Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

[lesliekirk]

I need to be able to use the Inventory Variants to dynamically change the attribute prices of a product. But I need to use the product's inventory level to hide the entire product when sold out.

The product is fabric, the attributes are yardage, sample and swatch. If the inventory levels are set at the Inventory Variant level, if the yardage is sold out, the sample and swatch are still available - they need to not be available. But if I don't set an Inventory Level at the Variant then none of the attributes are available to select.

The Inventory is currently configured to:

Track Inventory
Track Out of Stock Level
Hide Out of Stock Products

I'm hoping it's just a matter of having the wrong combination of things selected.

Leslie

[lesliekirk]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

So am I the only one who needs to do this? Sigh...

[lesliekirk]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

I'll have to double check but I think this is how it was done. To be able to dynamically display the pricing, isn't this the only way you can do this? If so, it doesn't sound like its going to work because I would still have to set the inventory at the variant level, yes?

[Rick Wilson]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

Leslie,

I'm asking support to find the info on this. But if I understand you, here's what you want to do:

You want to tie master product out of stock with when the inventory variants are all out of stock? Correct?

If so, then the gist is this.

You set the master product to also track inventory and you set the inventory on hand to be the total of the variant inventory on hand.

So if you had a shirt in 3 sizes and you had 4 each on hand of those sizes. You'd set the 3 variants to all have 4 on hand and the master to have 12 on hand, and set the master to hide when out of stock.

If you keep those in sync, it works fine. We used to have a video on this and I'm having support dig it up.

[lesliekirk]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

Just the opposite. In this case, the variants are samples of the master product, so when the master product runs out, there can be no samples. It seems that when we set the variant inventory levels like you describe it seems to mess with the basket level and then the total inventory level.

I just realized I may be incorrectly describing / explaining how this is set up (as I keep referring to the "master" product)

I think I know what might be part of the problem - the price of the master product is set to $0.00, then the price of the full size is an attribute, then there are two different size samples. This is done so the customer can clear select between the full size of the product or one of the 2 sample sizes and see the price change reflected in the price. The first attribute is the one that needs to control and hide the out of stock.

So maybe instead - the "master" product should have the price for the full size BUT can there also be a variant for the full size (with no additional cost added to it?) Then the attribute prices would have to be negative numbers though wouldn't they, to reduce the master price to the sample price?

See why I'm confused? All that is really needed is for the dynamic attribute pricing to work, without having to tie inventory to it be able to select it

[Rick Wilson]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

Email me I think I can help

[mdurkee]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

Okay,
I sell t-shirts. Many colors multiple sizes. Consequently, I use inventory variants. It used to be that when I sell out of every size/color of a style it would disappear from my online store. I had purposely set it up that way from the beginning. Over time with upgrades and updates to the store, I find that when a style is sold out in all colors and sizes, it stays in the store but none of the selections work and all the swatches show up. You are unable to see the picture of the shirt, can't select a size, color or add to basket (thankfully). Why doesn't it disappear from the store anymore?
I don't think it is feasible for us to keep track of the inventory in two places like it seems to be described above; It is difficult enough just to keep the inventory correct at the attribute level. Hopefully it is just a setting that I have neglected to set?

[Rick Wilson]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

Maxanne,

I'm confused, the only reason to do the two places at once is if you want the Master Product to auto-hide when all of the variants are out of stock (which we don't recommend). Is that what you're trying to do? Or do you just want to setup inventory at the attribute level?

[mdurkee]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

Rick,
I currently have the inventory set up at the attribute level. For instance, I have a shirt #HS400 and it has 6 colors and 5 sizes.
When all the sizes/colors are completely sold out, the product is not being hidden in my store, it shows up there as if it is broken. The pics are not there, none of the buttons work.
If only the blue size S, M, L, XL, XXL are sold out, but I have other options available, then the blue doesn't show up but all the options with inventory shows. That is working fine. It is just when every single color/size is sold out that things go a little whack.

[Rick Wilson]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

Got it, then yes you'd need to do it this way. Although I would recommend another route, since if you hide it and it comes back in stock it can impact your SEO.

You can use a template conditional to just display a message when they're all out of stock as opposed to hiding the whole product.

[mdurkee]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

Yes, I was thinking of making a category "SOLD OUT" and make it's parent category "hidden". My hidden category is inactive so all child categories like holiday, etc. don't initially show up. I just don't really know how to automatically assign the products to that category upon selling that last unit in stock.
Right now I am depending on us noticing it and moving the products or de-activating them. Not sure how to accomplish the task to happen automatically.

[Rick Wilson]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

I'll ask Brennan to chime in with some direction.

[Brennan]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

I don't believe there is any way to change category assignments via the template language or toolkit. If you are tracking inventory you can setup email alerts so when the last product is purchased you can go in and move it to the out of stock category.

[mdurkee]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

That would work for now. Is there any documentation on how to set that up? Thanks

Just to be clear, I am tracking inventory at the attribute level so I don't use the inventory tab on the in the products module at all right now. I don't think it is possible for us to keep track of the inventory on that tab as well as at the attribute level. Is it still possible to trigger an email?? Seems that I could trigger the product to be hidden if I can trigger an email??

Maxanne

[lea-ann]

Re: Need to use Product Inventory Level with Inventory Variants

Hi, I think I'm having the same issue as described above, if not forgive me for hijacking the thread and move it elsewhere :).

We build a product, have attributes and build the Inventory Variants. Then, download to SEOM, build the sub-skus and receive inventory. Inventory tracks to MIVA variants okay, but because just the variant inventory is received, the product doesn't display. Inventory on the product sku is set to tracking, hide out of stock. We need the product to show but also disappear when they are out of stock as most of the time we will not be reordering them. What is the best way to accomplish this?

Added: I just realized that when I search for the variant, even though inventory has been received and uploaded, the active box is not checked. Perhaps that is causing an issue? we used to use VC Inventory tracking and it would automatically turn tracking on if inventory was received. Is that not the behavior of MM?