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Getting used to the Amazon lingo can be quite an adjustment for anyone selling on the marketplace for the first time. From the strange acronyms to the not-so-obvious abbreviations to the mouthful terms and terminologies, it can be a jungle out there.
To help you not get lost and successfully navigate the ins and outs of your ecommerce adventures, we’ve compiled this ultimate Amazon seller glossary. It contains all the important Amazon business terms that you might come across at different points of your selling journey.
The best part is this glossary of terms is updated regularly. So, you don’t ever have to worry about missing out on any new vocabulary that gets added to the official Amazon list.
We recommend bookmarking this page for easy access in the future. 🙂
A premium feature that enables brand owners to create compelling listing content using high-quality images, engaging videos, creative text fonts, and professional templates.
The company that develops Amazon’s search and advertising technology.
An industry-adopted term for the most recent (2020) Amazon core algorithm update.
An analytical method used for testing two different variations of the same product listing to optimize for clicks, conversions, and sales.
An indicator of how well a seller is doing complying with Amazon’s policies and performance targets.
ACoS is the ratio of how much you spend on sponsored ads for every dollar you make in sales. It is expressed as a percentage and is one of the most important metrics for measuring the efficiency of an ad campaign.
The average daily budget you set for an ad group.
The number of times buyers see your ad on Amazon.
The total amount spent on ads in a given time period.
The total number of sales generated in a week against an ad campaign on Amazon.
An option available in the Amazon ad settings that allows you to choose between manual and automatic keyword targeting.
Describes the current status of an ad group: paused, ended, running, archived, scheduled, incomplete, out of budget, or failure.
A Chinese B2B online marketplace used for sourcing products for Amazon.
A verified supplier, manufacturer, or wholesaler on Alibaba.com. These suppliers are assessed by leading third-party inspection companies such as SGS, TüV SüD, and Bureau Veritas.
A premium supplier, manufacturer, or wholesaler on Alibaba.com. Gold suppliers pay an annual fee to Alibaba.com to maintain their Gold membership.
A free service that covers Alibaba.com buyers in the event of quality or shipping-related disputes with the suppliers.
A commonly used abbreviation for Amazon.
Application programming interface or API is a piece of code that allows you to connect two different applications together for reporting or other operational purposes.
ASIN is an acronym of Amazon Standard Identification Number. It is a string of alphanumeric characters that helps with product tracking and identification across the Amazon supply chain. Every item sold on Amazon has a unique ASIN assigned to it.
A type of claim that Amazon customers can file to obtain a full refund on their purchase against late deliveries, wrong order receipts, or damaged shipments.
A feature that allows sellers to measure and track the impact of their external marketing campaigns on their Amazon sales.
Amazon Marketing Services (AMS) is a former set of Amazon advertising tools that helped vendors and sellers run and manage ads on the Amazon marketplace. The service was rebranded to Amazon Advertising in 2018, alongside Amazon Media Group and Amazon Advertising Platform.
A special badge bestowed to a product that Amazon finds as the best fit for a specific search query.
A paid subscription program on Amazon that allows customers to avail special services such as same-day delivery, exclusive discounts on purchases, and access to premium music, video, audio, and reading content.
Types of Sponsored Product Ads that run on auto and don’t require any keyword inputs from the seller.
An Amazon affiliate marketing program for bloggers and website owners.
An electronic notification sent to Amazon to confirm a delivery slot for an inbound shipment.
It is the average amount of money you generate per unit sale.
The average amount a customer spends per order when shopping from your store.
A paid support-service program for vendors that help them better manage their business operations on Amazon.
A feature that allows brand-registered sellers to set up a dedicated online storefront for free.
A type of business model where one business sells a product or service to another business.
A type of business model in which businesses sell services or products directly to consumers.
An option on Amazon that allows you to increase your ad bid up to 900% for both top of search and product detail placement auctions.
Buy One Get One or BOGO is a promo code on Amazon that allows you to offer two different products to your customers for the price of one.
The label under which you sell a product on Amazon.
Brand Registry is a program that protects Amazon sellers from hijackers and counterfeiters.
A score assigned by Amazon to a product based on its past and present sales data. The higher the sales of a product, the lower its BSR.
