Why You Cannot Delete Cahoot-Fulfilled SKUs (And What to Do Instead) – Cahoot

Understanding why SKU deletion isn't possible for Cahoot-fulfilled SKUs will save you from costly operational disruptions and inventory management issues. This article explains the technical reasons behind this restriction and provides the correct solution for managing legacy SKUs when using Cahoot for warehouse fulfillment.

Note: Self-fulfilling sellers (shipping from their own warehouses) can rename SKUs to "-Delete" without operational issues since they don't rely on Cahoot's barcode scanning systems. This article specifically addresses SKUs managed through Cahoot fulfillment partners.

Critical Warning: Cahoot-fulfilled SKUs cannot be replaced by renaming them to "-Delete" and creating new ones with the same barcode. This causes major operational issues including barcode conflicts, inventory tracking problems, and fulfillment delays.

Scope of This Restriction

This restriction applies specifically to:

✅ Sellers using Cahoot for fulfillment
✅ SKUs with inventory at Cahoot fulfillment locations
✅ Products that rely on barcode scanning for fulfillment operations
✅ SKUs that have been shipped to Cahoot fulfillment partners

This does NOT affect:

❌ Self-fulfilling sellers shipping from their own warehouses
❌ SKUs never sent to Cahoot fulfillment partners
❌ Products managed outside the Cahoot fulfillment network
❌ Sellers not using barcode scan verification

Key Point: The SKU mappings and barcode scanning requirements of Cahoot fulfillment partners create the technical limitations that prevent SKU replacement.

Real-World Scenario

A seller using Cahoot fulfillment decides they want to change from their old SKU naming convention to a new one:

Old SKU: "LEGACY-WIDGET-001" (currently in Cahoot fulfillment)
New SKU: "WDG-2025-001" (same product, same barcode)

The Failed Process:

1Seller renames the old SKU to "LEGACY-WIDGET-001-Delete"

2Seller creates a NEW SKU "WDG-2025-001" with the SAME barcode

3Seller ships inventory to Cahoot with the new SKU

4🚨 FAILURE: Fulfillment partner cannot receive inventory

Error Message: "Duplicate barcode already exists under other item"

The Cascade of Problems

When this happens, it creates multiple operational issues:

Receiving Delays: Inventory cannot be processed at fulfillment centers
Order Fulfillment Stops: Existing orders for the "-Delete" SKU cannot be fulfilled
Inventory Tracking Issues: System cannot reconcile existing inventory with new SKU records
Customer Impact: Orders may be delayed or cancelled
Manual Intervention Required: Support team must manually resolve barcode conflicts

The Technical Reality

Important: Cahoot doesn't have a "delete SKU" function. When you rename a SKU to "-Delete", you're not actually removing it from the system. The SKU record, including its barcode association, remains permanently in the database.

This is why creating a new SKU with the same barcode fails.

Why SKU Records Are Permanent

1. Barcode Integrity in Fulfillment Operations

Every barcode in the Cahoot fulfillment network must be unique across all products and all time. Fulfillment partners rely on barcode scanning for:

Receiving inventory shipments
Storing products in warehouse locations
Picking items for order fulfillment
Final verification before shipping

2. Historical Data Preservation

SKUs are tied to critical business records:

Order history and tracking information
Inventory movement and cycle count records
Storage reporting and invoicing data
Returns processing and customer service records
Fulfillment partner operational data

3. Active Inventory Tracking

Even if you think inventory is "gone," there may still be:

Units at various fulfillment center locations
In-transit shipments to fulfillment partners
Returns being processed
Cycle count discrepancies being resolved
Inventory adjustments pending

4. Integration Dependencies

SKUs are connected throughout the ecosystem:

Sales channel integrations (Amazon, Shopify, etc.)
Multiple fulfillment partner systems
Inventory synchronization workflows
Reporting and analytics platforms

Key Point: SKUs become part of the permanent operational infrastructure. Removing them would break critical fulfillment and tracking systems.

How Barcodes Work in Cahoot Fulfillment

Barcodes serve as the primary identifier for all physical inventory operations:

1Receiving: Fulfillment partners scan barcodes to identify and log incoming products

2Storage: Barcodes link physical items to specific warehouse locations and system records

3Picking: Fulfillment partners scan barcodes to verify correct items for order fulfillment

4Shipping: Final barcode verification before orders are shipped to customers

Why Duplicate Barcodes Break Fulfillment Operations

The System Dilemma: When the same barcode is associated with multiple SKU records (even if one is renamed "-Delete"), fulfillment systems cannot determine which product record to use during scanning operations.

