[Skip to main content](#vessel-content) # Need advise on how to handle collectable items ## - **[PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile")** - [![PeterChain's Avatar](https://www.hikashop.com/media/kunena/avatars/resized/size144/users/avatar570.png)](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile") Topic Author - [ Offline](/forum/user/570-peterchain) Less More - Posts: 640 - Thank you received: 16 - - 13 years 2 months ago [\#120101](#120101) by [PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile") *[Need advise on how to handle collectable items](/forum/2-general-talk-about-hikashop/861346-need-advise-on-how-to-handle-collectable-items#120101 "I want to sell collectable scale cars which are each model short runs of 300 units with unique serial number. So I have about 20 different models each one with 300 units with a unique serial number. I have doubts on whether: Create a category for each model and import from an excel 300 products to each category or Create a product for each model and introduce 300 product variants, one for each serial number. I have no experience in working with product variants so I have big doubts on which strategy is better.")* was created by *[PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile")* I want to sell collectable scale cars which are each model short runs of 300 units with unique serial number. So I have about 20 different models each one with 300 units with a unique serial number. I have doubts on whether: **Create a category for each model and import from an excel 300 products to each category** or **Create a product for each model and introduce 300 product variants, one for each serial number.** I have no experience in working with product variants so I have big doubts on which strategy is better. Please [Log in](/login?return=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGlrYXNob3AuY29tL2ZvcnVtLzItZ2VuZXJhbC10YWxrLWFib3V0LWhpa2FzaG9wLzg2MTM0Ni1uZWVkLWFkdmlzZS1vbi1ob3ctdG8taGFuZGxlLWNvbGxlY3RhYmxlLWl0ZW1zP3RtcGw9bWFya2Rvd24=) or [Create an account](/register) to join the conversation. - **[Eliot](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile")** - [![Eliot's Avatar](https://www.hikashop.com/media/kunena/avatars/resized/size144/users/avatar1824.png)](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile") - [ Offline](/forum/user/1824-eliot) Less More - Posts: 2334 - Thank you received: 403 - - 13 years 2 months ago [\#120170](#120170) by [Eliot](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile") Replied by *[Eliot](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile")* on topic *[Need advise on how to handle collectable items](/forum/2-general-talk-about-hikashop/861346-need-advise-on-how-to-handle-collectable-items#120170 "I want to sell collectable scale cars which are each model short runs of 300 units with unique serial number. So I have about 20 different models each one with 300 units with a unique serial number. I have doubts on whether: Create a category for each model and import from an excel 300 products to each category or Create a product for each model and introduce 300 product variants, one for each serial number. I have no experience in working with product variants so I have big doubts on which strategy is better.")* Hi there, I'm not sure I fully understood your problem. You want to have 300 distinct products for each model but is the serial number necessary? I mean, does it have to be the product code or something? If not, you can simply create one product for each model and set the quantity to 300 so you'll only sell 300 piece for each model. If you really need the serial number, you will have to use the HikaSerial extension to manage it (which is probably the easier solution) [ www.hikashop.com/extensions/hikaserial.html](http://www.hikashop.com/extensions/hikaserial.html) Please [Log in](/login?return=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGlrYXNob3AuY29tL2ZvcnVtLzItZ2VuZXJhbC10YWxrLWFib3V0LWhpa2FzaG9wLzg2MTM0Ni1uZWVkLWFkdmlzZS1vbi1ob3ctdG8taGFuZGxlLWNvbGxlY3RhYmxlLWl0ZW1zP3RtcGw9bWFya2Rvd24=) or [Create an account](/register) to join the conversation. - **[PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile")** - [![PeterChain's Avatar](https://www.hikashop.com/media/kunena/avatars/resized/size144/users/avatar570.png)](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile") Topic Author - [ Offline](/forum/user/570-peterchain) Less More - Posts: 640 - Thank you received: 16 - - 13 years 2 months ago [\#120172](#120172) by [PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile") Replied by *[PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile")* on