What Happens When You Update a SKU in Etsy?
When you update or create a SKU in Etsy, ProfitTree automatically responds to that change during the next data sync. Because ProfitTree relies on SKUs to identify and group products, changes to SKUs can affect how your sales and costs appear in reports.
Watch the Video Explanation
This short video walks through real examples of how SKU changes impact ProfitTree:
How ProfitTree Uses SKUs
ProfitTree uses SKUs to:
Identify unique products
Group sales across multiple listings
Apply consistent COGS
Consolidate reporting in Product Reports
When a SKU changes, ProfitTree treats that SKU as a different product identifier.
What Happens When You Add a New SKU
If you add a SKU to a listing that previously had no SKU:
ProfitTree will begin tracking that product using the new SKU
All past sales for that product will be updated to use the new SKU
All sales (past and future) will be grouped under the new SKU
What Happens When You Change an Existing SKU
If you change a SKU value in Etsy:
ProfitTree updates the product record with the new SKU
All historical and future sales for that product move to the new SKU
You will NOT see two separate products - the product identity is tied to the Etsy product_id, not the SKU
If the new SKU matches other products, all will be grouped together
How This Affects COGS
Because COGS are tied to SKUs:
A new or changed SKU will initially have no COGS
You must assign COGS to the new SKU
If the same SKU exists across multiple listings, COGS must match
Failing to update COGS after a SKU change may result in missing cost warnings or incorrect profit calculations.
When Products Are Grouped Together
ProfitTree will group products when:
The SKU value is identical
The SKU exists across multiple listings
Note: Products with the same SKU are always grouped together. If COGS differ between products in the same SKU group, ProfitTree will display a warning but the products remain grouped.
Best Practices When Updating SKUs
Avoid changing SKUs unless necessary
Use consistent SKUs across identical products
Update COGS immediately after changing a SKU
Understand that SKU changes affect reporting going forward
Summary
Updating or creating a SKU in Etsy directly affects how ProfitTree groups products, applies COGS, and displays reporting. SKU changes are reflected after the next sync and are expected behavior.
If you’re unsure how a SKU change will affect your reports, watching the video above is the fastest way to understand what to expect.