Item variants: color, size, and other options

If one fleet item actually comes in several versions, such as different colors, sizes, or horsepower ratings, variants let you track them under one item instead of creating a separate item for each.

Where to find it

Fleet → open an item → the Identity step (the first one). Variants sit below Quantity and only appear once Quantity is 2 or more. Above them a header reads "Variants — per unit" or "Variants — bulk counts", with a switch on its right: Assign per unit or Bulk.

The Variant types panel on the item editor's Identity step, next to the unit rows with their variant dropdowns

How it works

Assign per unit (the default for new items) shows your units on the left and a Variant types panel on the right:

• + Add variant type adds a type, such as "Color" (the box says "Type (e.g. Color, Head)"). Under it, + Add value adds each version (the box says "Value (e.g. Orange)"). The small arrow beside a value opens + Sub-value, for a further split such as Red, then Small, Medium, Large. The small x buttons remove a type, value, or sub-value.
• The panel says "Each adds a dropdown to every unit. Counts come from what you pick." Every unit row gets a dropdown for each type (and a second one for the sub-value), and you choose which version that unit is. The number beside each value (for example "· 3") is how many units you gave it.
• An Unsaved tag shows on the panel until you save the item.

Bulk shows a full-width Characteristics card instead, with no unit rows:

• Each type has a name ("Type name (required, e.g. Size, Color)") and a Customer can choose this tick box. Untick it and customers do not pick it when they book; you assign it at pickup.
• Each value has a Qty, the number you own of that version. + Add Characteristic, + Add Sub-Characteristic and + Add Characteristic Type add more. A value with sub-characteristics adds up their quantities for you.
• The card header shows "N types" and, once you have typed quantities, "N in stock".

Which one an item opens in is saved with the item. Older items that already have counts open in Bulk. Items with no counts open in Assign per unit.

Example

A kayak item with Quantity 5 and a "Color" variant type with values "Red" and "Yellow". In Assign per unit you set three kayaks to Red and two to Yellow, and the panel shows "· 3" and "· 2". In Bulk you would instead type Qty 3 for Red and Qty 2 for Yellow.

Good to know

• Variants describe versions of a single item's listing. They are not the same as add-ons, which are separate paid extras: see Add-ons on one item.
• Each unit also has its own row for naming it and setting its status, which is where its variant dropdowns live. Per-unit upkeep is covered in Tracking one physical unit's condition and history.
• The editor no longer has a separate "Tracking Mode" choice. Quantity is the single place that decides how many units the item has.

What customers see when a size is sold out

When a customer picks a size or option (for example Boot Size 8) that you have no stock of for their dates, they are told on the spot instead of the date silently disappearing:

• The calendar blocks a day only when the item is sold out whatever option is chosen, so a sold-out size no longer makes a whole day look unavailable.
• The option picker turns red and says "Unavailable this day", and the sold-out option reads "— unavailable this day" in the list.
• Continue stays blocked until the customer picks a different option.
• If you have stock for only one of a size and the customer books two units in that size, only the second unit is flagged.

This only works where Renta knows how many of each option you have: the quantity you typed for each value in Bulk mode, or the count worked out from the dropdowns you picked on each unit in Assign per unit mode. An option with no count is never marked unavailable here; the final stock check happens when the booking is reserved.