Order Online, Then Find Out "Out-of-Stock"

[ClassicRockr]

Ever bought anything online, then find out that what you bought is on back-order, but the Site still lets you buy it? With your order, you give a phone number and e-mail address, but YOU end up having to call the company to find out the status of your order. They tell you, "it's on back-order and we don't know when it will be back in stock. As soon as it comes in, we will e-mail you to let you know that it is being shipped."

So, question is, WHY does the company let you order something that is not currently available aka out-of-stock??? There are websites that won't allow a person to order something that is out-of-stock, but other websites that are just the reverse.

I know, very advised to call the company to see if what you want is available...……..but, who thinks about that?

 

[fuzzybuddy]

Yup. I bought some clothes on line. Not only did I get an email confirming my order I got a shipping tracing URL. I'm supposed to get it by Thursday. Thursday comes and went. And, according to the shipping URL, it's been delivered. Three days later, as I was about to yell my head off, money was sent to my credit card account-with no explanation. So where's my stuff???? Turns out, the clothes were no longer in stock, And that bit with the shipping URL?????? I thought it was an actual report on shipping. But it's not. The stuff about "left warehouse @ 7:18" is what some computer program believes "will" happen, not what actually did. That's why they had a "confirmed" delivery, when they never even sent anything.

 

[Keesha]

Yes and I’ve cancelled my order..

 

[Victor]

That didn't happen to me online, at least. The simple reason is that they want your business right away.
If they wait, the customer may change his mind.
Example: when my print on demand book was published, the distributors always
noted that several were in stock when they had none. That was policy because otherwise
the company would lose customers. If someone wants to buy one, they will produce or get it.

 

[SeaBreeze]

That only happened to me once, I decided to wait a week to see if it came in, when it still wasn't available, I cancelled.

 

[Ken N Tx]

I have called a company that I have not previously ordered from to check on in stock status.. They also informed me that it was on sale and gave me an additional 10% off!!!!

 

[squatting dog]

A lot of places drop ship products now, (a trend away from warehousing) so, it's not all that uncommon to have something on back order. It's not really a big problem to just cancel the credit card order. After all, with the exception of medicines, it's not like my not getting a spark plug for my 4 wheeler is the end of the world.

 

[Don M.]

Ever bought anything online, then find out that what you bought is on back-order, but the Site still lets you buy it? With your order, you give a phone number and e-mail address, but YOU end up having to call the company to find out the status of your order. They tell you, "it's on back-order and we don't know when it will be back in stock. As soon as it comes in, we will e-mail you to let you know that it is being shipped." So, question is, WHY does the company let you order something that is not currently available aka out-of-stock??? There are websites that won't allow a person to order something that is out-of-stock, but other websites that are just the reverse. I know, very advised to call the company to see if what you want is available...……..but, who thinks about that?

What company are you referring to?. I do a lot of online shopping, and always note if the item is in stock on their website...if they don't show that it's in stock, I look elsewhere....and if the don't show the availability of the item, I go elsewhere. I Always get a confirmation on my e-mail, usually with shipping information and tracking.

 

[Laurie]

I've ordered things but always been told they are out of stock before actually buying. This happens all too often.

In fact I think in the EU it is illegal to sell an out of stock item unless it is made clear to the customer it is pre-order or a back order and the customer confirms the transaction. The recognised Code of Practice in the UK is that money is not deducted until after despatch, though not all traders subscribe to this.