topic *[Need advise on how to handle collectable items](/forum/2-general-talk-about-hikashop/861346-need-advise-on-how-to-handle-collectable-items#120172 "I want to sell collectable scale cars which are each model short runs of 300 units with unique serial number. So I have about 20 different models each one with 300 units with a unique serial number. I have doubts on whether: Create a category for each model and import from an excel 300 products to each category or Create a product for each model and introduce 300 product variants, one for each serial number. I have no experience in working with product variants so I have big doubts on which strategy is better.")* I have 20 different car designs (models): Each car has a production run of 300 units, each unit is serialized as most collector production runs, so because of the unique serial number each car becomes unique even is exactly the same as the other 299 for that car model. Then, as a customer I could buy car 066 and car 099 (as example). Once they are bought nobody else can buy those numbers as they are unique, but the car model still has 298 units in stock with the remaining serial numbers. I don't see the use of HikaSerial here, therefore question is what do you recommend me? Entering only 20 products each one with as many variants as units available, OR is better to enter 300 different products for each car model? Please [Log in](/login?return=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGlrYXNob3AuY29tL2ZvcnVtLzItZ2VuZXJhbC10YWxrLWFib3V0LWhpa2FzaG9wLzg2MTM0Ni1uZWVkLWFkdmlzZS1vbi1ob3ctdG8taGFuZGxlLWNvbGxlY3RhYmxlLWl0ZW1zP3RtcGw9bWFya2Rvd24=) or [Create an account](/register) to join the conversation. - **[Eliot](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile")** - [![Eliot's Avatar](https://www.hikashop.com/media/kunena/avatars/resized/size144/users/avatar1824.png)](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile") - [ Offline](/forum/user/1824-eliot) Less More - Posts: 2334 - Thank you received: 403 - - 13 years 2 months ago [\#120198](#120198) by [Eliot](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile") Replied by *[Eliot](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile")* on topic *[Need advise on how to handle collectable items](/forum/2-general-talk-about-hikashop/861346-need-advise-on-how-to-handle-collectable-items#120198 "I want to sell collectable scale cars which are each model short runs of 300 units with unique serial number. So I have about 20 different models each one with 300 units with a unique serial number. I have doubts on whether: Create a category for each model and import from an excel 300 products to each category or Create a product for each model and introduce 300 product variants, one for each serial number. I have no experience in working with product variants so I have big doubts on which strategy is better.")* So the serial number is important, that's what I wasn't sure about. Then in this case, both options are possible, if you create 300 products for each model, your customers will be able to search for a specific model easily but it will be a huge mess in your product listing (too much product). So I would suggest to go for the variant solution. Note that you can create them by importing a csv or using the mass action system, it will make you gain a lot of time. Also, if you use the variant solution, your customer will be able to select the serial number trough a dropdown so maybe you will want to hide out of order product which is an option of the main configuration (System>Configuration>Display). The following user(s) said Thank You: [PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile") Please [Log in](/login?return=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGlrYXNob3AuY29tL2ZvcnVtLzItZ2VuZXJhbC10YWxrLWFib3V0LWhpa2FzaG9wLzg2MTM0Ni1uZWVkLWFkdmlzZS1vbi1ob3ctdG8taGFuZGxlLWNvbGxlY3RhYmxlLWl0ZW1zP3RtcGw9bWFya2Rvd24=) or [Create an account](/register) to join the conversation. - **[PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile")** - [![PeterChain's Avatar](https://www.hikashop.com/media/kunena/avatars/resized/size144/users/avatar570.png)](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile") Topic Author - [ Offline](/forum/user/570-peterchain) Less More - Posts: 640 - Thank you received: 16 - - 13 years 2 months ago [\#120199](#120199) by [PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile") Replied by *[PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile")* on topic *[Need advise on how to handle collectable items](/forum/2-general-talk-about-hikashop/861346-need-advise-on-how-to-handle-collectable-items#120199 "I want to sell collectable scale cars which are each model short runs of 300 units with unique serial number. So I have about 20 different models each one with 300 units with a unique serial number. I have doubts on whether: Create a category for each model and import from an excel 300 products to each category or Create a product for each model and introduce 300 product variants, one for each serial number. I have no experience in working with product variants so I have big doubts on which strategy is better.")