The white-colored widget present on the right side of an Amazon product detail page that allows customers to make a purchase or add a product to their shopping cart.
The amount you’re willing to pay to display your ads on Amazon.
A premium feature that offers valuable insights and tools to help brand owners make informed business decisions.
A category for books, music, videos, and DVDs sold on Amazon.
A numeric code that sorts and identifies a given product category inside Amazon. Every category has a unique browse node.
A category for industrial and scientific supplies sold on Amazon.
A bundle is a group of closely related products assembled and sold in a single package. Each item in a bundle has its own ASIN. Read more about Amazon bundles here.
A machine-readable optical label that helps in identifying and tracking inventory during different stages of the fulfillment process.
A product segment on Amazon containing items with shared attributes and uses.
Cost of goods sold or COGS is the sum of all direct expenses incurred in manufacturing a product. It includes the cost of material, labor, and factory overheads.
It is the cost you pay for every thousand ad views on Amazon.
The process of obtaining permission from customs authorities to import or export goods from a country.
These are discount tokens that Amazon customers can use to save money on their purchases. Sellers distribute coupons to increase their product sales.
The number of clicks an ad generates against the total number of impressions it receives.
A variation listing selling the variation of a parent product. This variation can be of color, size, dimensions, pack size, flavor, design, etc.
The percentage of visitors who actually buy your product after clicking on your listing.
It is the amount of money you pay every time someone clicks on your ad.
An Amazon Program that aims to help consumers find sustainable and green products on the Amazon marketplace.
A payment reversal order issued against an incomplete delivery, incorrect multiple transactions, or any other pending issue that the customer may have with the seller.
A shipping agreement where the supplier takes complete responsibility for handling all the costs and risks associated with transporting the inventory to the destination.
It is a type of business model on Amazon wherein you list products on your account but don’t invest in the actual inventory. When a customer places an order, you ask the supplier to ship the product to the customer, and in return, you take your cut.
The tax paid on the import of goods.
An Amazon-owned ad platform that enables sellers to buy display, audio, and video ads on Amazon partner sites and apps.
A page on Amazon that shows the best daily discount deals for products in different categories.
Sponsored Display Ads, or simply Display Ads, are ad types on Amazon that help brands promote their products off Amazon using customer-based targeting strategies.
A 13-digit universal, standardized barcode used for identifying products in the global trade system.
A former incentivized review program on Amazon that helped new sellers acquire authentic product reviews from customers. The ecommerce giant discontinued the program on April 25, 2021.
A shipping agreement in which the buyer handles the complete transportation of the inventory from the supplier’s point of origin. [See DDP]
The old name of Amazon A+ Content.
A ZonGuru product sourcing tool that helps you find reliable suppliers on Alibaba.com.
A fulfillment solution provided by Amazon to third-party sellers where the company handles the complete order fulfillment process on behalf of the seller.
A fulfillment method where the seller assumes full responsibility of their fulfillment process, including storage, packaging, and shipment.
The fee Amazon charges for picking, packing, and shipping services under FBA.
An Amazon warehouse where FBA sellers send their products for storage, packaging, and shipment.
FFP or Frustration-Free Packaging Program is an initiative by Amazon that promotes sustainable packaging.
An Amazon operations team focused on improving the customers’ shopping experience.
It is the success rate percentage of completed deliveries against stock-outs, backorders, or lost sales.
A shipping agreement where the supplier is responsible for the transfer of goods to a pre-designated carrier.
Manufacturers or distributors who directly work with Amazon to sell their products through the Vendor Program.
Also called Product ID, it is used to identify a product to a seller.
A shipping agreement where the Amazon seller bears all the responsibility of transporting the goods once they are loaded on board.
A company that provides shipping services to businesses.
A bulk upload option on Seller Central that allows you to create or edit product listings and update variations.
A restricted category for which you need to take approval from Amazon to list items.
A feature that allows sellers to set up promotional giveaways to boost their sales.
The profit you make on sales after deducting the cost of goods sold.
A unique 14-digit universal code used to identify trade items across different product databases.
A type of ad placement on the Amazon marketplace homepage, just below the fold.
An SKU that is a part of a shared inventory pool between different marketplaces.
