Recently, we covered inventory issues and how to handle out of stock situations to turn them into a positive for your small business. Today, we're back to focus on out of stock issues that arise after your customer believes they have purchased the item in question and how our fast easy inventory solution can help.
Obviously, this is a little bit trickier. Customers are likely to be more disappointed because they initially thought that they were able to get the item they needed or wanted. Throw in payments that need to be refunded and the complication only increases.
First, and foremost, let your customer know as soon as possible that you aren't going to be able to fulfill their order. The longer you wait, the more upset your customer is likely to be. If they need their item by a specific date they will want as much time as possible to locate a replacement product.
Be upfront about what caused this situation to occur. Again, offer an explanation not an excuse. If it was something out of your control let your customer know that. If your supplier is having issues that could mean that locating the item elsewhere will also be difficult. Giving your customer information that can help them in their search will always be appreciated. If you know where they can find the item they need, tell them. Ordinarily, you wouldn't want to send your customers to your competition but in this instance doing so shows them how much you value them as a customer and how willing you are to do everything in your power to help them out. Who appreciate service like that?
Don't make promises you can't keep. Often, it can be tempting to dangle a carrot. We are out of stock now but should new merchandise in just a few days. If that is true, great. If your customer can wait, they probably will. If you are providing false hope and can't deliver now your customer has lost even more time and they will be twice as upset with you. Only provide an estimated in stock date if you are confident that you can meet it.
What you can offer your customers is a small token to compensate them for any inconvenience. Offering free shipping on a future order, or a discount, will be appreciated and may be just what it takes to bring your customer back.
Remember, when payment refunds are involved to make the entire process as seamless and easy for your customers are possible. If a gift card was used for payment, let your customer know how much value is left on their card since you weren't able to complete their order. Customers shouldn't have to contact you to find out this information. If you make them work to gather details they will become more frustrated and more likely to look to your competition in the future.
Stock Up With Stockpile Fast Easy Inventory Solution
Of course, the best scenario is the one where you don't run out of product at all. Stockpile can help. Adding item records into Stockpile fast easy inventory solution is quick and easy. Once your data is entered you can easily track items within a single location or across multiple locations. Plus, Stockpile fast easy inventory solution is mobile compatible so you can access your data anytime from anywhere. You can set low stock alerts so that you will know when you need to reorder items and be able to run reports with very little effort. Want to keep your finger on the pulse of your inventory? Try Stockpile today!
