thread Re: List Items for sale when Out of Stock in Retail & eCommerce

List Items for sale when Out of Stock

cardcarryingb — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 21:16:31 GMT

The title of this thread has been edited by a Square Moderator from the original: "Offer in stock and order capibility"

Hello. I recently added all of our current stock onto our website. We are a bookstore, and I would like to be able to list titles that aren't currently in stock with the option to order. Can anyone help in how to do that? Thanks!

Re: Offer in stock and order capibility

willtheengraver — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 13:48:43 GMT

As a jeweler, I have run into that same spot. My solution has been to list the item, emphasizing it has sold, and is available as a special order at $XXXX cost.

Re: Offer in stock and order capibility

skeletunesrecs — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 20:50:12 GMT

10/10 would love this option as a mailorder record store. This would revolutionize my business!

Re: Offer in stock and order capibility

_Violet — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 21:15:13 GMT

Hi there, @cardcarryingb, @willtheengraver, and @skeletunesrecs

We do have a setting for this in your Square Online Dashboard. You'll go to > Items > Item Preferences > and then Stock Settings.

I hope this information is helpful and able to answer your question, but please do let us know if you have any additional questions! 😊

Is it possible for a customer to request a sold-out item?

knaskdesigns — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 20:17:48 GMT

Hi there! I make wood art in relatively low quantities but I can make the same design in multiple sizes. Problem is, if I don't have a particular size on hand, it shows as sold-out and a customer can't purchase it. I want to be able to track my inventory but also allow customers to purchase size options that I don't currently have on hand... I would make it after receiving their order. What is the best way to handle this?

Re: Is it possible for a customer to request a sold-out item?

crystalimages — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 23:02:32 GMT

I haven't tried this, but it looks like if you go to your online store, site items, open the item in question.

I'm assuming you have variations for size on this item. Click on the Stock option next to the variation you don't normally have in stock and see if the "Mark as sold out on point of sale and online" Toggle is turned on.

If you turn it off, it should allow customers to place an order in spite of it being out of stock.
I'm not sure how this will affect stock tracking, but I believe it will make your stock negative, which you can adjust when you've made more.

Re: Is it possible for a customer to request a sold-out item?

_Violet — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 17:59:09 GMT

Hi @knaskdesigns - Thanks for reaching out to us here on the Square Seller Community👋

I went ahead and merged your post to an existing thread where other Square Sellers have discussed this topic as well. We merge duplicate conversations together to keep like comments in one place, and to make it easier for others to find the thread in the future.

Thank you for assisting here, @crystalimages! 💫

Re: Offer in stock and order capibility

kayteeS — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 20:17:35 GMT

How does one do this? All my sold items get marked as zero inventory, and the listing no longer shows on the website (Square website).

That pop-up to manage stock doesn't seem to work for me-- is that only for paid subscriptions?

Re: Offer in stock and order capibility

JJ_ — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 14:23:46 GMT

Hey there @kayteeS Yes, at this time, Stock Settings are part of our Square Online paid plans.

Re: Is it possible for a customer to request a sold-out item?

nell_a — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 16:02:58 GMT

We don't see the option to 'Mark as sold out on POS and Online'. Does anyone know why? See the image below.

We need certain out-of-stock item variants of certain items to be available to buy. Currently, this is not possible. N.B. there is a 'preorders' beta that should be able to address this limitation, however, the way it has been designed means that it is not suitable for retail businesses set up in the way we are familiar with, as only whole items, i.e. not item variants, can be sold on this preorder basis with a static only, not rolling, fulfilment point. Also, it's not compatible with the shipping fulfilment method.

Thanks

Re: List Items for sale when Out of Stock

willtheengraver — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 18:30:19 GMT

There are ways to do it, but I just update the listing title and add a bold 'SOLD!' at the end, and update the listing with "Sold. We will remake/restock to order'.

Re: Is it possible for a customer to request a sold-out item?

JJ_ — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 18:35:23 GMT

@nell_a the Sold out option lives under Item Preferences in the Square Online Dashboard as it is a global setting and not a per item setting at this time.

Re: Is it possible for a customer to request a sold-out item?

nell_a — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 18:41:39 GMT

Hi @JJ_

But the image that @crystalimages has provided (below) shows the setting in the item so it's not global, but per item, according to this.

Thanks

Re: Is it possible for a customer to request a sold-out item?

JJ_ — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 18:46:48 GMT

I believe we are talking about two different settings then. The one I am referencing is displaying a badge on items whether they are low in stock or not.

This image references marking items as Sold Out or not. Sold Out is per item, Low Stock badge display isn't is what I meant to say.

Sorry for the confusion there @nell_a

Re: List Items for sale when Out of Stock

AVsupport — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 21:04:21 GMT

The only way we've found to get around this limitation currently is to write text into item description

"Special orders item - please contact us prior to placing the order".

This isn't great, would be better to have an option to place an order for items that are not in stock.

(This is selling items in different sizes / colours)