A restricted brand on Amazon. Sellers need to submit an authorization letter or invoice from the brand to sell its products on Amazon.
These are hazardous items. Examples include flammable and non-flammable gases, solids, and liquids. You can only sell them through the Amazon Dangerous Goods Program.
A situation where an unethical seller attaches to a brand’s listing and starts selling its products, causing the brand to lose the buy box.
Headline Search ads (also called Sponsored Brand ads) are types of ads that allow brands to showcase their products on the top of the search results pages.
Backend keywords that boost product visibility in search and help drive more sales.
A 10 or 13-digit identity number assigned to individual books, ebooks, or audiobooks. You can use ISBNs to list products on Amazon.
Stock of goods you have available to sell on Amazon.
An Amazon-generated report that gives sellers a complete breakdown of their inventory, including stock in hand, total unsellable quality, inventory age, and more.
A measure of how well sellers manage their inventory. The score combines 90 days sales, costs, and inventory levels. If the IPI is below a certain threshold, sellers are subjected to storage limits and selling restrictions.
Any intangible property such as name, image, or product design that is legally protected by law from unauthorized use.
A seller selling on an Individual plan on Amazon.
The words or phrases buyers use to search for products on Amazon.
A ZonGuru listing optimization tool that helps you find unique keywords for your product listing.
The final cost of acquiring a product. It includes manufacturing costs, freight charges, bank charges, etc.
Promotional deals on Amazon available for a limited time. Sellers offer Lightning Deals to increase their product sales.
High intent search terms, typically three or more words long.
A support program designed for sellers with less than $5 million in sales. It provides up and coming brands with innovative resources to help them increase their visibility and reach on the Amazon marketplace. Learn more about the Amazon Launchpad program in our Amazon Launchpad guide.
Charges accrued by FBA sellers that have a year-old inventory sitting in Amazon’s fulfilment centers.
Product information page on Amazon.
The process of improving product detail pages to help them rank higher in search for relevant keywords. Check out our Listing Optimization guide for more details.
A situation where a seller loses the buy box to another seller because of a higher price, fewer reviews, or an out-of-stock inventory.
A ZonGuru product research tool that scrapes out commonly used keywords from every positive and negative review for a selected ASIN.
The minimum price at which resellers can sell a product on Amazon.
Another name for FBM.
An ad campaign where you select specific keywords to target.
The list-price of an item as recommended by the manufacturer.
A fulfillment option that allows sellers to send their inventory to FBA in multiple countries of their choice.
Keyword targeting settings that allow you to optimize your ads to show against eligible search terms only.
The minimum number of units you must purchase to place a product order with a manufacturer.
The Amazon marketplace provides a platform to merchants to sell new or used items. Currently, there are 18 marketplaces on Amazon. The US is the largest Amazon marketplace.
A legislation that obligates Amazon to collect and remit sales tax on behalf of the sellers. However, not all states follow marketplace facilitator laws.
The profit remaining after subtracting all working expenses.
An option on Amazon that lets you exclude specific keywords from your ad campaigns.
A ZonGuru product research tool that helps you find profitable niches using different filters.
A ZonGuru product research tool that helps you analyze a niche in terms of sales, competition, profitability, demand, and investment requirements.
A business model in which you buy low-priced items from other online retail sites and resell them for a profit on Amazon.
An acronym for Out of Stock.
A performance metric used to analyze a seller’s services based on their number of negative reviews, A-to-Z Guarantee Claims, and returned or refunded orders.
Pan EU is a specialized FBA program that allows sellers to sell in multiple Amazon European marketplaces hassle-free. Sellers send their products to an Amazon fulfillment center in the EU. Amazon then distributes these products across different European countries based on where it thinks they would sell well, generating additional sales for the sellers.
A business model in which a seller sources a product from a manufacturer or a supplier and labels and sells it under their brand name.
An advertising model where sellers pay a fee to Amazon every time a customer clicks on one of their ads. There are three types of PPC ads: i) Sponsored Products, ii) Sponsored Brands, and iii) Sponsored Display Ads.
A placeholder listing on Amazon that showcases different variations of a product.
Another name for product listing.
