Wholesale records often describe more than one packaging level. Ordering “two” can mean two pieces, two displays or two cases depending on the record. A buyer should convert the hierarchy into sellable units before comparing price, shelf capacity or expected sales.
Define the packaging levels
- Retail unit
- The individual item the store records and sells as one unit.
- Inner pack
- A grouped package inside a larger case. It may or may not function as a shelf display.
- Display
- A packaged group intended to organize multiple retail units. Confirm its actual count instead of relying on the word “display.”
- Case
- The outer wholesale shipping quantity. A case may contain displays, inner packs or individual units.
These labels describe structure, not a universal quantity. The exact relationship must come from the current product record or ordering screen.
Write the conversion as an equation
If one case contains 6 displays and each display contains 10 retail units:
1 case × 6 displays per case × 10 units per display = 60 retail units.
For three cases, multiply 3 × 60 = 180 retail units. Store both the equation and the result. The equation makes it easier to find whether a later error came from the case count or the display count.
Calculate landed cost at the sellable-unit level
Landed cost can include the product amount and allocated inbound costs such as freight or handling. Use only actual, applicable costs from the transaction. If a 60-unit case costs $300 and $30 of inbound cost is allocated to it, the landed unit cost is ($300 + $30) ÷ 60 = $5.50. Taxes and fees should be handled according to the business’s accounting method.
| Input | Example |
|---|---|
| Cases ordered | 1 |
| Displays per case | 6 |
| Units per display | 10 |
| Total retail units | 60 |
| Product plus allocated inbound cost | $330 |
| Landed cost per retail unit | $5.50 |
The example demonstrates the method; it is not a price quote or margin recommendation.
Check for assorted cases
A case total does not show how many units of each variant are included. Record the mix separately. If the mix is not specified, ask before ordering. An assumed even split can create excess stock in one variant and a shortage in another.
Handle partial cases without losing the conversion
Stores may receive, transfer or count less than a full case. Keep the standard case relationship in the item record and enter the actual displays or units moved. For example, 3 displays from a 6-display case are 30 units when each display contains 10. Do not rename the partial quantity as “half a case” in a system that expects exact pieces; record both the descriptive note and the inventory units.
Cycle counts should also work at the sellable-unit level. Sealed cases can be converted from their verified pack quantity, while open cases should be counted by the remaining display or unit. If packaging has changed, update the conversion before posting the count.
Align purchasing, receiving and inventory
Use the same conversion at every stage. The purchase order can show cases and the equivalent units. The receiving record can confirm both counts. The inventory system should receive the quantity it actually tracks. This chain allows the buyer to trace a difference back to a specific level.
Ask five questions before approval
- What is the sellable retail unit?
- How many retail units are in a display or inner pack?
- How many displays or packs are in a case?
- Is the case a single variant or an assortment?
- Which current costs belong in the landed-cost calculation?
Preserve the source and date
A pack conversion can become outdated when packaging changes. Save the product-record URL, the field or document used for the relationship and the date checked. If a new shipment conflicts with the saved conversion, hold the difference and treat the current physical evidence as an exception to investigate, not as permission to overwrite history without a note.
Confirm the exact packaging fields on the relevant catalog record and keep the review date with the worksheet. Once units are consistent, use them in the reorder-point formula and weeks-of-supply review.
Content notes
A practical guide to packaging levels, unit conversion and landed unit cost so retail buyers can compare wholesale records without confusing cases, displays and sellable pieces.
Last reviewed:
Reviewed by: MWHQ GOODS Editorial Team