Why do all ASINs start with "BO" (ISBNs sucked, that's why) | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Amazon used alphanumeric ASINs instead of problematic ISBNs to build their catalog, and they adopted the format "bravo zero" for consistency and to avoid confusion between uppercase and lowercase letters.

Key Insights

• 🥺 Amazon initially faced challenges with expensive and reused ISBNs, leading them to develop their own ASIN system.
• 🔠 The "bravo zero" format was chosen to avoid confusion between uppercase and lowercase letters.
• 👻 Amazon's marketplace allowed multiple sellers to list on the same page, distinguishing it from auction-based platforms like eBay.
• 😒 The use of all caps in ASINs ensures consistency and avoids catalog confusion.
• 💀 The ASIN system allows for scalability and the inclusion of both FN SKUs and unrelated SKUs.
• 😫 Lowercase letters should be avoided in any data set, including SKUs, to prevent headaches and maintain consistency.

Transcript

when amazon first started out they were a  bookseller and most people don't remember like   how jeff bezos started this bookstore right  in his garage it quickly got out of hand or   got well done if you were and but one of the  questions i received today is why did amazon   put bravo zero as the starting alphanumeric in  front of every single prod... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Amazon decide to create their own alphanumeric ASIN system instead of using ISBNs?

Amazon faced expensive and problematic issues with ISBNs, and they wanted to create a scalable catalog that catered to non-book products as well.

Q: Why did Amazon choose the format "bravo zero" for their ASINs?

Amazon selected "bravo zero" to avoid confusion between uppercase and lowercase letters and maintain consistency in their catalog.

Q: Does Amazon still use ISBNs for their book category?

Yes, although it is rare, Amazon still uses ISBNs in the book category, but the standard is to use ASINs for all other products.

Q: What is the difference between an ASIN and an FN SKU?

An ASIN is used to identify a product to the consumer on one page, while an FN SKU is the bin location of the product at FBA. Multiple FN SKUs can be associated with one ASIN.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• When Amazon started as a bookseller, they faced issues with expensive and problematic ISBNs.

• To create a marketplace where everyone sold on the same page, Amazon developed a unique alphanumeric ASIN system.

• The ASIN format "bravo zero" was chosen to avoid confusion between uppercase and lowercase letters.