Overview
Smart Cart Inventory Allocation automatically splits your customers' cart into regular items (in stock) and pre-order items (exceeding available stock). Once the feature is activated, you can configure how the cart behaves when customers change item quantities using the Auto-rebalance cart on quantity change setting.
This article explains what this setting does and how it affects the shopping experience.
How Smart Cart Splitting Works
Before diving into the settings, here's a quick recap of the core behavior.
When a customer adds more items than you have in stock, the app automatically creates two separate line items in the cart:
This split happens automatically and keeps your inventory accurate.
Auto-Rebalance Cart on Quantity Change
This setting controls what happens when a customer reduces the quantity of regular items while pre-order items are also in the cart.
When enabled (default) ✅
The app automatically converts pre-order items back to regular when inventory becomes available. The priority is always to sell in-stock items first.
Why use this? This is the best option for most stores. It ensures customers always purchase the maximum number of in-stock items first, which means faster fulfillment and fewer split shipments.
When disabled ❌
The app does not rebalance the cart. If a customer removes regular items, pre-order items stay as pre-order.
Why use this? Some customers intentionally want to keep items as pre-orders — for example, when pre-orders come with a deposit or partial payment and the customer prefers to pay less upfront. Disabling rebalance gives customers full control over their cart composition.
Quick Comparison
Where to Find This Setting
When to Disable Auto-Rebalance
For most stores, keeping this setting enabled is recommended. Consider disabling it if:
- Your pre-orders use deposits or partial payments and customers may prefer to keep items as pre-orders to pay less upfront
- Your customers frequently intentionally mix regular and pre-order items with different payment terms