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What is the Scratch Pile and how do I scratch an item?

What is the Scratch Pile and how do I scratch an item?

Written by Shane Jordan

The Scratch Pile is where items go when they're no longer for sale -- whether they're damaged, kept for personal use, lost, or removed for any other reason. Scratching an item removes it from your active inventory while keeping a record of the cost for your reports.

How to Scratch an Item

  1. Open the item you want to scratch

  2. Tap the ⋮ (three dots) menu in the bottom bar

  3. Select Scratch

The item is immediately moved to your Scratch Pile. For a faster route, swipe left on an item in the inventory list and tap Scratch.

What Happens When You Scratch

  • The item is removed from active inventory counts (Unlisted, Listed totals)

  • The item's cost is tracked separately as Cost of Goods Scratched in your reports

  • The item is not deleted -- it stays in your account for record-keeping

  • Date Scratched is recorded for accurate tax reporting, and you can edit it on the item if needed

Viewing Your Scratch Pile

  • Filter your inventory by Scratch using the status chip at the top of the Inventory screen

  • Or see your Scratch Pile totals in Reports

Scratched items show the date they were scratched.

When to Scratch

Use the Scratch Pile for items that are leaving your sellable inventory:

  • Damaged -- Broken, stained, or otherwise unsellable

  • Keeping -- You decided to keep it for personal use

  • Lost -- Can't find it or it went missing

  • Other -- Any reason the item is no longer for sale

Flippd doesn't ask you for a reason -- this list is just guidance. If you want to keep track of why, add it to the item's notes.

Good to Know

  • Scratch vs. Delete -- Scratching keeps the item in your records for reporting and tax purposes. Deleting permanently removes it. Use scratch when you want to preserve the cost history.

  • Tax reporting -- Scratched items are recognized as a loss in the month they were scratched, not the month they were acquired. This matches standard inventory accounting rules.

  • You can undo a scratch -- Open the scratched item, tap the menu, and choose Restore to put it back in active inventory. The same menu also offers Delete.

  • Scratch date updates -- Changing the Date Scratched on an item correctly keeps the item in Scratch status. The updated date is reflected in your reports.

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