xml feed 101

[Sally Dickson]

Ok does anyone know what an XML feed is?
I think it involves server side programming , sorry? server what?

My problem is simple:

I sell on Amazon and in my internet shop.

Amazon has a tendancy to sell more products than I actually list ( something to do with the internet taking 48hrs to refresh - ah yes that old chestnut ).

And what with ongoing sales on the main site...

I end up with negative stock, backorders (similar to lower back ache) and really irritated customers.

I have been told about the mythical XML feed which will link my inventory to Amazon.

This sounds like using The Force to find The One Ring, but hey I'm a Jedi Hobbit, I'm willing to give a go!

Before I get burnt in the fires of Mordor...

Seriously, could anyone suggest a way I could link my Actinic shop inventory to Amazon with a rss / live feed solution, that would actually work.

Or do I need another software solution? Oh no - not the dark side!

Answers in Elvish, sorry English please.

Cheers,

Sally Dickson

[grantglendinnin]

If you want 'live' status then you're, elvished?

Mole End have an Amazon Feed - how great the control of this is I don't know, never looked at it - though I doubt it will carry over Stock info as you'd have to create a new feed every few minutes to keep Amazon up to date.

[rmorrow]

Hi Sally
My plug-in does the bones of this i.e. extract the actinic stock data into a file and upload to a website. I'm sure it could be modified to create an XML feed for Amazon. Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss...

[Sally Dickson]

Mole End have an Amazon Feed .

This a good product for transforming Actinic data into a spreadsheet that can be uploaded in Amazon Seller Central.

This is a good product.

[Sally Dickson]

Hi Sally
My plug-in does the bones of this i.e. extract the actinic stock data into a file and upload to a website. I'm sure it could be modified to create an XML feed for Amazon. Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss...

we are talking bespoke programming - is there no other way?

I was at a seminar recently and speaking to a few other merchants realised that we are all plagued with having to upload stock levels on a daily basis.

And the more outlets you have the more uploads you have to do.

Most of the Actinic issues can be resolved with Mole End plug-ins, but when you are working across several marketplaces, its easy to spend 90mins a day just juggling data.

thats before you start processing orders amd handling customer queries.

[Mike Hughes]

Richard,

some kind of real time stock control for external feeds would be a very powerful solution.

It's hard enough managing stock on our own website. I can see that if Amazon suddenly put one of our products on top then it could outsell very quickly. As Sally says, not good for the customer, amazon feedback or blood pressure.

There is a major challenge here though isn't there? How do we update the stock levels when amazon (or any other channel - but amazon is going to be the major problem because of the potential volume swings) sells an item. I thought all the vendor gets is an email?

Mike

[Jan]

Hi Sally,

If you email details over of the requirements for the Amazon XML feed then I will add it to the Product mash as another Amazon option (licensing will be under the existing Amazon option).

Regards,

[Jan]

For other systems, this product will produce a csv feed containing the product references and stock levels :

http://www.mole-end.biz/acatalog/Profit_and_Price.html

Regards,