Happening now! Shopify Community AMA: PayPal Express Migration to Shopify Payments | Ask your questions to be answered by our team.

Re: Multiple Products with Same SKU - Not Updating Inventory in Sync

Multiple Products with Same SKU - Not Updating Inventory in Sync

Jon_C33
Shopify Partner
11 0 2

Hi all,

 

I have two different shopify product pages that are both selling the same physical product. This physical product has just one SKU that I have entered on both product pages.

 

However, when the product is sold on product page A, it only updates the inventory of the physical product for that specific product page, and not the inventory for product B as well (which intuitively it should--because they are utilizing the same SKU).

 

How can I set it so that no matter where the physical product is sold (no matter which shopify product page it is sold on), the inventory will update across all areas?


The issue here is that product page A might sell 50 of the physical product, but it doesn't update that inventory at all on product page B and then I run into mismatched inventory numbers and fulfillment issues because we ran out of the product when we had no idea.

Replies 31 (31)

axsuul
Shopify Partner
107 0 28

Hey @Jon_C33 

 

Unfortunately Shopify doesn't keep in sync inventory for products that have the same SKU. You will need to use a plugin/app for that.

 

For example, Trunk can keep inventory in sync in real-time between shared SKUs within your Shopify store: https://www.trunkinventory.com

 

P.S. I'm the developer of Trunk so please let me know if you have any additional questions/concerns!

 

Sync your stock levels + bundles/kits in real-time between any number of Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Faire, QuickBooks Online, Squarespace, Square, Tundra, WooCommerce stores with Trunk
Kaycee_Jones
New Member
5 0 0

Hi there, great to know you are a developer! We have the same issue, but we have used another plug in app and are wanting to find another because there are too many challenges. Can you tell me this has overcome the following challenges? 
1- Does it sync with the Edit feature in Shopify orders?
2- Does it sync with auto return platforms like Loop Returns that we use to manage our returns/exchanges?
3- Does it sync with transfers of inventory?

bibtq
New Member
7 0 0

Do you have any other recommended apps for this solution? 

Stephhrev
Excursionist
35 0 8

Hi Jon,

 

Did you ever find a solution to this? As I am in the same boat. 

 

I can see lots of stock syncing apps for multiple warehouse/wesbites to connect via feed updates but I just want to synch my inventory in my shop between products like yourself.

 

Thanks!

axsuul
Shopify Partner
107 0 28

Hi @Stephhrev 

 

Sorry to bud in but I just wanted to mention that Trunk will be able to sync stock levels between different products within the same Shopify store. There's two ways Trunk can do this:

 

1. either by making sure all products that you want to sync together have the same SKU, or

2. if you don't/can't make the SKUs be the same, you can use our bundling/kitting feature to do this: http://bit.ly/trunkhelpbundles

 

Here is Trunk's Shopify App Store listing if you're interested in checking it out: http://apps.shopify.com/trunk

 

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Sync your stock levels + bundles/kits in real-time between any number of Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Faire, QuickBooks Online, Squarespace, Square, Tundra, WooCommerce stores with Trunk
Jon_C33
Shopify Partner
11 0 2

No solution unfortunately and don't want to add more apps on top of our setup so we have just tracked inventory manually.

Leily_a
Tourist
8 0 3

hey there - were you able to come to a good solution for this? facing this problem now too and would love to see if you found something that worked for keeping track of inventory of a certain SKU on multiple different product pages. 

Stephhrev
Excursionist
35 0 8

Hey!

Yes! we have been using the 'Bundles' app ( just search for that in the apps) which has been great. Super easy to use, and recognises when items are deleted etc ( I don't know how to link the app here otherwise I would!)

 

kind regards, 

steph

mynichehome
New Member
5 0 0

Hi, is this bundles app the one that you use?

 

https://apps.shopify.com/bundles?surface_detail=bundles&surface_inter_position=1&surface_intra_posit...

 

will it allow me to sync stock levels for 2 different products?


@Stephhrev wrote:

Hey!

Yes! we have been using the 'Bundles' app ( just search for that in the apps) which has been great. Super easy to use, and recognises when items are deleted etc ( I don't know how to link the app here otherwise I would!)

 

kind regards, 

steph


 

Stephhrev
Excursionist
35 0 8

hi @mynichehome 

 

Yes and yes 🙂 its brilliant!

 

Just bare in mind takes about an hour to update inventory when you add stock to the single items in shopify.

ryanwanger
Visitor
2 0 6

It's really disappointing that this doesn't work out of the box with Shopify. Not only that, but it allowed us to create a page using the duplicate SKU, without any warning that it wouldn't be syncing inventory properly.

We already pay thousands for an external inventory management system (SkuVault), so it's strange that the answer is to add yet another inventory management system into the mix. Or, is this something I need to bring up with SkuVault?

myfilosophy
Excursionist
33 0 21

Does anyone know if this is being worked on by shopify?

 

axsuul
Shopify Partner
107 0 28

 

@ryanwanger 

Trunk is also an inventory management system like SkuVault so an alternative is to use Trunk which supports duplicate SKU syncing. If you don't want to sync duplicate SKUs, Trunk will also notify you if you have any duplicate SKUs.

https://apps.shopify.com/trunk

Sync your stock levels + bundles/kits in real-time between any number of Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Faire, QuickBooks Online, Squarespace, Square, Tundra, WooCommerce stores with Trunk
myfilosophy
Excursionist
33 0 21

The app is too much money.  $29/month to update a few skus is not worth it.

Stephhrev
Excursionist
35 0 8

I Use 'Bundles'... Costs me $14 a month and works a treat!

