Unusual setup for inventory variants

[Kent Multer]

Hi folks --

One of my clients wants to set up some products in a somewhat non-standard way. Example: a particular product, such as a shirt, may be available in five sizes and five colors, but not in all 25 possible combinations. Some colors are only available in four sizes, or three. We'd like to get this set up so that the Attribute Machine will work properly as people select different combinations on the product page. Should I do this by auto-generating all 25 variants, and then deleting the ones that we don't need? Or is it better to leave the variants in place, but keep the inventory counts at zero for the unavailable ones, so that they're always out of stock? (Or some other approach?)

And here's a really odd one: one color, black in this case, has NO sizes; it's effectively "One Size Fits All." Can the store even do that? I suppose I can just treat "no size" like another Size, and create a new option on the attribute for it; and then disable it for the other colors by whatever solution works for the first example. Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks --

[Rick Wilson]

Re: Unusual setup for inventory variants

The two best paths are either the one you described or using the built in Variant Import Creation tool.

It ultimately depends on how many SKU's.

[Kent Multer]

Re: Unusual setup for inventory variants

Lots of SKUs; this is for an automated-import module. I've got it hooked into db.mv to auto-generate the variants; I just need to figure out what to do with these irregular items.

So just to clarify, since I asked a couple of questions at once: after auto-generating the variants, should I delete the unneeded ones? Or is it better to leave them in place and keep them out-of-stock? We'd like the Attribute Machine to handle this properly on the product pages.

Thanks for your help --

[Brennan]

Re: Unusual setup for inventory variants

Hey Kent -

That is more of a client personal preference.

If they really don't carry certain sizes it may be better to generate all variants, then delete the ones they don't carry. It will probably create a better user experience, vs showing them sizes that are always out of stock.

[Datagg]

Re: Unusual setup for inventory variants

Hi folks --

One of my clients wants to set up some products in a somewhat non-standard way.
Thanks --

Kent this really isn't a non standard way im my world. Its a common issue for what we do. As far as ease of making it happen, we haven't been able to find it other than just using variants.

[Kent Multer]

Re: Unusual setup for inventory variants

Thanks, all, for the advice!