* Nice clear answer! Thank you. I'll go for variants then. I understand that variants are also importable through CSV, right? Please [Log in](/login?return=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGlrYXNob3AuY29tL2ZvcnVtLzItZ2VuZXJhbC10YWxrLWFib3V0LWhpa2FzaG9wLzg2MTM0Ni1uZWVkLWFkdmlzZS1vbi1ob3ctdG8taGFuZGxlLWNvbGxlY3RhYmxlLWl0ZW1zP3RtcGw9bWFya2Rvd24=) or [Create an account](/register) to join the conversation. - **[Eliot](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile")** - [![Eliot's Avatar](https://www.hikashop.com/media/kunena/avatars/resized/size144/users/avatar1824.png)](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile") - [ Offline](/forum/user/1824-eliot) Less More - Posts: 2334 - Thank you received: 403 - - 13 years 2 months ago [\#120209](#120209) by [Eliot](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile") Replied by *[Eliot](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile")* on topic *[Need advise on how to handle collectable items](/forum/2-general-talk-about-hikashop/861346-need-advise-on-how-to-handle-collectable-items#120209 "I want to sell collectable scale cars which are each model short runs of 300 units with unique serial number. So I have about 20 different models each one with 300 units with a unique serial number. I have doubts on whether: Create a category for each model and import from an excel 300 products to each category or Create a product for each model and introduce 300 product variants, one for each serial number. I have no experience in working with product variants so I have big doubts on which strategy is better.")* Exactly, I suggest you to create a product with few variants and export it. Thus you'll be able to see how your csv should look like ![:)](/media/kunena/emoticons/3.png ":)") Please [Log in](/login?return=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGlrYXNob3AuY29tL2ZvcnVtLzItZ2VuZXJhbC10YWxrLWFib3V0LWhpa2FzaG9wLzg2MTM0Ni1uZWVkLWFkdmlzZS1vbi1ob3ctdG8taGFuZGxlLWNvbGxlY3RhYmxlLWl0ZW1zP3RtcGw9bWFya2Rvd24=) or [Create an account](/register) to join the conversation. - **[PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile")** - [![PeterChain's Avatar](https://www.hikashop.com/media/kunena/avatars/resized/size144/users/avatar570.png)](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile") Topic Author - [ Offline](/forum/user/570-peterchain) Less More - Posts: 640 - Thank you received: 16 - - 13 years 2 months ago [\#120682](#120682) by [PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile") Replied by *[PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile")* on topic *[Need advise on how to handle collectable items](/forum/2-general-talk-about-hikashop/861346-need-advise-on-how-to-handle-collectable-items#120682 "I want to sell collectable scale cars which are each model short runs of 300 units with unique serial number. So I have about 20 different models each one with 300 units with a unique serial number. I have doubts on whether: Create a category for each model and import from an excel 300 products to each category or Create a product for each model and introduce 300 product variants, one for each serial number. I have no experience in working with product variants so I have big doubts on which strategy is better.")* Trying to deal with the characteristics and variations system. I have 300 different variations for each product (one for each serial number), can I import 300 characteristichs so I don't have to enter them manually? Please [Log in](/login?return=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGlrYXNob3AuY29tL2ZvcnVtLzItZ2VuZXJhbC10YWxrLWFib3V0LWhpa2FzaG9wLzg2MTM0Ni1uZWVkLWFkdmlzZS1vbi1ob3ctdG8taGFuZGxlLWNvbGxlY3RhYmxlLWl0ZW1zP3RtcGw9bWFya2Rvd24=) or [Create an account](/register) to join the conversation. - **[Eliot](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile")** - [![Eliot's Avatar](https://www.hikashop.com/media/kunena/avatars/resized/size144/users/avatar1824.png)](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile") - [ Offline](/forum/user/1824-eliot) Less More - Posts: 2334 - Thank