Managing inventory and backorders

Stock is tracked per variant

Each product variant carries its own stock quantity. When a customer buys, the count for that variant goes down; when you fulfil, refund, or restock, it adjusts accordingly. Because stock lives on the variant, a product with several sizes or colours tracks each combination separately — you always know exactly what is left of *Medium / Black* rather than the product as a whole.

Update stock counts from the product's variants in Products. If a product has no variants, it still has a single stock figure you can set.

Keep an eye on low stock

Your dashboard surfaces items that are running low so you can restock before they sell out. Reviewing low-stock items regularly is the simplest way to avoid disappointing a customer who was ready to buy.

Backorders — selling past zero

By default, a variant that reaches zero stock is treated as sold out and cannot be added to the cart. If you can still fulfil orders — for example, you restock quickly or make to order — you can allow backorders, which lets customers keep buying even when the tracked stock is at or below zero.

This is controlled with a single toggle on the product. Turning it on applies to that product's variants, so buyers can order ahead. Treat it with care: it is a promise to fulfil an order you do not currently have stock for, so only enable it when you are confident you can deliver. It is best left off for one-off or limited items.

A sensible routine

• Set realistic stock counts when you add or restock a product.
• Check the low-stock view before it becomes urgent.
• Use backorders deliberately, only for products you can reliably replenish.
• After a refund or a cancelled order, confirm the returned stock looks right.

Accurate inventory keeps your storefront honest — customers see what is genuinely available, and you avoid overselling.