The When orders affect inventory setting in Inventory rules controls how pending, paid, and fulfilled orders change availability. Choose a rule that matches your payment flow, then check real results in Reserved orders.
Compare the four options
| Option | Best fit | Main behavior |
|---|---|---|
| On payment (default) | Stores mainly taking online payments | Inventory is deducted when an order is marked paid; unpaid orders do not hold stock |
| Auto (recommended) | Stores taking both COD and online payments | Pending COD orders hold stock; online-paid orders are consumed immediately |
| On pending (COD only) | Stores primarily processing pending COD orders | Pending orders hold stock; mixed-payment stores should consider Auto |
| On fulfillment | Stores that want final deduction when COD orders ship | COD orders hold stock; payment alone does not make the final deduction, which happens on fulfillment |
A reservation reduces what other customers can buy, but it is distinct from final consumption. If 10 units are available and a pending COD order needs 3, less stock remains available to other buyers while the order is held. Soply then handles that reservation according to later payment, cancellation, or fulfillment events and the selected rule.
Choose and save a rule
- Open Inventory rules.
- Find When orders affect inventory and read the description under each option.
- If you only take online payments, the default On payment can be a starting point. If you take both COD and online payments, Auto is generally the relevant choice. Use On fulfillment when your process requires final consumption at shipment.
- Save the page and check a test order against the selected behavior.
Verify a COD order
Open Reserved orders. Filter by Shopify order number or time and check whether the order is still reserved or has been consumed. In Auto mode, a pending COD order should first hold stock. When it is later paid, Soply releases the reservation and records final consumption. A cancelled, voided, or expired order should release an outstanding reservation.
You may see both a reservation release and a final consumption for the same COD order. Those entries represent a transition between states. Check the final available quantity before treating them as a double deduction.
Before changing the rule
Review the payment methods your store actually accepts, when orders are fulfilled, and whether pending orders already exist. After changing the setting, follow a new test order in Reserved orders. If availability differs from your expectation, inspect the order status and the relevant material or bundle snapshots.
Use a test product or cart to check the outcome before applying this setup across your store.
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