Skip to main content

Manual Entry

Add books to your inventory one at a time using BookWish's built-in book search. Perfect for new arrivals, trade-ins, or specialty books.

When to Use Manual Entry​

Best For:

  • Adding a few new books at a time
  • Daily new arrivals
  • Books from customer trade-ins
  • Specialty or rare books
  • Getting started with your initial inventory

Not Ideal For:

Accessing the Add Inventory Page​

  1. Open the BookWish app
  2. Navigate to the Shop tab
  3. Tap Inventory in the menu
  4. Tap the + (plus) button at the bottom-right

This opens the Add Inventory Item page.

Step-by-Step Process​

Step 1: Select a Book​

The first step is finding the book in BookWish's database.

Search Interface:

  • Large search card at the top
  • "Select a Book" placeholder text
  • Tap anywhere on the card to open search

Search Methods:

  1. By Title - Type the book's title
  2. By Author - Type the author's name
  3. By ISBN - Type the ISBN-13 or ISBN-10

Search Tips:

  • You don't need the complete title
  • Partial searches work (e.g., "Gatsby" finds "The Great Gatsby")
  • ISBN is the most accurate method
  • Use ISBN for books with common titles

Selecting the Book:

  1. Type your search query
  2. Results appear instantly
  3. Scroll through results if needed
  4. Tap the correct book
  5. You'll return to the Add Inventory page with the book selected

Step 2: Set Quantity​

After selecting a book, the form fields appear.

Quantity Field:

  • Defaults to 1
  • Change if you have multiple copies
  • Must be at least 1
  • Enter whole numbers only (no decimals)

Examples:

  • Single copy: 1
  • Just received 5 copies: 5
  • Large shipment: 25
tip

If you have the same book in different conditions, add them as separate inventory items with different quantities for each condition.

Step 3: Set Price​

Set your selling price for this book.

Price Field:

  • Required field
  • Enter price in dollars
  • Supports cents (e.g., 14.99)
  • No dollar sign needed (it's added automatically)

Pricing Considerations:

  • Check online prices for comparison
  • Consider book condition
  • Factor in your costs
  • Be competitive with other local stores

See Pricing Guide for strategy tips.

Step 4: Compare-at Price (Optional)​

Show customers the original or list price for comparison.

When to Use:

  • Book has a list price higher than your price
  • You want to show the discount
  • Common for new releases or bestsellers

Example:

  • List Price (Compare-at): $24.99
  • Your Price: $18.99
  • Customers see: 24% off

Leave Blank If:

  • You're pricing at list price
  • It's a used book without a reference price
  • You don't want to show a comparison

Step 5: Select Condition​

Choose the book's condition from the dropdown.

Condition Options:

New

  • Brand new, never read
  • Pristine condition
  • No marks, writing, or wear
  • May still have original wrapping

Like New

  • Appears unread or barely read
  • No visible wear
  • May have minor shelf wear
  • No writing or markings

Very Good

  • Gently used
  • Minor wear on cover
  • May have previous owner's name
  • All pages clean and intact

Good

  • Average used condition
  • Noticeable wear
  • May have underlining or notes
  • All pages present and readable

Acceptable

  • Heavily worn but complete
  • Significant wear and markings
  • May have torn or loose pages
  • Still fully readable

Defaults to: New

Changing Condition:

  1. Tap the Condition dropdown
  2. Select the appropriate condition
  3. The selection saves automatically
warning

Be honest about condition. Customers trust your grading, and misrepresenting condition leads to returns and poor reviews.

Step 6: Add Location (Optional)​

Track where the book is stored in your shop.

Location Field:

  • Optional field
  • Freeform text
  • Up to 100 characters

Location Examples:

  • "Shelf A-3"
  • "Backroom"
  • "Fiction - New Releases"
  • "Window Display"
  • "Section 2, Shelf 4"

Why Use Location:

  • Find books quickly when orders come in
  • Train staff on where books are
  • Organize large inventories
  • Speed up customer service

Leave Blank If:

  • Small inventory that's easy to find
  • You don't use location tracking
  • All books in one area

Step 7: Add SKU (Optional)​

Enter your internal stock-keeping unit number.

