Sometimes an order you've imported from a marketplace or webstore arrives in StoreFeeder as two or more separate orders instead of one. This article explains the reasons StoreFeeder splits orders automatically, how to recognise a split order, and what it means for despatch.
Why does StoreFeeder split orders automatically?
When an order is imported, StoreFeeder checks it against a small number of rules before it's ready to despatch. If any of these apply, the order is divided into two or more separate orders rather than staying as one. The most common reasons are below.
Your products are stocked in different warehouses
If the products on your order are spread across more than one warehouse, StoreFeeder creates a separate order for each warehouse so every site can pick and despatch its own items independently. The order that keeps your account's default warehouse also keeps the original shipping charge; the order(s) split off for other warehouses don't carry an extra shipping cost.
If your account is using the Multiple Warehouse feature which warehouse a product is routed to is controlled by your account's Order Routing Algorithm, found at Settings > Warehouse Management > Despatch Mode. This is the most common reason a single order arrives as more than one shipment — see Warehouse Routing Options and How They Affect Orders for how each routing option affects splitting.
A product is locked to its own packaging size
Some products can be configured so they must always ship in their own packaging and can never share a parcel with other items — for example, a fragile or oversized product that needs a dedicated box. If your order contains one of these, StoreFeeder automatically moves it into its own order so it can be packed correctly.
How to tell an order has been split
Open the order from Manage Orders. A split-off order shows a Parent Order Number field near the top of the Edit Order page, linking back to the original order it came from.
Both the original order and the new order also get a note added to their Contact Notes explaining which of the reasons above caused the split.
Limits and things to watch for
Kit products are never split across warehouses. A kit is always routed and despatched as a whole, even when a warehouse split would otherwise apply to its individual components.
Partial stock on its own doesn't split an order. If only some lines on an order have stock, the order stays as a single order with a status of Pending — Waiting Part Stock until either a staff member splits it manually or stock becomes available.
Amazon-fulfilled (Amazon Logistics) orders shouldn't split. If you see one flagged Attention Required with a message that it has been split into multiple orders, this needs manual correction — contact StoreFeeder support rather than despatching it as-is.
Comments
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.