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General Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: FunkyG on August 30, 2014, 01:05:25 PM

Title: Should I Show Product Quantities
Post by: FunkyG on August 30, 2014, 01:05:25 PM
I'm in the process of setting up my AbanteCart shop.  I've got quite a mixture of different items with various quantities.  Some items I have 40+ off and others just 1 or 2.  I guess on average I have approx 4-6 of each item.  Once I've got a few months of sales I can see what sells and buy more of that kind of item.


The question I have, is bearing in mind a lot of my stock will be low quantities, should I list the quantities on my website?  For me there's nothing worse than trying to order 5 of something only to be told at the checkout there isnt enough stock and then I have to keep lowering it until I get to the actual amount in stock.


What looks better, no quantities or lots of fairly low quantities?

What do you do on your website?


 8)
Title: Re: Should I Show Product Quantities
Post by: llegrand on August 30, 2014, 02:36:47 PM
 
 What a great question and a wonderful opportunity for various Abantecart merchants to weigh in.
I’ll add some things I’ve tracked for over a decade of working with various types of product sellers.  Generally it seems somewhat important what type of merchandise, the dollar value, and rather uniqueness of an item is of importance.
If the item is low cost, easily available from multiple sources, something often ordered in multiples at one time then your pricing needs to be the lowest out there to offset low quantities.
If your item is fairly unique or not a lot of places to buy it, then it matters much less.  And then there are always the folks who want to get it while they can. So  it's really a factor of what you're selling  and how you want to accommodate your buyers.

But if you look at the items on Amazon (the world’s largest online marketer) there are lots of items of all types with low quantities showing - but often with a note about hurry – almost gone.  And they keep selling.

If you are going to allow the cart to track your stock and limit the order to what’s on hand – then you need to show correct quantities.  If you’re going to use a bogus number or not show available quantites and hope you have it then you run the risk of not having an item and having to refund and /or make an unhappy customer.
You could manage the low quantity items within the cart - by making a section on the home page for “almost gone” items – there are several ways this could be done - rename the Feature to that and then just flag the item within the product page, or make a new category, and others.
One thing you might want to consider – even when you run out of an item and wonder if you should re-order  you could switch it to the Call to Order  (then they can order,  but can let you know they would like too)  You can also change that to an Email rather than call.  I have my distributor sites do this with new items they aren’t sure they want to carry, to gather customer input about it.
My guidance would be to show the accurate stock number letting the cart do its job in rather an order can be fulfilled. Then offer a note here and there that if they need more than that – send you an email about.  You can add that on one of the side bars easily.
Hope you have great success with your site -  you've chosen a really great ecommerce platform.
Lee 
 
Title: Re: Should I Show Product Quantities
Post by: natdroid on January 09, 2019, 05:05:09 AM
Add the Products' Availability on the Category Pages https://marketplace.abantecart.com/availability_listing
Title: Re: Should I Show Product Quantities
Post by: jimcooncat on February 07, 2019, 09:19:00 AM
A low quantity on a scarce item give a buyer a sense of urgency. A high quantity of a common, replenishable item gives a buyer comfort that they can rely on you as a source. It's good stuff, and the only downside to showing quantity is if you have intense competition monitoring your stock. I'm an Amazon seller, and these opinions were formed by my experience there. Best wishes for your success!