1.1. Introduction

SSB's basic inventory program helps manage your inventory. You must be subscribed to SSB Deluxe and your Site Preferences set to use the "Advanced" Listing Generator. 

The inventory program allows you to create a list of items that you usually stock and to allocate inventory as you list to eBay or other marketplaces. As items are sold on launcher-supported eBay sites (currently US, CA, UK, AU and Motors), or on Bonanza.com, our system will automatically record your sales based on eBay's orders information and adjust inventory accordingly.

For items that are sold within other marketplaces where the listing is made by copying and pasting code from SSB, we provide a way to allocate your inventory at the time you get your code, and a way to record your sales when they occur.

Currently, the inventory system supports auction-style and fixed price multi-quantity listings for eBay, and fixed-price listings for Bonanza.com. We have plans to support multi-variations in a future version. 

1.2. Inventory Items: Inventory List & Action Bar

Image | Item | SKU | Category | Quantity on Hand | Quantity Available to List | Quantity Sold | Actions

The Image, Item (Name), and SKU are pulled from item information. Quantities are re-calculated as items are sold. A number of actions are available for each inventory item.

ACTIONS:

Edit: Select if you wish to edit the inventory item's information.

Update Qty: Select if you wish to update the item quantity (e.g. if you have obtained more stock).

Delete: Select to delete the item's inventory record. (Note: We recommend doing this only for items you never intend to sell again, as the results are permanent.)

List Item: Select to start a new listing for that inventory item. The Item (Name), Image, and Description will prefill the Item Header, first image position and Item Description, within the Listing Generator form. The SKU and the GTIN (if provided) will be prefilled within the Listing Launcher form, as well as the current item quantity.

View History: Select to view the history of your inventory item, and print records if needed. (Note: This action will not be shown for items that have not yet been listed.)

1.3. Adding Inventory

Navigation:
Listings > Prepare > Inventory Items

You will reach the Main Inventory List View.

In the Action Bar, click on the button Add Inventory Item.

At the "Inventory Add" window, fill out the information requested.

The following fields are required: Item (name), Description, and SKU. We also recommend entering a Start Quantity and the GTIN (if applicable), though you will be able to add these values later by using the Edit action. Note that if you use the List Item action to start a listing for this inventory item, the information you entered here will be used to prefill the appropriate fields.

Item (required): The name of your item. When using the List Item action, this text will prefill the Item Header in the Listing Generator.

Image: The image you wish to use for product identification. When using the List Item action, this image will be inserted as the first image in the Listing Generator. Click on the "Add an Image" button to select an image from your SSB Image Manager, or click on the "Upload an Image" to open the Image Uploader.

( i ) Tip: If you typically use multiple images for a particular item, we suggest starting an inventory listing via the regular New Listing page, instead of using the List Item action. Add all the images for your item, and save the listing as a draft. Then, when you launch from that draft, simply fill in your item's SKU and our system will automatically allocate your quantity for this inventory item.

Description (required): The product description for your item. When using the List Item action, this text will prefill the Item Description in the Listing Generator.

Start Quantity: The total quantity of this item that you possess and intend to eventually sell. Though not required when adding a new inventory item, we recommend entering this value as soon as possible, so we may calculate available quantities for you as your items sell.

SKU (required): Your personal unique identifier for the item. A SKU is always required when listing inventory items, to track your inventory. When using the List Item action, this SKU will prefill when you reach the Listing Launcher.

GTIN: This is the UPC, EAN, or ISBN or your item, if applicable. If your item has a GTIN, we recommend selecting the type and entering the number. If you don't have a GTIN, leave the type as "none" and the text as the default, "Does not apply." When using the List Item action, this GTIN will prefill when you reach the Listing Launcher.

Category: This is an optional field you may use to help organize your items. If you type a new category name here, an inventory item category will be made automatically. In the Inventory Items workspace, you will be able to select which category you're viewing.

When finished, click on the "Add Item" button to be returned to the Inventory Items workspace.

(Note: If you made a mistake and need to edit the inventory item you just made, simply select Edit from that item's Actions menu.)

1.4. Definitions

Quantity on Hand: This is the quantity that you have in your physical possession that has not been sold. Once it is marked as "Sold", we assume you have packaged it and it's ready to ship, or that you have already shipped it, so we deduct the sold quantity from your Quantity on Hand.

