What Happens When an Item is Out of Stock?

 

When an item is "Out of Stock", it is up to you to figure out how your site will handle it. Here are some settings that you can use to change how these types of items will behave on the site. 

Inventory Display Configurator

Although there are many different possible configurations, by default, "Out of Stock" items can still be added to a user's cart and ordered. In this case, it will import into your company's ERP system and will generally be placed on backorder. 

If you would like to prevent this from happening, you will have to create a scenario in the Inventory Display Configurator and decide what will happen instead.

Configuration for Out of Stock Items

For "Out of Stock" items, you can choose any of the following outcomes: 

  • Display a  message indicating inventory status ("Out of Stock", "Average Lead Time", "Expected Date")
  • Disable pricing (this removes the price from the item meaning it also can't be added to the cart)
  • Disable purchasing (this allows item price to be shown, but item can't be added to cart)

Within your ERP system, items can be assigned substitutes that can be configured to display when the item is out of stock. Learn more about configuring substitute items here.

Out of Stock Items Already in Cart

There are scenarios in which an item was in stock when added to a cart, but becomes out of stock when the user is ready to check out. The "Shopping Cart Inventory Check" tool informs the user of the inventory status of the item upon checkout.

The appearance of the "Inventory Info" box during checkout is just for informational purposes and will not remove "Out of Stock" items from a cart. 

The user can then: 

  1. Proceed with checkout (knowing that there will be delayed delivery on the "Out of Stock Item").
    • If the site settings allow pricing and purchasing of "Out of Stock" items.
  2. Remove the "Out of Stock" item from the cart and proceed with checkout.
    • If the site settings don't allow purchasing of "Out of Stock" items.
    • if the user does not wish to have their order delayed until the item becomes available.