I'm just not getting it - trying to display inventory of attributes

[kminnich]

Can someone please give me the steps to adding products to the Zen Cart? I am particularly interested in similar items that contain different part numbers. For Example T-Shirts, each size carries a different part number (for inventory, ordering shipping, and invoicing etc purposes) but the shirt is the same, just different sizes.

Do I set up a category called “T-Shirts” and then add each product to this category or do I set up a category called “T-Shirts”, Add one product such as the small t-shirt and then use the attributes module to add the other three model numbers?

If I do use the latter method how do I track the shirts by model number (I have installed “Stock by Attributes v 4.7MULTIADD”)?

If I used the first method then the customer has to browse through four items that are similar in everything but size but inventory is maintained perfectly. If I do the second method, the customer is presented with the item and the ability to choose the size which is great until it comes to finalizing the cart and he/she gets slammed with an “out of stock” error and pretty much has to guess the stock level only to become frustrated and leave the store.

In the second situation, the customer sees the stock level for ALL of the T-Shirts as a whole. Say I have ten of each shirt in stock the customer sees a stock level of 40 and becomes confused when he/she orders 12 small shirts and gets an out of stock message.

I am really confused here—please advise.

Thanks
Ken

[misty]

Set up product..then set up attributes for that product for different sizes..i.e. small, medium, large.
Set up another attribute that forces customer to choose size.
Install stock by attributes mod to track stock for each size.

[kobra]

Essentially, Zen Cart nor the module does not support individual stock numbers for each size/color

[kminnich]

Set up product..then set up attributes for that product for different sizes..i.e. small, medium, large.
Set up another attribute that forces customer to choose size.
Install stock by attributes mod to track stock for each size.

Thanks Misty, i have gotten that far and all is well except for the quantity displayed. I list quantities and part numbers for customer reference and so they know what is available for ordering. But when it is set up this way the quantity reflects the total of ALL the shirts.

Is there a way to get the quantity available for purchase for each item to be displayed, say next to the attribute?

Ken

[ezskratch]

Ken,

Keep following the bread crumbs... you are on the right track.

I see that you have the Stock by Attributes mod - this is what you need to differentiate stock levels for each variant.

Here is an example:

I have 1 flavor of dog food - but it comes in 2 bag sizes, prices, and weights. Stock management is required so my shop owner knows to reorder and maintain adequate quantities.

1. Create a Category by brand - or by Type (dry dog food) then create the product Dog Food. Make sure you leave price at zero, weight at zero, and quantity at zero.

2. Go the the Catalog >>> Option Name Manager and create 2 Named Options - In this case 5 lb. bag, and 18 lb bag.

3. Next go to the Catalog >>> Option Value Manager and create 2 prices - in this case the 5 lb bag is 12.99, and the 18 lb bag is 33.49.

4. Now go to the Catalog >>> Attributes Controller and select your product - in this case Dog Food. Since I have created the named variants 5 and 18 lb bags, I can now assign the associated price for each. Since the original product had zero price, weight, and quantity, the attribute controller allows you to Assign a price (not just a named value) after the + 12.99 and weight + 6 lbs - I add 1 extra lb for packaging. Same for the larger bag.

5. So - we have Price, and Weight solved but now quantity... Go to Catalog >>> Products with Attributes and find your product - Dog Food. Click on the blue link that says Add Quantity for Product Variant. When you do this, you will see a drop down box containing the variants created - in this case - 5 lb bag, and 18 lb bag. Add the associated QTY to each and now you have inventory control.

If you have a standard variation such as S, M, L XL, XXL - set these up just like the different bags. If you have some shirts that are higher quality and therefore weigh more, cost more, etc - setup all your variations in price for all of your inventory while in the Option Value Manager. When you get to the get to the thicker T shirts, just assign them a different price - but same size variation.

Once you have made one or two, then use the copy tool - and you are golden. Make sure you copy all the attributes - and then adjust as needed.

Hope this helps.

T

[kminnich]

Thanks a lot for your detailed response “T”. I followed it, step-by-step, and was unable to make it work.

To tell the truth, I have given up on accomplishing this task because I have spent the past three days trying various “tips” and different scenarios, read through literally hundreds of post and even bought the electronic “How To Book” (which is a waste of $30.00 in my opinion). I always end up with the same conclusion; “Zen Cart” is not set up to handle inventory by attribute the way I need it to even with the mod installed.

