Last verified: 2026-02-18
Overview
This guide walks you through the essential steps to get started as a buyer: completing your profile, connecting with vendors, browsing products, and placing orders.
Who this is for: Users who want to purchase products from vendors on StockApp.
What happens in the system
Your company profile becomes visible to vendors you connect with
Accepting a vendor invitation gives you access to pricelists they have shared with you
Orders you place appear in both your Orders section and the vendor's Orders section
Order status updates from the vendor appear in your order view in real-time
You can compare products from multiple vendors side by side
What does NOT happen
Connecting with a vendor does not automatically show products: You only see products in pricelists the vendor has explicitly shared with you.
Adding items to cart does not reserve inventory: Items are not reserved until the order is placed and confirmed by the vendor.
Placing an order does not guarantee fulfillment: The vendor must confirm and process the order.
Viewing vendor products does not expose your information: Vendors only see your information if you place an order or send them a message.
Prerequisites
A StockApp account with buyer permissions
An invitation or connection with at least one vendor (or plan to invite vendors)
Step 1: Complete Your Company Profile
Set up your company information so vendors can identify you and fulfill orders correctly:
Navigate to Settings (gear icon in left sidebar)
Under the Company section, click Company info
Fill in your company information:
Display name: Your business display name (visible to vendors)
Company logo: Upload your company logo (optional)
Primary phone: Your business contact number
Business location: Shipping address details (city, state/region, ZIP/postal code, country)
Click Save settings
This information is visible to vendors you work with and used for order fulfillment.
Step 2: Connect with Vendors
If You Received an Invitation
Check your email for the vendor's invitation
Click the link in the email
Accept the invitation
The vendor's products will now be accessible once they share a pricelist with you
To Invite Vendors or Import Contacts
Navigate to Directory (people icon in left sidebar)
At the top of the page:
Type an email address into the Quick invite with email... field to send an invitation directly
Click Import contacts to import from Google, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, or CSV file
StockApp shows you which of your contacts are already on the platform
Send connection requests to vendors you want to work with
Once vendors accept your connection, they can share pricelists with you.
Step 3: Browse Vendor Catalogs
Once connected with vendors:
Click the company name in the top-left corner
Select a vendor from the dropdown
Browse their product catalog
Use filters to narrow down products:
Search by name, SKU, or description
Filter by category, tags, price range, condition
Sort by price, date added, or name
Click on products to view details
For detailed instructions, see Browsing Vendor Products.
Compare Products from Multiple Vendors
Browse products from one vendor
Click the company selector to switch to another vendor
Compare pricing, terms, and availability
Add items from different vendors to your cart
For detailed instructions, see Comparing Offerings.
Step 4: Add Items to Cart and Place an Order
Browse a vendor's catalog
Click Add to Cart on products you want to order
Specify quantities
Review your cart (click the Cart icon in the top-right)
Click Checkout or Create Purchase Order
Review order details:
Products and quantities
Pricing and totals
Shipping address
Payment terms
Add any notes or special instructions
Click Place Order to submit
For detailed instructions, see Creating Purchase Orders.
Step 5: Track Your Orders
After placing an order:
Navigate to Orders in the left sidebar
View all your purchase orders
Click on an order to see details
Check order status:
Pending: Submitted, awaiting vendor confirmation
Confirmed: Vendor accepted the order
Shipped: Order is in transit
Delivered: Order completed
View order history and updates
Communicate with the vendor through order comments
For detailed instructions, see Purchase History.
Additional Features
Create Offers for Better Pricing
Instead of accepting listed prices, you can make offers:
Browse a vendor's catalog
Select products you're interested in
Click Create Offer
Set your desired pricing
Add terms and expiration date
Submit the offer to the vendor
If accepted, convert the offer to an order
For detailed instructions, see Creating Offers.
Receive Notifications
Configure notifications to stay updated:
Go to Settings > Notifications
Choose notification channels (email, in-app, push)
Set frequency for different event types:
Order status changes
Price updates
New products from vendors
Messages from vendors
For detailed instructions, see Setting Up Notifications.
What changes over time
Order status: Updates as the vendor processes your order (pending → confirmed → shipped → delivered)
Product pricing: May change if the vendor updates their pricelist - your existing orders are not affected
Product availability: Inventory levels may change - what you see when browsing may differ from when you checkout
Vendor catalog: Vendors may add new products or remove discontinued items
Common Issues
Issue: Cannot See Vendor Products
Symptom: You connected with a vendor but cannot see their products.
Solution: The vendor must share a pricelist with you. Contact the vendor to request access. You can send them a message through the Directory or via email.
Issue: Product Price Changed at Checkout
Symptom: The price in your cart differs from what you saw when browsing.
Solution: Prices can change if the vendor updates their pricelist. Review the current price before confirming your order. If the change is unexpected, contact the vendor.
Issue: Order Stuck in Pending
Symptom: Your order has been pending for a long time without vendor confirmation.
Solution: Contact the vendor directly through messaging or email. Order processing times depend on the vendor. Check the vendor's stated lead times.
Issue: Cannot Find a Specific Product
Symptom: You saw a product before but cannot find it now.
Solution:
Use the search bar to search by product name, SKU, or description
Check if you're viewing the correct vendor's catalog (company selector)
The vendor may have removed the product from the pricelist - contact them to inquire