How to manage Copy Listings and Linked SKUs on Marketplaces

Do not index

When selling on marketplaces like Takealot, Makro, or Amazon, you may find yourself in a situation where multiple sellers are selling the same product. In some instances, sellers simply add their offers to another seller’s listing (known as “latching onto a listing”), but in other cases, they create their own listings for the same product (referred to as “copy listings”).

Now, you are also selling this product, and you want to add your offer to all the existing listings for the product. While this is a common and often strategic practice, it requires careful SKU management to ensure proper tracking and syncing of your inventory.

At Wherehouse, we have a structured approach to handling SKUs for linked listings. By following this method, you can avoid inventory mismatches, streamline your product management, and ensure a smooth selling experience.

What are Copy Listings?

Let’s clarify some key terminology:

What does “Latching onto a Listing” Mean?

This refers to when you add your offer to an existing product listing on a marketplace. The listing was originally created by another seller, but since you sell the same product, you attach your own price, quantity, and fulfilment method to that product.

☝

Note the distinction between a product listing (shared product info) and an offer (your seller-specific price and stock).

What is a Copy Listing?

A copy listing occurs when there are multiple product listings for what is essentially the same product. For example, three sellers may have listed the same pair of running shoes 👟, but each created their own listing with slightly different attributes (titles, descriptions, barcodes, etc.).

1️⃣ A listing for the running shoes, titled: “Run Pro 2 - Men’s Running Shoes, Teal/Yellow”

2️⃣ A second listing for the same product, titled: “Teal & Yellow Running Shoes - Run Pro 2”

3️⃣ A third listing for the product, titled: “Run Pro 2 Performance Shoes - Lightweight, Teal”

Imagine seller “Rocketship Retail” is also selling these shoes. They find the three listings already on Takealot for the same item, so they add their offer to all three to maximise visibility—because they don’t know which listing potential customers are more likely to view or click on.

Why are there Multiple Listings for the Same Product?

There are a few common reasons:

Different Suppliers: Sellers might source the same product from different suppliers, with slight variations in packaging, images or product data (e.g., one uses “Cyan” to describe the colour while another uses “Aqua”).

Pricing Experiments: Sellers may list the same product multiple times at different price points to experiment with pricing strategies.

Fulfilment Options: A seller may list the product once for self-fulfilment and again for marketplace fulfilment, leading to separate listings for the same product.

Marketing Tactics: Creating an additional listing can be a tactic to run promotions or target specific keywords.

How to handle Copy Listings in Wherehouse

To ensure seamless syncing, Wherehouse requires a specific SKU structure:

1. Base SKU in Your ERP

Every product must have a base SKU in your ERP (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce, or inventory systems like Zoho, Unleashed or Cin7 Core).

Example: SKU123

2. Primary Offer Uses Base SKU

One of your active offers on the marketplace must use the base SKU.

Example: SKU123

3. Additional Linked Listings Use -C1, -C2, etc.

Each additional offer (on a duplicate/copy listing) must use he base SKU with -C1, -C2, etc. appended:

Example: SKU123-C1, SKU123-C2, SKU123-C3

This tells Wherehouse that all the listings relate to the same product and that all orders must link with and sync back to the base SKU in your ERP.

📌

Sellers can only assign one SKU per offer, and that SKU must be unique on the marketplace. But they want all related offers to feed into a single product in their ERP. The -C1, -C2, etc. structure solves this: it links offers to the same base product while complying with marketplace listing rules.

Amazon FBA/FBM Copy Listings

When managing copy listings on Amazon—especially when selling through both FBA and FBM—you’ll also need to include the fulfilment method in the SKU:

FBA Example: SKU123-FBA

FBM Example: SKU123-FBM

📚

If you're latching onto multiple listings, you’d append -C1, -C2, etc. after the fulfilment type:

SKU123-FBA-C1

SKU123-FBM-C2

Why Proper SKU Management Matters

✅ Prevents Overselling – Inventory changes apply to all linked offers.

📊 Simplifies Reporting – All sales track back to one product in your ERP.

⚙️ Avoids Sync Errors – Ensures your offers are properly mapped and orders are routed correctly.

💡

Copy listings are part and parcel of selling on marketplaces like Takealot, Makro, and Amazon. They help increase visibility and can boost sales—but only if you manage your SKUs properly.

By using our recommended SKU structure, you can list your products across multiple listings, maintain accurate inventory, and keep your business running smoothly.