Inventory in dropshipping changes rapidly. A supplier may have 1,000 units of a product one moment, and the next, it could be out of stock. To help you stay informed and manage inventory effectively, Zendrop provides notifications and alternative solutions when products go out of stock.
To provide better context, it's worth noting that products on Zendrop are typically manufactured on demand rather than stored as constant inventory, which can lead to occasional stock fluctuations.
How to Get Notified About Stock Changes
1. Automatic Notifications for Imported Products
If a product you imported into your store from Zendrop goes out of stock, you will automatically receive an email notification. This ensures you are promptly informed of any changes that may affect your sales.
2. Subscribing to Restock Alerts
If a product is not currently imported into your store but is available in Zendrop’s catalog, you can subscribe to restock notifications by clicking the Bell icon on the product page.
Once enabled, the Bell icon turns black to indicate that notifications are active.
You will receive an email notification as soon as the product is back in stock.
We do not have an exact timeframe for when out-of-stock products will be available again, but you’ll be notified as soon as they are ready to sell.
Additionally, Zendrop will notify you as soon as the product is back in stock, allowing you to resume selling it without unnecessary delays.
For more details on inventory management, check out our help article: Zendrop Inventory: How Does It Work?
What to Do If an Out-of-Stock Product Has Already Been Ordered
If you already have an order for an item that is now out of stock, you have a few options:
1. If Only a Product Variant Is Out of Stock
Please contact our customer experience team on Zendrop to have them modify the order and assign an available variant. Be sure to provide the correct SKU for the desired item.
Before making changes, confirm with your customer that they are okay with switching to an alternative variant.
2. If the Entire Product Is Out of Stock
You will need to cancel the current order on Zendrop.
In the meantime, consider these alternatives:
Find a similar product on Zendrop to avoid losing the sale.
Import a similar product from another platform into your store. If you make a sale, our team can source it for you.
Manually place a new order for the customer using the alternative product.
Duplicating Orders in Shopify
If you need to link an out-of-stock product to a new, available product:
In your Shopify backend, locate the order associated with the out-of-stock product.
Duplicate the order:
Click on the order and select 'More Actions.'
Choose 'Duplicate,' and update the relevant customer details.
Mark the duplicate order as paid (to avoid recharging the customer).
Create the order and refresh the Zendrop dashboard to sync the updated information.
Fulfill the duplicated order in Zendrop.
Switching Suppliers
If an item is out of stock but time is of the essence, consider switching to a different supplier:
Cancel the current order with the unavailable product.
Explore alternative suppliers on Zendrop to find a similar product that can be shipped quickly.
Waiting for Production
If you're not in a hurry to fulfill the order, you can wait for the supplier to manufacture and restock the product. Zendrop will notify you when the product is ready to ship so you can proceed with the original order.
💡 For Shopify Users: Once you’ve found the alternative product, duplicate the original order, select the new product, mark the order as paid in your store, and fulfill the updated order with the correct product on Zendrop.
With over 500,000 products from hundreds of suppliers, there’s a high chance you’ll find a suitable alternative for your customers.
Proactive Monitoring Strategies
To prevent potential issues and stay ahead of stock problems:
Regularly check the stock status of key products on Zendrop via the product catalog.
Enable stock notifications for critical products using the 'bell' icon to stay informed about changes in availability.
Communicate promptly with customers regarding delays or alternative product options when necessary.