Feature Request: Track inventory on modifiers

[StickbowArchery]

The title of this post has been edited from the original: Tracking Modifiers in Inventory

One of the things I sell are archery bows.  When I sell a bow, it comes with a bowstring.  I also sell individual bowstrings.  I track inventory for bows AND bowstrings.  At the end of the day, I would like to see the TOTAL number of bowstrings out of my inventory (strings that went out wilh each bow + the strings sold individually).

The only way I've seen to do this are 1) "sell" a string with each bow, reducing the price to $0.00, or 2) attach a modifier to each bow that has the proper size bowstring automatically attached.  Option 2 would work best for me because I would eliminate employees forgetting to perform the steps in option 1, however I cannot find a way to accurately track my bowstring inventory while employing option 2.

Any suggestions?

[Chad]

Hey @eleganceshoe, could you maybe share how you're trying to setup your inventory, so we all can have a better idea of what you're trying to achieve? @RHatch has posted some great examples of item variations and inventory tracking, but I noticed you haven't mentioned the actual setup you're looking for. 

I'll keep an eye out for your reply! 🙂

[kobrien]

I'm sorry to jump on this thread, but I have what I think is a similar question. I am trying to add t-shirts to our school's online store. We have Youth Shirts, Adult Shirts, and Women's Shirts, in 8 different colors, 4-5 different sizes, and different inventory amounts for each style, color, and size.

Right now, I have the "style" of shirt as the item, for example, Adult T-shirt. I'd like our customers to be able to choose their size and their color, but I'm not sure how to do this without listing 40 variations! I know I can set up sizes and colors with modifiers, but that doesn't allow me to track inventory. Help!

[RHatch]

So the best way I have done this is to have each color a group and list all the sizes as the variation.  So and t-shirt that comes in 4 colors will be four items with the size variations.

Other wise it is too confusing and if you sell online they will not see all the colors the shirt comes in.

[roshaypro]

ok ,  we sell pictures in frames. 1 picture is 15$ EX...  easy 1 sale takes 1 frame from inventory,  BUT we sell 2 frames for 20$, yet how can I tell inventory that there needs to have 2 frames subracted from inventory when the item is 2 frames for 20$,  inventory will still just subtract 1 frame.

So only way is to manually go in each day and subtract additional frame?

Also continueing we sell 3 framed pictures for $30,  its a choice in the register yet I don't see how to subract 3 items from inventory,  cuz its counted as 1 item.

[jeanstein]

I have a similar question, but no, you aren't answering it.  I have a shirt that comes in Men's and Women's, 5 different sizes and 4 different colors.  I set up gender, size and color modifiers, but how do I set up inventory for each gender, size and color?  To suggest that I have to set up a "variation"  for each of these in order to record inventory is crazy.  That's forty variations for one item!

[EJ_]

Hi @jeanstein

Unfortunately you can only track inventory for the Item Variations. 

Modifiers were meant to apply options to a set of items (e.g. a restaurant has a Hamburger item with Cheese + Toppings as the modifiers).

Variations, while you'll need to create man y of them, allows you to track sizes, colors, or other price points. 

Modifier tracking is something that's been asked about by other sellers, so I'll try advocating to get this prioritized. Hopefully we can find a workaround for you that helps until we get a better solution rolled out. 

[RHatch · Accepted solution]

While you can't track inventory with a modifier you can track how many have been sold with the modifier report. 

[Rusty_Nickel]

Please make modifier inventory and selection of multiple items on the same screen a priority. 

There are several problems with the existing conditions that need improvement as time and reporting are key elements to the of a small business.  

A) Problem: Modifiers must be able to track inventory. example: Category is beer, people order 2- 10 beers at one time.  We cannot go back and forth between screens every time we select a different beer.  As it is now, we cannot track inventory because we have to use the modifier option for the sake of time, also cannot assign SKU's.  Result: Great deal of wasted time, limited reporting and inability to organize products together.

B) Problem: only can select 1 item at a time.  Suggestion: With the option to select multiple items at one time we need to also allow the option to change the quantity of each item when selected - not multiplying the entire selection set by quantity as it is now, with modifiers.  Result: Great deal of wasted time.   

C) Allow the option to track Modifier inventory - this is just as important as an item inventory, sometimes more.  Having a SKU for these also helps tremendously. 

D) Problem: Cannot sell grouped items: we often will sell a beer and a pint glass at a discounted rate which is less than buying them individually.  If we could create a grouped item and it would deduct from inventory that would be ideal.  Result: Having to select each item and then apply a discount (which requires every employee to fully understand) presents opportunity for errors and mistakes.  

