Errors

XML Error Responses

Error responses take the following format:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<requestError version="1.1">
  <code>501</code>
  <message lang="en">English Error Message</message>
</requestError>

Order Update Error Codes

Code Message Solution
199 This is a generic error Please try the request again
501 The purchase order was not found Correct the purchase order ID (ABEPOID) you specified in your request
502 A purchase order ID is a required field for this action Specify the ID (ABEPOID) or correct the spelling in your request
503 You are not the seller of this purchase order The purchase order ID (ABEPOID) you specified is incorrect. Correct it and retry.
504 The purchase order is not in an updatable status The purchase order has already been processed or is being processed. A purchase order can only be processed once.
505 You are not a vendor The user ID you provided in the action is not correct. Correct the spelling and try again.
506 Invalid update status specified The item status provided in the update action is not correct. Correct the spelling and try again.
507 You must provide a status for all items Provide an update status for all items in the order.
508 The credit card transaction failed The credit card provider used by AbeBooks.com is down. Please wait and try again.
509 The status STATUS is invalid on purchase order item NNN You have specified an invalid status. Correct the status and re-send.
510 An ID attribute is a required element of a purchase order item Correct the update request and re-send.
511 The purchase item ID NNN is missing from the update request You have incorrectly specified or missed an item. Add the item and resend.
512 Unable to lock purchase order for processing Some other part of the system is already processing the order. Wait and review the status later.
513 The status X is invalid on a purchase order You have not used one of the valid statuses when updating an order.
514 You are attempting to update a non-seller direct purchase order to a status available only for seller direct You cannot use the status CreditCardDeclined on transactions where payment is accepted by AbeBooks.com.
519 An Order Update server error has occurred An internal error has occurred and AbeBooks staff has been notified. Please wait and try again.
522 The return was not found Review the return id that was supplied
523 A return id is required for this action Make sure you have provided a return id in the request
524 Invalid returns search params, please review the request Review the search parameters provided. Common causes: providing a start date after an end date, providing a return status that does not exist.
525 Unable to parse date time provided Review the date time provided and confirm it follows the ISO 8601 standard for date and time with offset or in UTC.
526 Could not initiate a return for this item Possible causes: return already in progress, item is outside returnable time frame, return reason is not valid for the item.
527 A valid purchase order item id and return reason must be provided to initiate a return Review that all required fields are provided and valid.
528 Return not updated, unable to change return to provided status The return was not able to be updated given the params of the request. Review that the status transition is valid. Missing shipment investigations can only be initiated 14 or more days after the return was created.
529 The return cannot be cancelled because the buyer has provided shipping tracking information The buyer has provided return shipping tracking information so the return cannot be cancelled.
530 Return not processed. The includeReturnShipping param is only valid for return reason 05 Please omit the includeReturnShipping tag for all other returns.
531 Return not processed. The processImmediately tag was false but returns for seller direct orders and/or return reasons 01 or 07 are always processed immediately Please omit this tag for return reasons 01 and 07, along with any order that had a seller direct payment method.
532 The return cannot be updated because it's been marked as a returnless refund by one of your rules No action needed — this return will be auto-completed by the system within 24 hrs.
533 The status provided is not valid for order searches Provide a valid status for the searchOrders action. Valid values are "CANCELLED", "EXPIRED", "ORDERED", "PROCESSED" and "REJECTED".
534 Invalid orders search params, please review the request Review the search parameters provided. Common causes: a negative limit or offset, an end date before the start date, or using created and updated date filters together.

General Server Error Codes

Code Message Solution
100 Database Unavailable A database error has occurred. Contact Premium Technical Support at AbeBooks.
103 Network Error Some form of network error has occurred. Try again later.
104 Invalid XML The XML sent to the server is invalid. Please verify your XML.
106 External Server Unavailable An error has occurred at AbeBooks.com. Try again later.
108 Unauthorized Action You are attempting to perform an action you do not have permission to perform. Please verify the "action name" in your XML.
109 Unknown Action You have sent an action that is not valid. Correct your XML and try again.
110 User is invalid. Either it is unknown or has an incorrect password Correct the user name and password (API Key) in your XML request and try again.
111 There was an error validating the user The server was unable to validate the user in the action. Try again later.

Appendix: Return Reasons

Reason Code Reason Text Restrictions
01 Item did not arrive Can only be initiated after the delivery window has passed
02 Buyer does not want item
04 Item was damaged
05 Item not as described
06 Incorrect item delivered
07 Bookseller accepted in error
08 Incomplete sale Only for seller direct items. Used when an item is cancelled by seller after availability confirmed.
19 Buyer cancelled Only for seller direct items. Used when an item is cancelled by a buyer (through "contact the bookseller" so the seller has to mark item as cancelled).

Appendix: Return Statuses

Status Code Status Text Description
C Cancelled Return cancelled. The return can no longer be changed. If a return is still needed please initiate a new one.
I In progress A return has been created but has not been completed by the seller.
L Buyer refunded The return has been completed and the buyer has been refunded.
M Missing shipment There has been a missing shipment investigation initiated with AbeBooks for this return.
Q Seller direct return Only applicable to seller direct orders. The seller is responsible for completing the return outside AbeBooks due to the payment method.

Appendix: Rules for Updating Returns

The following table shows which return status transitions are allowed via the updateReturn action, along with the return reasons and domains for which each transition is valid. Return status codes are defined in the Return Statuses appendix.

Initiated By State Change Allowed Return Reasons Allowed Domains
Buyer Initiated to Cancelled ("I" to "C") 02 com
Buyer Initiated to Missing Shipment ("I" to "M") 02, 04, 05, 06 all
Buyer Initiated to Seller Received ("I" to "L") 01, 02, 04, 05, 06 all
Seller Initiated to Cancelled ("I" to "C") 02, 04, 05, 06 all
Seller Initiated to Missing Shipment ("I" to "M") 02, 04, 05, 06 all
Seller Initiated to Seller Received ("I" to "L") 01, 02, 04, 05, 06 all

Special Cases

  • Once a buyer adds shipping tracking information to a return, it cannot be cancelled.
  • Missing shipment investigations can only be initiated 14 or more days after the return was created.