One downside of Amazon's new Send to Amazon workflow is the long wait for MSKU (merchant SKU) validation. This takes place any time you add an item to your batch in the Find It step. While an MSKU is validating, you'll see the message "Pending Offer Creation."
What Is MSKU Validation / Pending Offer Creation?
When you submit a new MSKU to Amazon, Amazon has to validate it. That means confirming that you've provided a unique and acceptable MSKU.
If the item is intended for sale through FBA, Amazon must also convert the MSKU into a fulfillment network SKU (FNSKU).
Both of these steps are necessary for Amazon to generate your offer for the product. That's why you'll see "Pending Offer Creation" at this time.
How Long Does MSKU Validation Take?
MSKU validation took such a short time in Amazon's old workflow that most sellers barely noticed it. However, it takes much longer in the new Send to Amazon workflow. On average, the wait time is 14 minutes, but it can extend to 30 to 60 minutes at peak times. In rare cases, it may take up to 2 hours or more.
We've pointed out to Amazon that such long waits are unacceptable to sellers and asked them to address this issue. Our CEO, Yoda Yee, spoke to them directly, and they've promised that they are working on a solution.
What If I Submit Multiple MSKUs at Once?
You shouldn't notice any additional wait time if you're adding items one by one in Find It. You will be able to see the progress for each new MSKU you create in its progress bar.
If you add a lot of MSKUs at the same time, such as by importing a buy list, each MSKU may add about a minute to your wait time. Because of this and other potential issues, we recommend that you do not submit more than 200 unique MSKUs in a single Buy List.
Is It Faster to Submit My New MSKUs Directly in Seller Central?
No. MSKU validation takes equally long whether you submit your MSKUs in Seller Central or InventoryLab.
I've Waited Over Two Hours and Still See "Pending Offer Creation." What Should I Do?
InventoryLab now automatically checks the validation status every 30–90 seconds, depending on whether you are actively viewing the batch or the MSKU details screen. Because of this, manual revalidation is no longer required. If an MSKU remains in a pending state longer than expected, we recommend selecting the MSKU and clicking View in Seller Central to review its status directly in Amazon Seller Central. In some cases, editing and resaving the item may help refresh the validation request, though results may vary.
If you want to keep moving while you wait for a reply, you can remove the item from your batch. Click the kebab menu (three stacked dots) on the item's right, then choose Remove Item.
You can send the item in a separate batch once Seller Support has resolved the item's issues.
What's Next?
Once your MSKUs have all been validated, you can print your FNSKU labels and move on to Box It!