Every Amazon listing found for a row gets a status: Match, Maybe or No match. Some rows come back with no listing at all. If too many rows come back as a Maybe or with no match, the cause is almost always in the input file, and it's usually fixable.
Why rows come back as a Maybe or with no match
| Symptom | Most common cause |
|---|---|
| Row matched to the wrong product | Missing or incorrect UPC (Universal Product Code); vague description that fits many products |
| Lots of Maybe rows | No brand column; short descriptions; ambiguous pack quantities |
| Row has no match at all | Product isn't sold on Amazon; UPC is malformed; description too thin to search on; sales floor filtered every candidate out |
In more detail:
- Missing or wrong UPCs. A valid UPC usually leads straight to the right listing. Truncated UPCs (Excel loves stripping leading zeros), internal item numbers pasted into the UPC column, or case-level codes all send matching down the harder description-based path.
- Vague descriptions. "Wipes 75ct" could be dozens of products. "Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Fresh Scent 75ct" is nearly unambiguous. The more specific the text, the stronger the match.
- No brand column. Brand is a strong disambiguator. Without it, similar products from different manufacturers blur together.
- Bundle and pack ambiguity. If the file doesn't say whether a row is one unit, a 6-pack, or a case of 24, the match may be graded cautiously. The listing might be right but the pack math uncertain.
- Sales floor too high. At a high minimum monthly sales tier, slower-selling listings are skipped entirely, which can look like "no match" for perfectly matchable rows.
How to improve the grade
- Fix the file, then re-upload. Add or repair UPCs, add a brand column, expand thin descriptions, make units per case explicit. Formatting guidance is in File requirements and formatting.
- Ask the supplier for a richer export. Most can send a version with UPCs and brands. It's the single highest-impact request you can make.
- Lower the sales floor if results look thin, and run again.
Refresh vs. re-upload
These solve different problems:
- Refresh (on the Results page) pulls current Amazon pricing, offers, and sales rank for the matches you already have. Use it when the data feels stale: prices moved, Buy Box changed. It won't find new matches. See Refresh Amazon data.
- Re-upload runs matching again from your inputs. Use it when the matches themselves are the problem and you've improved the file. Upload the fixed file as a new catalog and compare.
Treat a Maybe as a lead
A Maybe doesn't mean "wrong"; it means "verify before you buy." A Maybe can hide a genuinely good buy the file just didn't describe well. Spot-check the pack quantity and brand against the listing, and confirm anything you plan to purchase. A cautious status is the point: nothing uncertain gets passed off as certain.