you received: 403 - - 13 years 2 months ago [\#120690](#120690) by [Eliot](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile") Replied by *[Eliot](/forum/user/1824-eliot "View Eliot's Profile")* on topic *[Need advise on how to handle collectable items](/forum/2-general-talk-about-hikashop/861346-need-advise-on-how-to-handle-collectable-items#120690 "I want to sell collectable scale cars which are each model short runs of 300 units with unique serial number. So I have about 20 different models each one with 300 units with a unique serial number. I have doubts on whether: Create a category for each model and import from an excel 300 products to each category or Create a product for each model and introduce 300 product variants, one for each serial number. I have no experience in working with product variants so I have big doubts on which strategy is better.")* Yes, as I said, you should create a product with few variants and export it so you'll know how your csv must be ![:)](/media/kunena/emoticons/3.png ":)") Please [Log in](/login?return=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGlrYXNob3AuY29tL2ZvcnVtLzItZ2VuZXJhbC10YWxrLWFib3V0LWhpa2FzaG9wLzg2MTM0Ni1uZWVkLWFkdmlzZS1vbi1ob3ctdG8taGFuZGxlLWNvbGxlY3RhYmxlLWl0ZW1zP3RtcGw9bWFya2Rvd24=) or [Create an account](/register) to join the conversation. - **[PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile")** - [![PeterChain's Avatar](https://www.hikashop.com/media/kunena/avatars/resized/size144/users/avatar570.png)](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile") Topic Author - [ Offline](/forum/user/570-peterchain) Less More - Posts: 640 - Thank you received: 16 - - 13 years 2 months ago - 13 years 2 months ago [\#120693](#120693) by [PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile") Replied by *[PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile")* on topic *[Need advise on how to handle collectable items](/forum/2-general-talk-about-hikashop/861346-need-advise-on-how-to-handle-collectable-items#120693 "I want to sell collectable scale cars which are each model short runs of 300 units with unique serial number. So I have about 20 different models each one with 300 units with a unique serial number. I have doubts on whether: Create a category for each model and import from an excel 300 products to each category or Create a product for each model and introduce 300 product variants, one for each serial number. I have no experience in working with product variants so I have big doubts on which strategy is better.")* +++++++++ FORGET ABOUT THIS - SOLVED !!! +++++++++++ Ok, so then I'll keep trying as it didn't work for me until now. Even after reading several times the documentation I don't understand of the Value field inside the Characteristic Edition Screen, so If I have one product with 300 units each one with a unique serial number: Shall I create 300 characteristics like Serial-Number-001,Serial-Number-002,Serial-Number-003... each one with its own alias or Shall I create only one characteristics with 300 values 001, 002, 003... ? Last edit: 13 years 2 months ago by [PeterChain](/forum/user/570-peterchain "View PeterChain's Profile"). Reason: Solved Please [Log in](/login?return=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGlrYXNob3AuY29tL2ZvcnVtLzItZ2VuZXJhbC10YWxrLWFib3V0LWhpa2FzaG9wLzg2MTM0Ni1uZWVkLWFkdmlzZS1vbi1ob3ctdG8taGFuZGxlLWNvbGxlY3RhYmxlLWl0ZW1zP3RtcGw9bWFya2Rvd24=) or [Create an account](/register) to join the conversation. Board Categories HikaShop Install & Update Product & Category Display Content Creation Sales and Orders Orders management Reports & Statistics Customers Checkout Payment Methods Shipping Methods Import & Export (CSV, XLS…) Specific Features Affilation Taxes Wishlist Vote Carousel & Slider Mass Actions Filters & Search Discount & Coupon Feature Request Integrations Showcase General Talk about HikaShop Development HikaShop 3.0 Beta Translation Commercial Jobs HikaShop Components HikaMarket Market: Feature requests Market: How to? Market: Bug Report HikaSerial General talk about HikaSerial Serial: Bug Report Serial: How to? Support en Français de HikaSerial (French Support) HikaSubscription HikaAuction Auction: Feature requests Auction: How to? Auction: Bug report Hikashop around the world Support en Français (French Support) Russian FAQ. Курс выживания с Hikashop. Частые вопросы и о Расширения Hikashop Наши сайты на Hikashop 日本語版サポート(Japanese Support) Thai German Archives Bug Report How to? [](/forum/topics/feed/mode-topics?format=feed&type=rss) Time to create page: 0.525 seconds [Powered by](/forum/credits) [Kunena Forum](https://www.kunena.org)