Vendor SKUs

In the used electronics industry, suppliers and carrier auctions often categorize inventory using their own Vendor SKUs. A single Vendor SKU may represent a mix of devices that differ in storage capacity, carrier, color, condition, or grade.

Additionally, product grading can be subjective. The way a supplier grades a device may not always match your company's grading standards or your customers' expectations. As you process and inspect inventory, you may assign different grades or product SKUs than those originally provided by the supplier.

The Vendor SKUs tool helps bridge that gap by tracking the relationship between the supplier's Vendor SKU and the actual inventory you received and categorized in WholeCell.

Over time, this allows you to build a historical record showing:

This historical data can help you better evaluate future auction lots, estimate the value of inventory before bidding, and understand what you're likely to receive when purchasing the same Vendor SKU again.

First, create a custom inventory field named "Vendor SKU".

Then, your inventory upload spreadsheet should contain a column titled Vendor SKU, with the applicable Vendor SKU entered for each serialized inventory item.

For example (screenshot below is using the WholeCell inventory upload template):

In this example, all five devices were purchased under the Vendor SKU AIP14, and then they were assigned to a WholeCell product SKU (AIP14-256-BL-UNL-A).

You can also upload the serialized inventory spreadsheet you received from the supplier using WholeCell’s inventory import process.

During the import, map the spreadsheet’s Vendor SKU column to the Vendor SKU custom inventory field in your WholeCell account.

Make sure that the following information is also imported correctly when available:

Once the inventory has been imported, WholeCell can group the items by Vendor SKU and use the imported information to build the Vendor SKU’s purchase history and product breakdown.

Open the applicable Vendor SKU page in WholeCell.

The Vendor SKU page includes several tabs where you can review its analytics, purchase history, inventory items, and returns.

The Analytics tab provides a summary of the inventory you have purchased under that Vendor SKU.

This shows the total number of inventory items that have been imported with the selected Vendor SKU. For example, if 40 serialized devices have AIP14 entered in the Vendor SKU custom field, the page will display: 40 units purchased

This shows the average purchase price per unit for inventory associated with the Vendor SKU.

This shows the lowest per-unit purchase price recorded for the Vendor SKU.

This shows the highest per-unit purchase price recorded for the Vendor SKU.

The Purchase price over time chart allows you to see how the average amount paid for the Vendor SKU has changed across different purchases.

This can be especially useful when you purchase the same Vendor SKU from multiple auctions or at different times.

The Breakdown section shows what you actually received when purchasing inventory under the Vendor SKU.

The SKU breakdown lists the different WholeCell product SKUs associated with the Vendor SKU.

For example, A14-PGL may historically include:

This means that although all 40 devices were purchased under the same Vendor SKU, the shipment was divided among several different final product SKUs.

WholeCell also summarizes the inventory by available product attributes, such as:

These sections make it easier to see whether a Vendor SKU consistently represents a particular device or whether its contents vary between purchases.

When bidding on inventory from a carrier auction, the auction listing may only provide the Vendor SKU and quantity.

For example: 500 units of A14-PGL

The listing may not clearly show the exact mix of capacities, carriers, grades, or final product SKUs you will receive.

By reviewing the Vendor SKU in WholeCell, you can see what your company historically received under that Vendor SKU. You can then use that information to estimate:

The breakdown is based on inventory previously imported into your account. It does not guarantee that a future shipment with the same Vendor SKU will contain the exact same product mix, but it can provide useful historical information when evaluating the lot.

Use the other tabs on the Vendor SKU page for more detail.

The Purchase History tab shows the purchases associated with the Vendor SKU.

The Inventory Items tab shows the individual serialized inventory items that were imported with that Vendor SKU.

The Returns tab shows returns associated with inventory purchased under the Vendor SKU.

Together, these tabs allow you to review both the overall performance of the Vendor SKU and the individual devices connected to it.

This gives you a clearer picture of previous purchases and helps you make more informed decisions when bidding on or purchasing similar inventory in the future.