Example Conflict in Action:

Original SKU: "OLD-WIDGET-Delete" (barcode: 123456789)
New SKU: "NEW-WIDGET" (barcode: 123456789)
Fulfillment Partner Question: When I scan barcode 123456789, which SKU record should I use?
System Result: Error - Cannot process due to duplicate barcode conflict

This creates an impossible situation that stops all fulfillment operations for that product.

When SKU Renaming Works Fine

If you're shipping from your own warehouse and NOT using Cahoot fulfillment:

✅ You CAN rename SKUs to "-Delete" without operational issues
✅ No barcode conflicts occur since you're not using Cahoot's scanning systems
✅ You control your own inventory management processes
✅ No fulfillment partner dependencies to consider

However, keep in mind:

⚠️ The "-Delete" SKU record still remains in your Cahoot product database
⚠️ Historical order and inventory data remains linked to the old SKU
⚠️ If you ever switch to Cahoot fulfillment, the same restrictions will apply

Best Practice: Even for self-fulfillment, consider using Alias SKUs for better long-term organization and flexibility. This prepares you for potential future use of Cahoot fulfillment services.

There are only two scenarios where switching from an old SKU to a new SKU is possible in Cahoot fulfillment:

Scenario 1: Different Barcode

Requirements:

The new SKU has a completely different barcode from the legacy SKU
The new barcode has never been used in Cahoot before
You're willing to manage two separate product records
You understand this creates a new product, not a replacement

Note: This essentially creates a new product in the system with separate inventory tracking, not a replacement of the old one.

Scenario 2: Verified Zero Inventory

Requirements:

ALL Cahoot fulfillment partners have completely depleted inventory of the legacy SKU
No units in transit to any fulfillment centers
No pending returns or outstanding inventory issues
All orders fulfilled and no backorders exist
No pending cycle counts or inventory adjustments
Confirmation from Cahoot Support that inventory is truly zero across all locations and systems

Important: You cannot self-verify zero inventory. Only Cahoot Support can confirm complete inventory depletion across all fulfillment partners, in-transit shipments, and system records.

Why These Scenarios Work

Different Barcode: No system conflicts because each barcode is unique in the fulfillment network
Verified Zero Inventory: No physical products exist anywhere in the fulfillment network to create scanning conflicts

The correct way to manage SKU naming changes in Cahoot fulfillment is through Alias SKUs. This allows you to use new SKU names while maintaining system integrity and fulfillment operations.

How Alias SKUs Solve the Problem

Setup Example:

Master SKU (Legacy): "LEGACY-WIDGET-001"
Alias SKU (New): "WDG-2025-001"
Same Barcode: 123456789
Same Physical Inventory: Shared across both SKU names

Operational Results:

✅ Orders for either SKU name are fulfilled from the same inventory pool
✅ No barcode conflicts or system errors in fulfillment
✅ Historical data and tracking remains intact
✅ New orders can use the new SKU name immediately
✅ Fulfillment operations continue smoothly without interruption
✅ Both old and new SKU names work simultaneously
✅ Single inventory count across all sales channels

Key Benefit: You get the new SKU naming you want without any of the operational risks, fulfillment disruptions, or barcode conflicts of trying to replace SKUs.

Learn More About Alias SKUs

For complete instructions on setting up and managing Alias SKUs, see our comprehensive guide: Configuring Alias SKUs

Here's the quick process to add your new SKU as an alias:

1Go to Products → All Products

2Find your existing (legacy) SKU and click Edit

3Click the Alias SKUs tab

4Add your new SKU name in the Alias SKU field

5Enter the Item Name for the alias

6If selling on Amazon, add the ASIN

7Click Save

Timing Important: Add the alias SKU BEFORE importing any orders with the new SKU name. Otherwise, Cahoot will create a separate product record, leading to the same barcode conflict issues.

What Happens Next

Orders for the new SKU name will be automatically linked to existing Cahoot fulfillment inventory
Fulfillment partners will continue using the same barcode and product record
You can start using the new SKU name in your sales channels immediately
Both old and new SKU names will work simultaneously across all channels
Inventory levels will be synchronized across both SKU names

Contact Cahoot Support if:

You've already created duplicate SKUs and are experiencing barcode conflicts or fulfillment issues
You believe inventory is fully depleted across all fulfillment partners and want verification before creating new SKUs
You need help setting up complex alias configurations for multiple sales channels or product variations
You're experiencing fulfillment delays related to SKU conflicts or barcode issues
You need assistance with bulk SKU management or migration strategies

Support Contact: Create a Support Ticket with details about your specific SKU situation, including affected SKU names and any error messages you're encountering.

Pro Tip: The best time to set up proper SKU structure is before you have inventory in the Cahoot fulfillment network. Plan your SKU naming convention carefully from the start to avoid these complications and ensure smooth fulfillment operations.