• Inventory management needs to work for all items/modifiers it is 
• Selection of multiple items on the same screen would help a great deal. 
• Modifier SKU's and inventory would resolve a TON of issues.   

[RHatch]

Sounds like you need to be using item variations instead of modifiers.  If you set up a Beer item and then have the brands or flavors as item variations you will be able to see them all and track inventory.  You will still only be able to select one item at a time. So it will take three clicks for one item.  

I am not sure how many items you have but you could also set up your most popular items separate and place them on the grid,  You can have multiple tabs.  This will allow a single click to add an item.  Adding quantity is as easy as pushing the button again.

For Group items, the best way is to select the two items and then select a discount for it.

I know this isn't perfect but I think it would be better suited for you than modifiers.

[jackiev]

This makes sense except the items I sell are by color, size, and embroidery design. Following your method, if I understand it correctly, I would have to enter a Variation for each. i.e. Vest - Red Dragon Lg.  

I agree, it would be most helpful to track inventory by modifer.

[Rusty_Nickel]

Variations make sense for small businesses that don't require multiple items ordered rapidly at the same time.

Like a brewery.

As such si.omy adding inventory to modifiers would resolve all of these issues.  Not sure why they cant just add it in.

Seems reasonably simple. They've already taken the time to separate modifiers and items and categories.  Just need another back end inventory option identical to what's being used for items as part of the modifier options.

[Helen]

@jackiev @Rusty_Nickel I asked our Inventory team for an update for you but at this time the ability to track inventory for modifiers is still a feature request. We can't share timelines in the Community but as soon as we have any news to share about this request we'll post in this thread to give you a heads up.

[tvmule]

Update? I also need modifiers to track inventory.

I need to restrict sales based on inventory (the option to do so).

I need an Inventory summary tab on the left that I can hit and instantly shows me a matrix of items / quantity remaining.

I need a simple way to text message a customer that their order is ready. I found a description online at https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/5752-get-started-with-direct-messaging  but a) I follow this path and after finding multiple random customers, there is no option to send a message, b) there should be a simple way direct from each order where the customer provides a credit card and you have the info, that I can hit a button to send a text saying "Your order is ready" (as I own a food cart).

This is just a starting list....

[Mrbbqguy]

Anyone?

[nika]

Hey @Mrbbqguy! I moved your question over to this thread so you can take a look at @ RHatch's answer on looking at the Modifier Report.

Hope this is what you're looking for! But let me know if not!

[Mrbbqguy]

Hi, no, it’s not an inventory issue. My modifiers don’t show the number of modifier sold. 

Combo

      A

      B

      C

      D

i need to see how many of A or B Or C Or D sold on that combo. It’s not telling me. 

[RHatch]

@Mrbbqguy , you are correct, you can't see how many modifiers you sold to an item with a report.  That would only be available on the sales slip it self.  

May I ask why you need this, so we can better understand what you are looking for.

[Mrbbqguy]

Sure. I sell a combo, with a choice of two sides. I need to know what sides sold. Customer buys combo with A and C, but everyone else has Combo with D and C, That info tells me what sides are popular. 

[RHatch]

The modifier report will still give you the information you need just not the grouping..   For example if you sole 20 A & C and 10 D & C combos your modifier report will show A = 20, C = 30 and D = 10.  Now I am sure there are more groupings than the two, but you can still see that item D is the least popular and you can still order your supplies based on that.

I see how that would be handy.  

So there is a way to get this information.  If you go to Transactions, Set your filters at the top and then Export "Items Detail CSV". Open it up in a spreadsheet and look for Column I which is Modifiers Applied.  This will then show you the modifiers applied to this item.   Now with a little spreadsheet knowledge, you can drop this data into a sheet and have it filter just the items with modifiers.

[keisler]

I have perused this community forever and it's unbelievable how something as simple as adding modifier Inventory has been requested for years and still not fixed. I am not one to post a lot here because I learn just by reading people's suggestions. 

How long do we have to wait for this option to come to fruition? It's frustrating, and honestly makes me think of switching POS. It shouldn't be this hard.

[JustinC]

Hey @keisler - I'm sure it feels frustrating to ask for a feature for years. However, I don't have insight into how the Product Team prioritizes feature requests. However, If you want to learn about the life of a feature request, check out this page. 

Once we implement modifier inventory tracking, we'll let you know on this thread I moved you to.