I am trying to understand the correct use of "Size" variation theme in my category "Musical Instruments".

I know Amazon is starting to crack down on improper child variation theme creations, so I am going through all my family listings to correct the child theme type, or dis-assemble the family all together.

From my understanding on what I read, Amazon does not want you to create a “Size” Type theme when you are creating “Pack” lots. For example, 1 pack, 2 Pack or 4 Pack of the exact same product. Instead what I understand is they want you to use “Item Count” theme instead of “Size” theme.

However, I continue to see many Amazon sellers use “Size” themes so often for “Pack” lots. For Example, this is what I see a lot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KMNKR0C/

. This is how I have always in the past used Variation Themes in when creating “Pack” sizes, and I understand different categories have different rules. But in general, is this the correct or incorrect variation theme type that Amazon wants us to use when we offer pack count lots?

But here is where I can not figure some things out. So I deleted up all my family ASIN’s and I attempted to recreate new Families using the theme type “Item Count”. I called Amazon and the rep said they preferr for us to use “Unit Count” or “Package Count” when doing creating quantity offerings of the same product.

I then proceeded to re-create my families into “Unit Count” theme variation type (Example 1 Pack, 2 Pack 4 Pack). I create them just fine, but then about 20 minutes later, Amazon changes the variation theme into “Size” varation.

So why is it that I create the varation type in “Unit Count” theme, but then Amazon just changes it into “Size” them? And if Amazon is changing this on their own, then does this mean that “Size” is ok to use for my variation offers? BI have tried to do this on several different familes but each time Amazon just changes the theme back to “Size”.

This Family can be seen at the URL below, As you can see it is very simply put, there is a 1 pack and 2 pack offering of the same product, and Amazon has changed the theme from “Unit Count” to “Size”

https://www.amazon.com/Profile-Microphone-Recording-Amplifiers-Telescoping/dp/B0D6VF9TBB

The case related to this can be found at case ID# 16059116021 and in that case you can see the agent says the following below. Which is basically telling me that "Size" theme is considered allowed but not the most preferred. So this makes be believe that "size" theme is ok for my category.

"Therefore, as we reviewed during our conversation, I advise using a "Size" variation, or a "Number of Units" variation, that is most suitable for this kind of product. (Note that Pack of 1, or Pack of 2 is allowed, and constantly used for "Size" variation themes. However, a "Number of Units" may be more appropriate in this case)."

However, last month on 9/9/2024 we received 1 violation for the first time I believe. That violation is shown below. This was for this Child ASIN here- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004THBLIU and below was the message we received.

Hello GeekStands,

We have detected a policy violation that impacts your account health. If left unaddressed, it may lead to account deactivation.

Why did this happen?

You created one or more ASIN variations that violate our ASIN Creation policies. Selling partners may not:

-- Change the product’s detail page (parent or child) to become fundamentally different from the original product listed.

-- Change the parent product's detail page so it does not match the children.

-- Add incorrect child variations that are not true variations of the parent product.

-- Add multi-pack variations that are not manufacturer created to an already existing parent.

Here are examples of your listings that do not comply with this policy:

-------------------------------------

Listings Removed

-------------------------------------

Parent ASIN: B0DG4B2G49

Removed ASIN:

Inconsistent Child Variation: B004THBLIU

Invalid Variation Type: Inconsistent Child Variation

(END OF MESSAGE)

We had this listed for “Size” as a 4 pack along with another child for a “Size” of a 1 Pack (Which was B004THBLIU) for the exact same product, and Amazon broke up the parent with this notification below. So that is when I broke up all our other families.

However, like I mentioned above out many other listings in our categories are using “Size” for multi-packs. And Amazon itself is changing the family variation theme from “Item Count” into “Size” on my other listings in the same category, and also Amazon support even says that “Size” is a valid use for multi-packs. This was the first time we received a violation for “Size” on a multiplack.

Do you think this violation was incorrectly issued by the bot? What should I do in this situation? Leave all our child ASIN’s broken up or attempt to build them back together? I am wondering if I should wait 90 days after this violation was issued before attempting to try and build any new families.

It does state above “Add Mulit-pack variations that are not manufacturer created to an already existing parent” .

However we are the brand registered owner and considered the manufacturer as these multi-pack SKU’s have been created by us already on different platforms, so that would not be the case here.