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Variant: Continue Selling Inventory when Out of Stock

Learn how to manage inventory policies for out-of-stock variants using the Bulk Product Editor.

Overview​

The "Continue selling when out of stock" setting determines whether customers can purchase variants even when inventory reaches zero. This is useful for pre-orders, made-to-order products, or digital goods.

Accessing Continue Selling Field​

  1. Navigate to the Bulk Product Editor
  2. Select the variants you want to edit using filters
  3. In the modification section, select "Continue selling when out of stock" from the field dropdown

Selecting Continue Selling Field

Continue Selling field selection in Bulk Product Editor

Choose Continue Selling from the field dropdown to manage out-of-stock policies in bulk

Setting Options​

Enable (True)​

  • Customers can purchase even when inventory = 0
  • Useful for pre-orders and backorders
  • Allows overselling for made-to-order items
  • Good for digital products with unlimited availability

Disable (False)​

  • Prevents purchases when inventory reaches 0
  • Standard setting for physical products
  • Helps prevent overselling
  • Maintains accurate inventory control

Common Use Cases​

Pre-Order Products​

  • Enable for upcoming product launches
  • Allow customers to order before stock arrives
  • Manage demand for limited releases

Made-to-Order Items​

  • Enable for custom or personalized products
  • Allow unlimited orders for manufactured items
  • Manage products with flexible production

Digital Products​

  • Enable for downloadable items
  • Allow unlimited sales of digital goods
  • Manage software licenses or subscriptions

Seasonal Management​

  • Disable during off-season
  • Enable for holiday pre-orders
  • Manage seasonal inventory policies

Best Practices​

Inventory Management​

  • Monitor overselling carefully
  • Set up alerts for negative inventory
  • Coordinate with fulfillment processes
  • Communicate delivery expectations clearly

Customer Communication​

  • Set clear expectations about delivery times
  • Use product descriptions to explain policies
  • Provide estimated shipping dates
  • Send updates about order status

Examples​

Example 1: Pre-Order Setup​

Product: New product launching next month Setting: Enable continue selling Result: Customers can pre-order before stock arrives

Example 2: Limited Inventory​

Product: Limited edition item Setting: Disable continue selling Result: Sales stop when inventory reaches zero

Example 3: Digital Product​

Product: Software download Setting: Enable continue selling Result: Unlimited sales regardless of "inventory" count

Bulk Management Strategies​

By Product Type​

  • Enable for all digital products
  • Disable for physical inventory items
  • Enable for made-to-order categories

By Season​

  • Enable for holiday pre-orders
  • Disable for clearance items
  • Adjust for seasonal demand patterns

By Supplier​

  • Enable for reliable suppliers
  • Disable for uncertain stock sources
  • Adjust based on fulfillment capabilities

Tips and Tricks​

  • Use filters to target specific product categories
  • Coordinate with inventory tracking systems
  • Set up automated alerts for overselling
  • Monitor customer satisfaction with backorders
  • Use scheduled jobs for seasonal adjustments

Important Considerations​

⚠️ Overselling Risks:

  • Can lead to customer dissatisfaction
  • May cause fulfillment delays
  • Requires careful inventory management
  • Needs clear communication policies