Multiple Products with Same SKU - Not Updating Inventory in Sync

Topic summary

Issue: Multiple product pages selling the same physical item don’t share inventory, even with identical SKUs. Shopify doesn’t natively sync duplicate SKUs and now allows creating them without warnings.

Current state: No confirmed Shopify roadmap or built-in fix. Merchants report manual tracking or reliance on third‑party tools.

Suggested solutions:

  • Apps: Trunk (real‑time sync for duplicate SKUs; bundling/kitting), Bundles (low cost; works but about a 1‑hour delay when adding stock), Duplicate SKU Sync ($5), ProfitLabs Sync Master GoGo (auto by SKU or manual groups; real‑time across locations/stores; “pay as you grow”; claims support for order edits, Loop Returns, and inventory transfers). Shopify’s own “Shopify Bundles” was suggested, but others note it’s for multi‑SKU bundles, not 1:1 duplicate SKUs.
  • Integrations: Zapier workflow shared via link as a DIY alternative.
  • External IMS: Some use SkuVault, but duplicate SKU sync within Shopify may still need another solution.

Open questions: Whether POD auto‑fulfillment works with duplicate SKUs is unclear. No confirmation that Shopify is building native support.

Status: Unresolved natively. Practical paths are third‑party apps or Zapier; merchants weigh cost, speed, and compatibility.

Summarized with AI on December 26. AI used: gpt-5.

Do you have any other recommended apps for this solution?