Should You Keep or Replace Your Amazon ASIN? A Decision Guide

As an Amazon seller, deciding whether to keep an existing ASIN or create a new one with a new UPC code is a critical choice that impacts sales, rankings, and customer perception. This guide breaks down the key factors to help you and your team make an informed group decision, complete with a decision-making matrix for clarity.

Key Factors to Consider

Here are the primary factors to evaluate when deciding between maintaining your current ASIN or launching a new one:

1. Review Status and Rating Impact

• Bad Reviews: A low star rating (e.g., below 3.5) or numerous negative reviews can hurt sales. A new ASIN offers a fresh start but sacrifices positive reviews.
• Review Volume: High review counts boost organic ranking. If you have hundreds of reviews, salvaging the ASIN may be better than starting over.
• Action: Create a new ASIN if negative reviews dominate. Otherwise, optimize the listing and encourage new reviews via Amazon’s Vine program.

2. Product Improvements or Changes

• Significant Improvements: Major upgrades (e.g., better features or materials) warrant a new ASIN to reflect the updated product and avoid confusion.
• Minor Changes: Small updates (e.g., packaging) can be handled by editing the existing ASIN’s images and description.
• Action: Launch a new ASIN for major changes; update the current ASIN for minor ones.

3. Sales History and Ranking

• Sales Velocity: Established ASINs with strong sales benefit from Amazon’s algorithm, improving organic ranking. A new ASIN resets this momentum.
• Keyword Ranking: High-ranking keywords drive traffic. Rebuilding rankings for a new ASIN takes time.
• Action: Keep the ASIN if sales and rankings are strong, unless reviews or issues tank conversions.

4. Brand Perception and Customer Trust

• Negative Associations: If the ASIN is tied to quality issues or a damaged reputation, a new ASIN can rebuild trust.
• Brand Consistency: For loyal customers, maintaining the ASIN preserves recognition.
• Action: Choose a new ASIN for irreparable negative sentiment; enhance the existing ASIN otherwise.

5. Inventory and Operational Considerations

• Existing Inventory: High inventory levels tied to the current ASIN may make liquidation costly if you switch.
• FBA Fees: A new ASIN incurs new UPCs, labeling, and FBA costs.
• Action: Retain the ASIN if inventory is high; opt for a new ASIN if stock is low or the product is new.

6. Amazon Policy and Compliance

• ASIN Misuse: Amazon prohibits new ASINs to “reset” reviews without valid reasons (e.g., major product changes).
• UPC Requirements: New ASINs need unique UPCs, which may require purchasing codes.
• Action: Ensure compliance with Amazon’s guidelines and document changes to justify a new ASIN.

7. Competitive Landscape

• Competitor Positioning: A new ASIN with optimized keywords and pricing can help you stand out against competitors.
• Market Trends: Aligning with new trends may require a fresh ASIN.
• Action: Analyze competitors to decide if a new ASIN can outperform or if optimizing the current one suffices.

8. Marketing and Promotional Impact

• Promotional History: Existing ASINs have valuable data (e.g., PPC performance) to leverage.
• Launch Effort: New ASINs require significant marketing to gain traction.
• Action: Keep the ASIN if marketing data is strong; launch a new ASIN if you’re ready for a robust campaign.

Decision-Making Matrix

Use this table to score each factor (1–5) for keeping the current ASIN versus creating a new one. Assign weights based on your priorities (e.g., reviews = 30%, sales = 20%), then calculate totals to guide your decision.

Factor	Keep Current ASIN	Create New ASIN	Weight (%)
Review Status	Score (1–5): High review volume, salvageable rating	Score (1–5): Negative reviews dominate	__%
Product Improvements	Score (1–5): Minor changes	Score (1–5): Major upgrades	__%
Sales History	Score (1–5): Strong sales velocity	Score (1–5): Declining sales	__%
Brand Perception	Score (1–5): Positive brand recognition	Score (1–5): Negative associations	__%
Inventory	Score (1–5): High inventory levels	Score (1–5): Low or no inventory	__%
Compliance	Score (1–5): No policy issues	Score (1–5): Justifiable new ASIN	__%
Competitive Landscape	Score (1–5): Strong positioning	Score (1–5): Opportunity to outperform	__%
Marketing Impact	Score (1–5): Valuable data exists	Score (1–5): Ready for new campaign	__%
Total (Weighted Score)	__	__	100%

Example Scenarios

Final Thoughts

If bad reviews are overwhelming and the product has significantly improved, a new ASIN can reset customer perception. However, if the ASIN has strong sales, rankings, or salvageable reviews, optimizing the current listing is often the better choice. Use the decision-making matrix with your team, prioritizing factors based on your brand’s goals and inventory constraints. Need help analyzing your ASIN’s data or setting up the matrix? Reach out to MikesBlogDesign for expert e-commerce insights!