Managing bundle inventory for multiple locations
Simple Bundles 1.0 can calculate bundle inventory for stores with multiple locations using pooled inventory (total stock across all locations) or location-based inventory (each location must stock every item in the bundle). This article explains how each method works and how to set it up.
Using Simple Bundles 2.0? See Managing bundle inventory and fulfillment for stores with multiple locations.
How does the pooled inventory method work?
Pooled inventory calculates bundle availability using the total quantity of each component across all locations, no matter where they're stocked.
With the pooled inventory method, the bundle's inventory is based on the total availability of its component items across all locations. Inventory from any location counts toward the bundle's availability, which gives you more flexibility when fulfilling orders and can reduce the risk of stockouts.
Example: A bundle has three child products, each available in two locations. Child item 1 has the lowest available quantity across all locations, with 6 units in Location B and 4 in Location A. The bundle's inventory is limited by that item, so you can sell up to 10 bundles in total, regardless of the availability of the other components.
If a customer orders 10 bundles, the fulfillment location for Child item 1 would be the Default location only, in this case Location A. Since bundle inventory is treated as a whole, Shopify pulls all 10 units from a single location rather than splitting fulfillment across multiple locations. As a result, Location A may show negative inventory for that product, even if there's available stock at Location B.
This happens because Shopify does not allocate inventory based on location-level availability when calculating bundle inventory. It only considers the total available quantity across all locations.
One community workaround is to use metafields to track location-specific inventory, but this requires manual updates.
Set up the pooled inventory method
Simple Bundles preferences
- In Simple Bundles, go to Preferences.
- Turn on Enable automatic inventory sync for bundle quantities.
- Turn off Enable multiple location inventory sync for bundles.
Bundle product
In this method, bundles should only be available at one location. In your Shopify admin, go to the bundle product variant, make sure Track quantity is enabled, and set the product to be stocked in a single location only.
Bundle items
For each item in the bundle, make sure Track quantity is also enabled. Update the inventory quantities across all locations where those items are stocked, as this method pulls from total availability across locations.
How does the location-based inventory method work?
In the location-based inventory method, bundle inventory is determined by the availability of items within each individual location. Each location must have all the items needed to create the bundle, so the full bundle can be shipped from a single location.
For a bundle to be considered in stock at a location, every child item must be available at that location.
Key notes
- If one of the child items doesn't have enough inventory at Location A, Shopify may switch the fulfillment of that item to Location B, as long as the required quantity is available there.
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To avoid this, you may want to update your Fulfillable inventory setting in Shopify (Settings > Shipping and delivery) by selecting Show only fulfillable inventory. This helps ensure that orders are fulfilled only from locations with complete inventory. Learn more here.
Shipping and delivery - Shopify - When Show only fulfillable inventory is selected in Shopify's Fulfillable inventory setting, inventory is deducted based on availability at each location. If Location A runs out of stock but Location B still has inventory, the remaining stock is used from Location B, as long as it falls within the configured shipping zones.
Set up the location-based inventory method
Simple Bundles preferences
- In Simple Bundles, go to Preferences.
- Turn on Enable automatic inventory sync for bundle quantities.
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Turn on Enable multiple location inventory sync for bundles. This checkbox only appears after you turn on automatic inventory sync.
Preferences section
Bundle product
In your Shopify admin, go to the bundle product variant and make sure Track quantity is enabled. Set up the product in multiple locations to allow location-specific inventory tracking.
Bundle items
For each item in the bundle, make sure Track quantity is also enabled. Check that inventory is entered correctly for all locations you want to track.
Note: Both methods require Shopify's native inventory management. Simple Bundles does not currently integrate with other third-party inventory management systems unless inventory is updated directly in Shopify for the bundle items. If you'd like your own inventory management system to be supported, contact support@simplebundles.io.
If you have questions, reach out to our team over chat or email.
Related articles
Managing bundle inventory and fulfillment for stores with multiple locations
How to Automatically Update Bundle Inventory in Shopify
Troubleshooting fulfillment issues for multi-location stores using Simple Bundles