SKU Field:

  • Optional field
  • Freeform text
  • Up to 50 characters

SKU Examples:

  • "BK-001234"
  • "FIC-GATSBY-001"
  • Your existing barcode numbers
  • Any internal identifier you use

Why Use SKU:

  • Match your existing inventory system
  • Track books with your labels
  • Integrate with your own processes
  • Useful if you already have SKU labels

Leave Blank If:

  • You don't use SKUs
  • New to inventory management
  • Prefer to use ISBN as identifier

Step 8: Add Notes (Optional)​

Include any special information about this copy.

Notes Field:

  • Optional field
  • Multi-line text
  • Up to 500 characters

What to Include:

  • Special features (signed, first edition)
  • Damage or flaws
  • Unique characteristics
  • Staff notes

Examples:

Signed by author on title page.
Minor water damage to back cover - priced accordingly.
First edition, first printing. Dust jacket included.
Very good condition with minor shelf wear.
Ex-library copy with stamps and pocket.
All markings noted in photos.

Notes Are:

  • Visible to you and staff
  • Not shown to customers (currently)
  • Helpful for internal tracking

Step 9: Add to Inventory​

Once all information is entered:

  1. Review all fields for accuracy
  2. Tap the Add to Inventory button at the bottom
  3. Wait for confirmation

Success:

  • Green success message appears
  • You're returned to the Inventory page
  • New item appears in your inventory list

If There's an Error:

  • Error message shows what's wrong
  • Fix the issue
  • Try adding again

After Adding​

Verify the Item​

Back on the Inventory page:

  1. Search for the book you just added
  2. Tap it to view details
  3. Verify quantity, price, and condition
  4. Edit if anything is incorrect

Add More Books​

To add another book:

  1. Tap the + button again
  2. Repeat the process
  3. There's no limit to how many you can add

Common Issues​

"Book not found"​

If you can't find a book in search:

Try:

  • Search by ISBN instead of title
  • Check for typos in your search
  • Try author name instead
  • Search for shorter/simpler terms

If Still Not Found:

  • Book may not be in our database (rare)
  • Very obscure or self-published books
  • Contact support to request adding it

"Price is required"​

  • You must enter a price
  • Price cannot be $0.00
  • Check that you entered numbers only
  • Format: 14.99 (no dollar sign)

"Quantity is required"​

  • Must be at least 1
  • Whole numbers only
  • No decimals or fractions

Duplicate Entries​

If you accidentally add the same book twice:

  1. Find the duplicate in your inventory
  2. Tap to view details
  3. Tap the Delete button (trash icon)
  4. Confirm deletion

Tips for Efficient Entry​

Batch Similar Books​

  • Add all new arrivals at once
  • Group by genre or section
  • Reduces context switching
  • More efficient workflow

Use ISBN When Possible​

  • Fastest, most accurate search
  • Use a barcode scanner for speed
  • Eliminates ambiguity
  • Perfect for books with common titles

Set Defaults​

  • Price similar books consistently
  • Use patterns for your location system
  • Develop your SKU format
  • Create condition grading standards

Double-Check​

  • Verify ISBN matches the book
  • Confirm quantity is correct
  • Check price before saving
  • Review condition selection

Barcode Scanners​

For high-volume manual entry, consider a barcode scanner.

Benefits:

  • Scan ISBN from book cover
  • Faster than typing
  • Fewer errors
  • Efficient for large shipments

Compatible Devices:

  • USB barcode scanners work with tablets
  • Bluetooth scanners work with phones
  • Most standard ISBN/UPC scanners

Setup:

  1. Connect scanner to your device
  2. Open Add Inventory page
  3. Focus cursor in search field
  4. Scan the ISBN barcode
  5. Book appears automatically

Editing After Adding​

Made a mistake? You can edit any inventory item.

To Edit:

  1. Find the item in your inventory list
  2. Tap to open details
  3. Tap the Edit (pencil) icon
  4. Make changes
  5. Tap Save Changes

What You Can Edit:

  • Quantity
  • Price
  • Compare-at price
  • Condition
  • Location
  • SKU
  • Notes

What You Can't Edit:

  • The book itself (delete and re-add if wrong book)
  • ISBN (tied to the book)
  • Book title, author, cover (from our database)

Next Steps​

Once you've added inventory:

For adding many books at once:

Need Help?​

Questions about adding inventory?