Product Alternatives
Summary
Product Alternatives let you swap a product for a closely related alternate SKU at the catalog, order line item, or fulfillment request level, to avoid delays when an item is out of stock, archived, or a customer requests a substitute.
Attach alternates to a product, then substitute at the order line item (before the fulfillment request is generated) or on the fulfillment request itself while it is unprocessed.
- Add alternatives — Attach alternate SKUs to a product in the catalog.
- Order line item — Replace a line item before the fulfillment request is generated.
- Fulfillment request — Swap on the FR via Edit while it is still unprocessed.
- History — Track replacements in Order Status History.
| Level | Notes |
|---|---|
| Product Catalog | Attach alternate SKUs to the product for later use. |
| Order Line Item | Available only before the fulfillment request is generated. |
| Fulfillment Request | Edit the FR while it is unprocessed. |
| Common use case | Why |
|---|---|
| Customer-requested substitution | Grant a substitution the end customer asked for. |
| Out-of-stock item | Swap for an available alternate to avoid delay. |
| Archived product | Replace an item the supplier can no longer fulfill. |
Timing limits
What it does not update
No automation
Save Variant required
Limited recent support-ticket data for this feature; the answers below come from the product documentation.
When and where can I add a Product Alternative?
At the Product Catalog, Order Line Item, and Fulfillment Request levels.
Can I substitute after the Fulfillment Request has been processed?
No. You can only substitute while the FR is unprocessed; once the supplier processes it, products can no longer be substituted.
How do I know if a product was replaced?
Track it in the Order Status History, or hover the line item title for the replacement note.
Can I automate substitutions?
Not currently — automation for Product Alternatives is not supported.