Fulfillment Preferences
By default, PSS fills every order from the fastest source with stock. Fulfillment Preferences let you override that, brand by brand, and choose which distributor a brand comes from.
🎥 Insert video here: creating a fulfillment preference.
What you'll learn
- Where Fulfillment Preferences fit in the order PSS uses to pick a source
- How to create one
- When to use them, and when not to
Where preferences fit
A Fulfillment Preference outranks lead time. Only your own shelf or Lightspeed stock comes before it.
| Priority | Source |
|---|---|
| 1 | Shelf inventory or Lightspeed |
| 2 | Fulfillment Preference |
| 3 | Fastest lead time |
| 4 | Default distributor ranking |
Once a preference is set, PSS uses the first distributor on your list that has stock for that brand's price and inventory, even when a distributor that isn't on your list is faster or cheaper.
Create a Fulfillment Preference
- Go to Settings > Fulfillment Preferences.
- Click New Preference.
- Select the brand (manufacturer).
- Add one or more distributors in the order you want PSS to try them. For example, Western Powersports first, then Parts Unlimited. To source a brand from only one distributor, add just that one.
- Click Save.
📷 Screenshot here: a Fulfillment Preference for one brand.
When to use them
| Situation | How to set it up |
|---|---|
| You get better pricing on a brand through one distributor | Put that distributor first for the brand |
| You want fewer, larger distributor shipments | Put the same distributor first for several brands |
| A distributor has bad MSRP data causing MAP problems | Temporarily remove that distributor from the brand's list |
| You need to pull a brand's inventory temporarily | Create a preference with no distributor selected |
Temporarily turn off a brand
A preference with no distributor selected sets that brand's inventory to zero across your listings, without deleting any of your setup. To bring it back, add a distributor or delete the preference.
⚠️ Warning: Don't overuse preferences. Letting PSS pick the fastest source usually gives you the best marketplace performance. Save preferences for brands where you have a real pricing or relationship advantage.
Troubleshooting
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A whole brand suddenly shows out of stock | A preference with no distributor selected | Add a distributor or delete the preference |
| A brand ships from a slower distributor | A preference is overriding the fastest lead time | Change or remove the preference |
| Not sure why a source was chosen | Any of the above | Run Calculate Inventory on the product (see Inventory Rules & Lead Times) |
Next step
That's the core setup done. Next, head to the eBay category to connect your store and start listing.