How to win back customers lost due to an “out-of-stock” event

A “sold out” page can evoke mixed emotions. On one hand, it signifies success—a product selling so fast on the e-commerce website. However, on the flip side, it can also mean missed opportunities and lost customers.

Understanding the Impact

Imagine this scenario: A potential customer arrives at your website, eager to purchase a product they have been eyeing for weeks. They click on the product page, only to be greeted with the disappointing message "sold out."

What happens next?

In most cases, they will likely move on to a competitor's website, never to return. This is not just a missed opportunity for a sale, but also a lost customer.

Read on to explore the reasons behind it

REASON 1- Viral products

Viral products often experience sudden spikes in demand, which can quickly deplete inventory and lead to "sold out" pages.

Reason 2 - Less inventory by design

Some brands keep their inventory low to minimize storage costs and reduce the risk of overstocking or maybe they did not foresee the demand. This can also lead to products running out of stock quickly.

Reason 3 - Inventory mismanagement

This can happen due to a glitch in the matrix inventory. This can result in inaccurate stock levels, causing products to appear as sold out when they are available.

Strategies to Mitigate the Impact

While “sold out” pages may seem inevitable at times, there are strategies you can employ to minimize their impact:

FIX #1

Set up low inventory alerts - Low inventory alerts inform you when a product's quantity dips below a threshold.

To set up these alerts we can use EMAILS/ SLACK/SMS

FIX #2

Provide pre-order opportunities - let buyers pre-order out-of-stock items and receive them as soon as they are back in stock.

Provide them with an honest tentative date for the same on the product page.

For example, Bubble Tea Club allows its buyers to pre-order the sold-out product with a clear expected arrival date.

Fix #3

Provide the next best alternatives that are similar to the out-of-stock items

For example, Allen Solly from Myntra is out of stock, so it suggests the next best option of bags to keep buyers interested.

Fix #4

Back-in-stock alerts

Give easy options to subscribe to notifications for when the product is back in stock. Collect Emails for guest profiles

HOW? Beanie has a ‘Notify me’ CTA for out-of-stock products.

In all the above-mentioned fixes, you need an engaging back-in-stock alert

What can be an engaging, hassle-free back-in-stock alert?

Simply, EMAILS!

This is a part of lesson #6 of Mailmodo’s CRO School. Enroll here for more such tips