correctly mapped to their respective fields during the mapping step of the import wizard.

Below, you'll find a table illustrating the process of variation generation for your listings on Etsy.

Number of sheets Color Price Quantity SKU
3 sheets red 23.05 22 m12-233-1
3 sheets blue 23.05 0 m12-233-2
3 sheets yellow 23.05 20 m12-233-3
2 sheets red 20.05 22 m12-233-4
2 sheets blue 20.05 21 m12-233-5
2 sheets yellow 20.05 0 m12-233-6

Here's how to include variations in your import file when using the All To One Listing Importer tool.

  • For effective importation, it's essential to map primary and secondary variations individually to columns, alongside their corresponding price, quantity, and SKU.

  • Below, you'll find an example of how an import file with variations should be structured for the All To One Listing Importer.

title Color Number of sheets price quantity SKU
the title red 3 sheets 23.05 22 m12-233-1
  blue 3 sheets 23.05 0 m12-233-2
  yellow 3 sheets 23.05 22 m12-233-3
  red 2 sheets 20.05 22 m12-233-4
  blue 2 sheets 20.05 21 m12-233-5
  yellow 2 sheets 20.05 0 m12-233-6

IMPORTANT: It's crucial to ensure that variations are correctly mapped to their respective fields during the mapping step of the import wizard.

Below, you'll find a table illustrating the process of variation generation for your listings on Etsy.

Number of sheets Color Price Quantity SKU
3 sheets red 23.05 22 m12-233-1
3 sheets blue 23.05 0 m12-233-2
3 sheets yellow 23.05 20 m12-233-3
2 sheets red 20.05 22 m12-233-4
2 sheets blue 20.05 21 m12-233-5
2 sheets yellow 20.05 0 m12-233-6

Variation Management with the Parent Child Variation Listing Importer

Create multiple listings with variations, each defined on separate rows within a single import file using the Parent Child Variation Listing Importer.

Here's how it works:

  • Each row in the import file is designated as either a parent or child.

  • Parent rows outline the main listing, while corresponding child rows specify variations of that listing.

  • Parent rows are distinguished by a unique value in the column mapped to the group_by field (e.g., title).

  • Child rows should exclude any value in the group_by column to differentiate them from parent rows effectively.

Below is an illustrative example showcasing how an import file with variations should be structured for seamless integration with the Parent Child Variation Listing Importer.

title Color Number of sheets price quantity SKU
The title of listing with variations red 3 sheets 23.05 22 m12-233-1
  blue 3 sheets 23.05 0 m12-233-2
  yellow 3 sheets 23.05 22 m12-233-3
  red 2 sheets 20.05 22 m12-233-4
  blue 2 sheets 20.05 21 m12-233-5
  yellow 2 sheets 20.05 0 m12-233-6
The title of a second listing with variations bronze 3 sheets 13.22 15 z5-233-1
  silver 3 sheets 13.22 0 z5-233-2
  gold 3 sheets 13.22 15 z5-233-3
  bronze 2 sheets 10.00 15 z5-233-4
  silver 2 sheets 10.00 11 z5-233-5
  gold 2 sheets 10.00 0 z5-233-6

IMPORTANT: It's crucial to ensure that variations are correctly mapped to their respective fields during the mapping step of the import wizard.

Adding variations to the import file for the Deprecated Basic Listing Importer.

Please refrain from using the deprecated basic importer as it lacks support for SKU and quantities for variations, and no further updates will be provided. This importer is primarily intended for compatibility with import files created in earlier versions of our application. We strongly advise updating your existing import files to utilize the basic listing importer for improved functionality and support.

When working with variations, please keep the following guidelines in mind:

  • Primary and secondary variations must be mapped individually to dedicated columns.

  • Variation options should be specified as comma-delimited lists within their respective columns.

  • Prices must be specified for the primary variation only, using the format: variation_option=price.

  • For example; primary variation options for "Number of Sheets" can be specified as follows: "2 sheets=20.05, 3 sheets=22.05".

Below is an example illustrating the structure of an import file with images specifically designed for the deprecated basic importer.

title Quantity Number of sheets Color
the title 22 3 sheets=23.05,2 sheets=20.05 red,blue,yellow

IMPORTANT: It's crucial to ensure that variations are correctly mapped to their respective fields during the mapping step of the import wizard.

Below, you'll find a table illustrating the process of variation generation for your listings on Etsy demonstrating the limitations of the deprecated basic importer.

Number of sheets Color Price
3 sheets   23.05
2 sheets   20.05
  red  
  blue  
  yellow  

Troubleshooting Variations on Etsy
Encountering errors with variations on Etsy? Don't worry; we've got you covered. Here are some common errors you might encounter and steps to resolve them:

  • Error: Products must all have the same properties in the same order.
    This error indicates that the properties of your products, such as size or color, need to be consistent across all variations.

  • Solution
    Ensure that all variations of your products have the same properties listed in the same order. Consistency is key to resolving this issue.

  • Error: You must specify each combination of variations with the same properties in the same order.
    This error occurs when variations are not consistently specified with the same properties and in the same order.

  • Solution
    Double-check your variation listings to ensure that each combination of variations is listed with the same properties and in the same order. Consistency is essential for accurate listing.

Here's an example highlighting incorrect variations that may trigger these errors.

  • [

  {

    "Color": "red",

    "Number of sheets": "3 sheets",

    "price": 23.05,

    "sku": "m12-233-1",

    "quantity": 22

  },

  { 

    "Brand Color": "blue", // This property does not exist in all variations

    "Number of sheets": "3 sheets",

    "price": 23.05,

    "sku": "m12-233-2",

    "quantity": 0

  },

  {

    "Color": "yellow",

    "Number of sheets": "3 sheets",

    "price": 23.05,

    "sku": "m12-233-3",

    Missing "quantity" property

  },

  {
    "quantity": 22 // Not in the correct order as shown in previous variations 

    "Color": "red",

    "Number of sheets": "2 sheets",

    "price": 20.05,

    "sku": "m12-233-4",

    

  },

  {

    "Color": "blue",

    "Number of sheets": "2 sheets",

    "price": 20.05,

    "sku": "m12-233-5",

    "quantity": 21

  },

  {

    "Color": "yellow",

    "Number of sheets": "2 sheets",

    "price": 20.05,

    "sku": "m12-233-6",

    "quantity": 0

  }

]

We hope this guide has helped you to understand how variations are created inside your import files. If you have any additional questions or concerns, feel free to get in touch with us via our Seller Support Channel on Slack ➚.