Quantity Available (to List): This is the quantity that you are free to put up for sale at eBay or any other marketplace. In other words, it is not allocated to any listings yet. When you schedule, immediately launch, or copy code and chose to allocate, we deduct the allocated quantity from the Quantity Available to List -- that is, it becomes reserved for the aforementioned listing(s). Any quantities that failed to sell by the time the listing ends will be added back into your Quantity Available to List. (Note: If the Quantity Available to List is at zero, you must first add more inventory before you may list. You will be brought to the Inventory Action window so you may first replenish your inventory.)

Clicking on the Manage Inventory Categories button will open a window where you may rename or delete inventory categories that you had created when adding inventory.

2.1. Edit

Edit:

Opens the master inventory item and allows you to edit the Item name, Image, Description, SKU, GTIN and item category. Note that quantities may not be adjusted here. When finished, click Save Item.

2.2. Update QTY

Update Qty:

Opens the inventory Action window. This window allows you to increase or decrease quantities of your item for various reasons. There are several options here:

Stocking or Restocking an item:

To add a start quantity (if not entered when the item was first created), or to restock an item, select "Increase by" and input your quantity. Choose the reason, "Restock." Make any needed notes and then click Update Quantity.

Recording Sales:

Generally, if using the SSB eBay Listing Launcher, sales will be recorded automatically based on eBay's orders data returned to us, and your inventory will be updated accordingly, so you don't have to record these sales yourself.

However, if you have listed to eBay directly, or to a different marketplace, such as Amazon, we won't know you had a sale. It is up to you to record such sales. This is where you may decrease your quantity and record a sale. At quantity, choose "Decrease by" and input the quantity sold. For the Reason, choose "Sale."

If you had copied code from SSB and had recorded the listing number on our code page, then the Listing Number option list will already show your listing numbers. Select the listing number and then input your sold price. Enter any notes needed and then click "Update Quantity." If the listing number had not been previously recorded, please select, "Other Unlisted" and enter the listing number. Choose the marketplace from the option list. Finally, enter any needed notes and click Update Quantity.

Returns:

If a seller returns an item, you'll want to add it back to your inventory so that it's available to list again. You must do this even if an item was listed with the eBay launcher. To do this, select "Increase by" and enter the quantity. Choose the reason, "Return." Choose the listing number (if shown), or choose "Other unlisted" and enter it. Enter any needed notes and then click Update Quantity. When you record your return, the Quantity on Hand and the Quantity Available (to list) will increase by the quantity you entered.

Removing items from inventory:

If an item is damaged, or needs to be removed from inventory for any other reason, select "Decrease by" and enter the quantity. Choose the reason "Damaged/Removed." Enter any notes if needed and click Update Quantity. The quantity will be deducted from Quantity on Hand and from Quantity Available (to list).

Other adjustments:

We provide a way to record an increase or decrease to inventory for other reasons. To do so, select "Increase by" or "Decrease by" and enter a quantity. Select the Reason, "Other." Make any important notes and click Update Quantity.

2.3. List Item

List Item:

Selecting this action will open a dialog box asking you the quantity you would like to list. You may click "Create a Listing" or "Cancel".

If you choose to "Create a Listing", you will begin the new listing flow. After choosing a template, you will be brought to the Listing Generator.

There, your inventory item's Item (name), Image, and Description will automatically prefill the Item Header, first image position, and Item Description, respectively. Feel free to edit your text and add more pictures if needed.

When you click "Prepare to Launch", you will land in the Listing Launcher, where we automatically insert the item quantity, SKU, and GTIN (if applicable) within the proper fields. Continue filling out the form to list your item.

2.4. Delete

Delete:

Deletes the inventory record. This action is used in case an item is entered in error, or you no longer sell this item. Please note that doing so, you will lose all transaction records associated with this item.

NOTE: We recommend printing an inventory history report before deleting any inventory.

2.5. View History Action

View History:

Opens a window that shows your currently listed and scheduled items, as well as sold items and inventory adjustments.

Near the top of this screen, you should see two action buttons toward the left (List Item and View/Print All History), and a Cancel button toward the right.

List Item: Starts a new listing for your inventory item. This is similar to using the List Item action from the Inventory List view.

View/Print All History: Displays a report of all transactions associated with your inventory item. We highly recommend printing such a report for your reference before deleting any inventory items from your SSB account.

Cancel: Returns you to the Inventory List.

After the information related to your inventory item (Image, Item (name), SKU, Quantity On Hand, Quantity Available, and Quantity Sold), there is an additional informational section. The Summary tab (which shows the numbers for all sections) is selected by default, but there are also individual tabs for Listed, Scheduled, Sold, and Inventory Adjustment.