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So I’m still trying to figure out a way to make Magento work for my solution. I’ve delved further into the software, and it really seems like I need a mix of a couple methods...but I’m hoping that maybe I’m overlooking something and there is an easier solution.
The three different methods I’m seeing as possible are the following:
Categories
Attributes Using Layered Navigation
Configurable Products In Conjunction With Layered Navigation
My store sells specifically parts for Nissan & Infiniti. Ideally, this is how I would see it work:
Person goes to site. They choose their make (ex: nissan/infintii), they choose the model (based on the above selection), they choose they year (based on the model selection), they choose the product type they are looking for (ex: audio, intereior, exterior, etc.). The products display.
So in terms of attributes it seems I’d need the following:
- Car Make
- Car Model
- Car Year
- Product Type
We’ll take one product as an example to show you how complex this seems to me.
The product is called the PXNI, it’s an audio products that works for multiple cars. Here’s the breakdown of this one product:
PXNI
- Audio product type
- Compatible with both some Infiniti and Nissan vehicles
- Compatible with specific Nissan models (ex: Altima, 350Z...but not Maxima)
- Compatible with specific Infiniti models (ex: G, QX, but not Q)
- Compatible with only specific years of certain models (ex: 02-06 Altima, but not 07-08)
Here’s what seems to be the options with each method:
Category
I would create these categories by hand:
Products > Nissan > Altima > Audio
Products > Nissan > 350Z > Audio
Products > Infiniti > G > Audio
Products > Infiniti > QX > Audio
The one PXNI simple product would go into the categories, and I would have to list the compatible years in the description...and hope people just order the right thing (they don’t from previous experience!)
Attributes Using Layered Navigation
I would create an attribute set called Car Info, and select all the compatible years/makes/models/etc. The problem is that I would have to select all compatible years. So the product is only compatible with 02-06 Altima, but 07-08 350Z. Because of this, I would have to select all the years...so to a user, it would show up compatible for their 08 Altima...because that year got selected for the 350Z. On top of this, every option will show up in the layered nav, including all of the years....it just won’t look clean. A possible solution is to turn part of the layered nav into dropdown boxes if that’s possible, but still doesn’t solve everything.
Configurable Products In Conjunction With Layered Navigation
This would be an immense amount of work. I’d have to manage inventory and products for essentially every possible combination. So one PXNI product in the example would need a product for each year and model that it is compatible with...and it’s just one product.
I’m hoping somebody could take a look at this situation and let me know what they think about a possible solution.
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