I would like ShipStation to add an option that allows bundle components to be used only for inventory calculations while the original imported product continues to function as a normal standalone product everywhere else.
Current situation
I sell completed products assembled from two shared inventory components. For example:
XF10WH – XF10 White Disc Retriever
- 1 × XF10 pole
- 1 × white suction-cup ball
The customer purchases "XF10WH" as one finished product for $54.99. I configured it as a Product Bundle because I need the sale to deduct one XF10 pole and one white ball from their respective inventory counts.
Inventory deduction is the only bundle behavior I need.
Currently, ShipStation replaces the original purchased product with its components throughout order processing. This creates several problems:
1. Order quantities become confusing.
An order containing 13 finished retrievers appears as 26 component units: 13 poles and 13 balls.
2. Splitting large shipments becomes difficult.
Employees must move the pole and ball components separately instead of moving the original finished product and quantity.
3. The original SKU and product name disappear from important screens.
Employees see the internal components instead of the product the customer actually purchased.
4. International customs declarations use the components instead of the imported product.
ShipStation recently transmitted the two components of a $54.99 retriever with $0 declared values. UPS placed the shipment on hold because the commercial invoice did not contain a valid customs value.
5. Fixed component customs values do not solve the problem.
The same components are sold individually and included in finished products with different prices. For example:
- XF10 White retriever: $54.99
- XF10 Black retriever: $64.99
- XF10 Glow retriever: $64.99
- White ball sold individually: $19.99
- Black ball sold individually: $24.99
- Glow ball sold individually: $27.99
A fixed customs value assigned to each component cannot always reproduce the actual transaction value of the finished product.
Requested feature
Please add a bundle setting called something similar to:
Use components for inventory calculations only
When enabled, ShipStation should:
- Deduct and commit inventory from the bundle components.
- Calculate bundle availability from component inventory.
- Preserve the original imported SKU, product name, quantity and selling price in Order Details.
- Treat the original bundle as one product in the Split Shipment screen.
- Use the original imported product and transaction value for customs declarations and commercial invoices.
- Preserve the original product in reports, exports and other order-processing screens.
- Allow users to expand the bundle when they need to view its components.
The product should otherwise behave exactly as it would if it were a standalone product.
ShipStation already offers a “Show bundle only” option for packing slips. I am requesting comparable behavior throughout Order Details, shipment splitting, customs documents and the rest of the fulfillment workflow, while component inventory deductions continue in the background.
ShipStation Support has confirmed that this workflow is not currently available. Adding it would make Product Bundles much more useful for businesses that assemble finished products from shared inventory components without treating those components as separate customer-facing products.