The process of finding viable products to sell on Amazon.
The difference between the standard price of an item and its actual purchase price.
A seller selling on a Professional plan.
The total number of visits on a listing in a given time period.
First quarter of a financial year; runs from January to March
Second quarter of a financial year; runs from April to June
Third quarter of a financial year; runs from July to September
Fourth quarter of a financial year; runs from October to December
A business model in which you buy clearance items from physical retail stores and resell them for a profit on Amazon.
A fee charged by Amazon every time you make a sale. It is calculated as a percentage of the selling price and can vary anywhere between 8% and 45% depending on your product category.
Total income generated from the sale of products.
A process where you ask for quotations from different manufacturers before placing an order.
A measure of how profitable your investment has been over a given time period.
A pricing tool that automatically adjusts product prices to help sellers win the buy box.
RoAS is the ratio of how much money you generate in sales through ads for every dollar you spend on an ad campaign. It is the opposite of ACoS.
Returns are orders that are sent back by customers.
It is the ratio of the number of returned orders to the total number of orders shipped.
An indicator of how popular a product is on Amazon. It is measured on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with a 1-star rating being the lowest.
Feedback on the product left by customers.
Consumable items that constantly sell on Amazon.
A test article ordered from the supplier to inspect for quality and compatibility.
A web interface designed for third-party (3P) sellers that allows them to manage and sell their products on Amazon. [See Vendor Central]
Amazon customers can leave performance feedback for sellers, called Seller Feedback.Do not confuse these with Reviews.
The process of improving your listing’s performance in search.
An Amazon-managed program that allows FBM sellers to serve Amazon Prime members.
A unique identifier code that a seller assigns to their product when creating a listing on Amazon.
An advertising solution provided by Amazon that allows sellers to promote their products on a pay-per-click basis.
See Amazon Store
Another name for Headline Search Ads.
A popular ad type that uses keyword targeting to promote products.
A recently launched feature on Amazon that allows brand owners to showcase their products using compelling visuals to create an impact on the customers and ultimately boost conversions.
The average number of times a keyword is searched for on Amazon. It is usually calculated over a period of 30 days.
A program that allows sellers to sell small and lightweight items on Amazon using FBA.
Unique visits to your product detail pages during a given time period.
An inventory management proposal containing details of the items to be shipped to Amazon.
Individuals or businesses that sell new or used products directly to customers on Amazon.
A set of rules specified by Amazon that sellers must comply with when selling products on Amazon.
A company that assists sellers in handling their fulfilment operations.
Reviews left by customers who purchase a product at a discounted price or buy it from outside Amazon.
A 12-digit universal, standardized barcode used for identifying products in the global supply chain.
The number of units sold of an ASIN divided by the number of sessions that ASIN received in a given timeframe.
An invite-only web interface designed for vendors to facilitate them manage and sell their products on Amazon.
These are first-party (1P) sellers that sell their products in bulk to Amazon, which then relists those products as a distributor and sells them under its brand name.
Amazon VA is a person who remotely assists you in running your Amazon business. You can hire them for the long term, part-time, or for a specific project. VAs can help you with many different tasks, including product hunting, product sourcing, listing creation, launching and ranking, or daily account management.
Reviews generated in response to legitimate purchases made on Amazon.com. [See Unverified Reviews]
A fee associated with media products, including books, music, video, DVDs, software, video game consoles, video game accessories, and computer and video games.
The Vine is a product review program managed by Amazon, which helps sellers solicit reviews from best-ranked reviewers on Amazon for their new or pre-released products.
An indirect consumption tax levied on the sales of goods and services. Almost all industrialized countries, except the US, collect VAT from sellers.
Variations on Amazon are sets of related products. These products share the same attributes and uses but may have different design, color, size, etc.
A business model where you buy products in bulk from brands (or their authorized suppliers) and sell on Amazon.
Similar to Private Label manufacturing but with limited customization scope.
Amazon Warehouse Deals, or simply Warehouse Deals, is a catalog of assorted products on Amazon.com that offers special discount deals to customers on used, refurbished, returned, damaged, and open box items.
We’re glad you made it to the end. Hope you found the Amazon glossary of terms, acronyms, and abbreviations helpful.
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