Eventually, I would probably come up with some sort of work around for what I want but the effort and time spent trying to do this does not make good business sense. I am not an inventory specialist so I cannot say what is correct and what is not but I am a business owner who maintains an inventory and Zen Cart and I are on different pages when it comes to the logic behind inventory management. Based on the post I have read, I am not alone here.

It just doesn’t make sense, when I order a product say “T-Shirts” I order by attributes and I receive by attribute. For example I order 10 small, white t-shirts, 20 med blue t-shirts, and 30 large, red t shirts. What I receive is 10 small white shirts, model number: 00001; 20 med blue shirts, model number 000101; 30 large red, shirts model number 000201. Zen Cart doesn’t seem to use this logic in their inventory management. They look at it as if I receive 60 t-shirts.

I like Zen Cart and will continue to use it but my customers are just going to have to drill through items with similar attributes (i.e. four different instances of “White T-Shirts” at different sizes and the multiply that by the different colors.).

I suppose I could argue with the developers of Zen Cart, but to what end? It is free, open source software so, I am at the mercy of “what you see is what you get” and “wait, it is in the next upgrade”. Bottom line, “I can’t have my cake and eat it too.” Now, had I hired a programmer to write the code, it would work the way I wanted it to and not the way the programmer wanted it to or he would be out of a job.

I am dropping this issue and spending my time and money on more fruitful ventures. Again thanks for your time.

[fiddler]

Ken,

Keep following the bread crumbs... you are on the right track.

I see that you have the Stock by Attributes mod - this is what you need to differentiate stock levels for each variant.

Here is an example:

I have 1 flavor of dog food - but it comes in 2 bag sizes, prices, and weights. Stock management is required so my shop owner knows to reorder and maintain adequate quantities.

1. Create a Category by brand - or by Type (dry dog food) then create the product Dog Food. Make sure you leave price at zero, weight at zero, and quantity at zero.

2. Go the the Catalog >>> Option Name Manager and create 2 Named Options - In this case 5 lb. bag, and 18 lb bag.

3. Next go to the Catalog >>> Option Value Manager and create 2 prices - in this case the 5 lb bag is 12.99, and the 18 lb bag is 33.49.

4. Now go to the Catalog >>> Attributes Controller and select your product - in this case Dog Food. Since I have created the named variants 5 and 18 lb bags, I can now assign the associated price for each. Since the original product had zero price, weight, and quantity, the attribute controller allows you to Assign a price (not just a named value) after the + 12.99 and weight + 6 lbs - I add 1 extra lb for packaging. Same for the larger bag.

5. So - we have Price, and Weight solved but now quantity... Go to Catalog >>> Products with Attributes and find your product - Dog Food. Click on the blue link that says Add Quantity for Product Variant. When you do this, you will see a drop down box containing the variants created - in this case - 5 lb bag, and 18 lb bag. Add the associated QTY to each and now you have inventory control.

If you have a standard variation such as S, M, L XL, XXL - set these up just like the different bags. If you have some shirts that are higher quality and therefore weigh more, cost more, etc - setup all your variations in price for all of your inventory while in the Option Value Manager. When you get to the get to the thicker T shirts, just assign them a different price - but same size variation.

Once you have made one or two, then use the copy tool - and you are golden. Make sure you copy all the attributes - and then adjust as needed.

Hope this helps.

T

I'm looking for something similar and wonder if I have a product that I only want to sell one of in every county in every state in the US, would I need to set up each "State" as a product then set up every "County" as an attribute? Depending on the County, the price varies because it is based on the population of that county (a less populated county would have a lessor price and a more populated county would have a greater price). Since there are something like 22k counties in the US, what would be the best way for me to import the counties/prices into the program?

[ezskratch]

The scenario you describe sounds rather dynamic. I would try to keep things as simple as possible. If you have only one product - but multiple variations on price due to population density and County - have you considered establishing a county based discount code. Each one would be unique - and you could easily vary price by controlling the discount. Also - you could cross check orders and ship to county would have to match discount code.

What we really need is a zencart gizmo mod - capable of handling any scenario - and then generating a perfectly populated, esthetically pleasing cart with one click buy now functionality. Dr Byte??

Good luck - and let me know if this idea will work for you - the first one...