diff --git a/src/app.py b/src/app.py
index e40ec54..386f09e 100644
--- a/src/app.py
+++ b/src/app.py
@@ -37,25 +37,28 @@ def add_item():
 
     itemid = data.get('itemid')
     attributes = data.get('attributes', '').split(',') if data.get('attributes') else []
-
+    attributes = sorted(attributes)
     new_item = [itemid, attributes]
-    try:
-        extr = check_item(new_item)
-    except ValueError:
-        return jsonify({'status': 4, "info": "aliexpress punish page"}), 400
 
-    if len(extr) > 0:
-        skuid = list(extr.values())[0]["skuid"]
-        if check_exist(itemid, skuid):
-            # item already exists
-            return jsonify({'status': 3, "info": "item already exists"}), 400
-        else:
+    # check if item already exists
+    formatted_attributes = re.sub("'", '"', re.sub(r'\]', '}', re.sub(r'\[', '{', f'{attributes}')))
+    if check_exist(itemid, formatted_attributes):
+        # item already exists
+        return jsonify({'status': 3, "info": "item already exists"}), 400
+    else:
+        # if it doesn't already exist try to scrape this item
+        try:
+            extr = check_item(new_item)
+        except ValueError:
+            return jsonify({'status': 4, "info": "aliexpress punish page"}), 400
+
+        if len(extr) > 0:
             # item is valid
             fill_db(extr)
             return jsonify({'status': 0, "info": "item added to database"}), 200
-    else:
-        # item not valid or can't be parsed
-        return jsonify({'status': 1, "info": "item not valid or can't be parsed"}), 400
+        else:
+            # item not valid or can't be parsed
+            return jsonify({'status': 1, "info": "item not valid or can't be parsed"}), 400
 
 @app.route('/app/delete', methods=['POST'])
 def del_item():
diff --git a/src/db.py b/src/db.py
index 47ac8a4..7ad4d7d 100644
--- a/src/db.py
+++ b/src/db.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import psycopg2
 import csv
 import os
+import re
 
 def get_conf():
     '''return db connection settings'''
@@ -46,7 +47,8 @@ def add_history_entry(itemid, skuid, choice, attributes, image, price, currency,
     connection = connect_db()
     cursor = connection.cursor()
 
-    if not check_exist(itemid, skuid):
+    formatted_attributes = re.sub("'", '"', re.sub(r'\]', '}', re.sub(r'\[', '{', f'{attributes}')))
+    if not check_exist(itemid, formatted_attributes):
         add_item(itemid, skuid, choice, attributes, image)
 
     cursor.execute("""
@@ -180,7 +182,7 @@ def toggle_show(uuid):
     connection.commit()
     connection.close()
 
-def check_exist(itemid, skuid):
+def check_exist(itemid, attributes):
     '''check if an item is already in the database'''
     connection = connect_db()
     cursor = connection.cursor()
@@ -189,8 +191,8 @@ def check_exist(itemid, skuid):
     SELECT uuid
     FROM item
     WHERE itemid = %s
-    AND skuid = %s
-    """, (itemid, skuid))
+    AND attributes = %s
+    """, (itemid, attributes))
 
     result = cursor.rowcount
     cursor.close()