Sometimes customers are ready to place an order but don’t want their appliances delivered right away. When an item isn’t in stock, this process is straightforward. But if the item is already in stock, reserving it too early can lock up inventory that could otherwise be sold.
This guide walks you through the recommended way to schedule future deliveries for in-stock items in Appliance.io, ensuring accurate order fulfillment while keeping your warehouse inventory flexible.
📍 When the Item Is Not in Stock
If the item is not currently available, scheduling future delivery is simple:
Open the Order
Click Check Stock
Choose Request Item
Select a future delivery date instead of immediate delivery
The item will be requested automatically based on availability.
📍 Why You Should Avoid Reserving In-Stock Items Early
When an item is already in stock, reserving it immediately can:
Tie up warehouse inventory for weeks or months
Reduce available stock for other customers
Create unnecessary inventory constraints
Instead, Appliance.io recommends creating a manual purchase request and assigning it to the order closer to the delivery date.
🛒 Step 1: Create a Manual Purchase Request
Navigate to the Purchase Order page
Click Add Request
Select the Manual Entry input method
Enter the following details:
Model Number
Quantity
Location
Storage Location (optional)
Click Submit Request
🗓️ Step 2: Set the Requested “Needed By” Date
After saving the request:
Search for the request using the Model Number in the Search Everything bar
Set the Needed By filter to All
When the request appears, click the edit pencil under the Needed By column
In Edit Requested Date, select the date you want the item back in stock
Tip: Pad the date by a couple of days to ensure on-time delivery
Click Save
🔗 Step 3: Assign the Request to the Order
Click Assign in the Order Number column
In the Assign Model pop-up, enter the Order Number
Click Save
✅ Step 4: Confirm on the Order
Return to the original order to confirm:
The item is properly requested
The correct quantity is reflected
Inventory is not reserved prematurely
The order is now set up correctly for future delivery without impacting current stock availability.
🎉 You’re All Set!
By using manual purchase requests for in-stock items, you can confidently schedule future deliveries while keeping your inventory available and your orders accurate.
This approach helps you stay flexible, efficient, and prepared—no matter how far out the delivery date is.