 Online Help |
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Online Help |
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If you choose to track inventory, Miva Merchant™ can inform your shoppers of the stock level of products in the store and can also alert you to the need to order more.
To let your customers know when an item is running low or is out of stock, a message is shown on the product screen. You can configure this message with whatever wording you like. It can include specifics like the product name and quantity available. If you prefer, out-of-stock products can simply not appear in the store.
So that you can easily stay on top of things, when a product reaches the Low Stock Level or Out of Stock Level you specify, Miva Merchant will send you a configurable e-mail message, describing the situation.
Enter default stock levels and messages to be used throughout the store. Each product can be tracked using these defaults, or using customized levels and messages. The store-wide defaults are entered on the Inventory Settings screen. Settings for each product are entered from the Edit Product/Inventory screen.
Miva Merchant enables you to:
Specify default stock levels and messages.
Enter product-specific stock levels and messages.
Import inventory data, including stock levels and messages, for multiple products.
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Note: Before setting up inventory tracking, put the store into maintenance mode and delete baskets. If you do not, inventory tracking levels could start out with incorrect quantities due to items being in customers' baskets. Likewise, before changing inventory settings, put the store in maintenance mode. For more information, see Edit Store/Maintenance Mode. |
You will initially enter the inventory levels for each tracked product manually. When a customer places an item in their basket, the item is removed from inventory. If they abandon their basket, or remove the item, it is placed back into inventory.
While a product level is normal, the In Stock message will be displayed. As items are purchased, the on-hand quantity will decrease. When the product reaches the Low Stock Level, that message will be displayed, and an e-mail notification will be sent to a store administrator. If the quantity on hand reaches the Out of Stock Level, the message will change again, and the store administrator will be alerted.
When new inventory for a product is added to stock, increase the level by that amount. You may also need to manually increase stock for items that have been returned, or decrease stock for items that have been pulled from stock for some reason (samples, damage, etc.).
Messages can contain tokens — placeholders which are replaced with the current information. Five tokens are available and they can be used in any or all of the inventory messages you create in the e-mail notification messages. You can use as many as you need in each message. These are described at the bottom of the Inventory screen for convenient reference.
%product_name%
Product name
Used here in an In Stock Message on a product screen, for example: "%product_name% is available, and ready to ship."
%product_code%
Product code
Used here in a low in e-mail notification to a store administrator, for example: "The stock level for your product %product_code% is currently %inv_level%." This would result in a message like "The stock level for your product LAMP0023 is currently low."
%inv_instock%
Quantity currently in stock, minus the Low Stock Level quantity
%inv_available%
Quantity currently in stock, minus the Out of Stock Level quantity
This token is typically used in messages informing shoppers that there are only a few of a product in stock, such as "Only %inv_available% left!" Also used in Low Stock notifications to administrators, such as "There are only %inv_available% %product_code%s left in stock." This would result in a message like "There are only 4 Shiny Trinkets left in stock."
%inv_level%
Current stock level: “in”, “low”, or “out”
Used in notifications, such as "Inventory level for %product_code% is %inv_level%." This would result in a message like "Inventory level for Cool Gadgets is low."
There are three types of inventory messages with associated stock levels and settings. You can use them all or any combination you choose. Default messages, containing tokens, are provided.
Select Track Inventory to display In Stock messages when appropriate.
Enter two In Stock Messages. The short message will be shown where there is little space, such as the Product List screen. Keep this message very brief. The long message used where there is more room. Such as the Category screens, or Product Details screen. You can create a more detailed explanation here.
Select Track Low Stock Level to display Low Stock messages when the store is running low on an item.
Under Low Stock Level, enter the quantity at which you want users to be alerted that the stock level is low. Remember, this is the default, and any product in the store can be assigned a specific level. You might consider some products to be at a low stock level when you still have 200 on hand, while others require action when the level reaches just two or three. Enter an applicable number here, then update special products with appropriate quantities.
Enter a short and long version for the Low Stock Messages.
Select Track Out of Stock Level to display Out of Stock messages when inventory has reached the Out of Stock level.
To hide products that are not available, so customers do not see them in your store, select Hide Out of Stock Products. You can set inventory options on a product-by-product basis, in case you only want to hide a few products when they are out of stock.
Under Low Stock Level, enter the quantity at which you want users to be alerted that the stock level is low. This is the default and any product in the store can be assigned a specific level. Enter an applicable number here, then update special products with appropriate quantities.
Enter a short and long version for the Low Stock Messages.
Enter a Limited Stock Message to let customers know that when they order more of an item than is available there will not be enough of the item to fulfill their order.
When the stock level for a product reaches the low stock level or out of stock level, Miva Merchant can send an e-mail notification to the store administrator who is responsible for maintaining inventory and to anyone else you choose.
Select Send E-mail When Stock is Low and/or Send E-mail When Stock is Out to indicate when messages should be sent.
In addition to alerting your own personnel, you could use e-mail notification to alert a supplier when a product stock level is low or out. If you do so, be sure to include the store name and contact information in the message. To enter multiple recipients in the To or CC fields, separate each e-mail address from the next with a 'comma' and a "space."
Enter a default message on the Inventory/E-mail Settings screen. Enter customized messages for any products that require them from the Edit Product/Inventory screens for those products.
The same tokens described under Inventory Settings are also available for use in the e-mail messages — both in the Subject and the E-mail Message. The header uses plain text only (no HTML formatting). The e-mail is sent as a plain text message to ensure that it will be easy to open and read. You can use the listed tokens in the message.