Tejas_Sangoi
Shopify Partner
48 0 3

You can use Duplicate SKU Sync app - its costs just $5 and gets the job done.

MeganSonk
Shopify Partner
3 0 3

YES! This is exactly what I was looking for!! Just a super simple way to link common SKUs! Giving it a try and feeling excited!

Martialartintel
Visitor
1 0 0

Using duplicate SKU but I cannot tell i the second SKU product is synched to my print on demand provider the same way? Do you know if my order Will still be fulfill automatically with my POD provider ?

kingzav
Visitor
1 0 1

I dont understand why they would even give the option to duplicate a product if you cant sync the inventory.

 

stiltwalker
Excursionist
10 0 32

Exactly.  They didn't use to allow you to duplicate a SKU.  The system would give you an error.  But now, I'm noticing that Shopify allows it.  This is fairly new. 

myfilosophy
Excursionist
33 0 21

Do you know if this is working properly?

 

ProfitLabs
Shopify Partner
192 7 26

Hi Merchants / Store Owners,

 

We faced a similar issue with our stores and found the the current solution either too clunky or very expensive, this lead us to take charge and create a simple solution that should simply work like flipping a switch.

 

Here is App ink: https://apps.shopify.com/sync-master-gogo

 

Here are few key points before you decide to invest your next 5 minutes on the app page

  • If your Product Sku are in order on Shopify, then it's actually just setting you need to activate, app will automatically sync inventory changes for similar sku products.
  • You can Manually create Product groups which are same base physical sku and they will be synced.
  • Real time Syncing works across multiple locations in a same shopify store eg pick up location and a warehouse location and across multiple shopify stores also for example wholesale store and retail store selling same products
  • Lastly App has "Pay as you grow" plan, i.e there is no fixed cost per month, you only pay as per your syncing requirements.

 

Hope that helps.

Cheers!

Abhinav | Shopify Partner
- If helpful, please Like and Accept Solution.
- Creator of Sync Inventory - GoGo - Sync Inventory Across Multiple or Single Shopify Store .
- Creator of Profit Bundles - Sell Omni Sales Channel Bundles that you can fulfill yourself or even by a 3PL or Dropshipper.
Kaycee_Jones
New Member
5 0 0

Hi there, great to know you are providing a solution! We have the same issue, but we have used another plug in app and are wanting to find another because there are too many challenges. Can you tell me this has overcome the following challenges? 
1- Does it sync with the Edit feature in Shopify orders?
2- Does it sync with auto return platforms like Loop Returns that we use to manage our returns/exchanges?
3- Does it sync with transfers of inventory?

ProfitLabs
Shopify Partner
192 7 26

Yes our app is compatible with all 3 requirements mentioned by you.

Abhinav | Shopify Partner
- If helpful, please Like and Accept Solution.
- Creator of Sync Inventory - GoGo - Sync Inventory Across Multiple or Single Shopify Store .
- Creator of Profit Bundles - Sell Omni Sales Channel Bundles that you can fulfill yourself or even by a 3PL or Dropshipper.

Tobias5
Shopify Partner
25 0 32

How about the Bundles app of Shopify itself? https://apps.shopify.com/shopify-bundles

If I understand it well, with that app you can have 1 SKU in your inventory and create multiple bundles (where you add 1 product) and give all the same SKU + barcode. Then multiple products in your front end will be supplied by 1 SKU, with 1 barcode and one product in your backend (Shopify inventory).

Smeden
Tourist
8 0 1

Did you figure out if this did the trick? I'm having the same problem and can't seem to figure out if this app does this or is designed for something else?

ProfitLabs
Shopify Partner
192 7 26

Bundles app is designed to set up multi sku fixed product bundles. It is not an ideal solution for 1:1 inventory syncing i.e 1 physical sku for multiple shopify products like unisex clothing.

Abhinav | Shopify Partner
- If helpful, please Like and Accept Solution.
- Creator of Sync Inventory - GoGo - Sync Inventory Across Multiple or Single Shopify Store .
- Creator of Profit Bundles - Sell Omni Sales Channel Bundles that you can fulfill yourself or even by a 3PL or Dropshipper.

stitch-able
Visitor
1 0 1

I know your post is from years ago, but curious is there has been any new information on Shopify adding this option or I still need to add an additional app in order to do this. Thanks!

Smeden
Tourist
8 0 1

Funny - I'm here at this exact moment with the same question! My free version app just expired.

- Guy above mentioned "Shopify Bundles" - it's a free app from shopify. My IT guy is on vacation so I can't test it myself (and this app didnt exist when we created my website) but it might do the trick? If you try it, please let me know!

pauldrecksler
Shopify Partner
29 0 16

I outlined a solution we came up with using Zapier: https://community.shopify.com/c/technical-q-a/how-to-auto-sync-inventory-counts-between-multiple-sho...

Join my Shopifreaks E-commerce Newsletter: www.shopifreaks.com
Learn about affiliate marketing: www.shopaffiliateapps.com
Hire me to help with your store: www.ideasfocused.com

I wish you much success with your Shopify store!

pauldrecksler
Shopify Partner
29 0 16

We came up with a solution for this issue using Zapier. Here's a post where I outlined out process: https://community.shopify.com/c/technical-q-a/how-to-auto-sync-inventory-counts-between-multiple-sho...

Join my Shopifreaks E-commerce Newsletter: www.shopifreaks.com
Learn about affiliate marketing: www.shopaffiliateapps.com
Hire me to help with your store: www.ideasfocused.com

I wish you much success with your Shopify store!