Why Store Availability Information Is Rarely Accurate
A couple of weeks ago, I went crazy looking for a Nintendo Switch. I checked store by store – 12 in total – using the “available in store” lists you find on retailer websites as a guide. Everyone would say they have multiple consoles, but when I got there, no. So I started to wonder if a store website could ever really be trusted for the availability of items. It turns out the answer is an emphatic no.
I now knew it was a long journey to find a Switch, and I knew it was a little naive to trust the store’s website. I am not idiot. If I really wanted the Switch, I would pre-order like everyone else. But it highlighted a problem that I have encountered many times in the past. I search the internet for a product, perk up when I see it in a warehouse nearby, and then excitedly walk my way to the store with my beautiful wicker basket, only to be disappointed when it really isn’t. The bookstore website says it has a book, but when I go in, they tell me, “Oh, sorry, we must have sold it earlier today.” The electronics store says they have a movie, but they tell me, “Sorry, man, we mustn’t have an account.” The toy store says it has a hot new toy, but they tell me, “Sorry sir, it sold out in minutes and you shouldn’t buy Hatchimals because you’re an adult.”
So what gives? Why are stores asking you to look at their store’s inventory when it can never be accurate? As much as I like to think this is some kind of evil ploy to get you into the store and then make you sad so you can buy other things to make you feel better, it’s probably less sinister. It’s conceived as a service, and for items that don’t fly off the shelf, it usually works really well. “Does this goal have the cough medicine I need? Yeah, there are tons in the warehouse. And it’s impossible for retailers to be 100% accurate anyway due to theft, breakdowns, inaccurate shipping data, pre-orders that accidentally end up on the regular inventory list, and employees sometimes picking things up first. turn for yourself (no judgment here). Retail systems are imperfect, so their services cannot be perfect.
However, I decided to dig a bit and see how accurate some of the more popular shopping sites are. After all, the less accurate they are, the less useful the service is.
- Walmart : Updated every night at 12 a.m., according to the Walmart website. Thus, the later in the day, the less likely it is that the number of items will be accurate. Always call ahead.
- Target : Their site doesn’t list when they update, but one former Target employee told me that they update store inventory every day at 8 a.m. As with Walmart, the later you check, the less accurate the data. To check again, I called Target.com support. The representative I spoke with said that the item listed as “available for collection at the store” should be there. But they quickly backed down, stating that if the quantity looks low – for example, less than 10 – or you see the words “limited availability”, you should definitely call the store before entering; something is repeated in the help section of the Target.com site .
- Best Buy : The BestBuy.com help section offers even less information about in-store items . However, Best Buy Canada’s help page suggests that their “system be updated multiple times throughout the day to show you which Best Buy stores have the product you’re looking for.” An anonymous employee contacted me and explained that their inventory system “is updated once an hour at the start of each new hour. External programs such as the website are refreshed 10 minutes after the specified new hour. The longest “lag” I saw was that the inventory system took about 39 minutes to pull the inventory data into the other programs we use. ” In any case, always call in advance.
- Toys “R” Us : They don’t tell you when their site is updated, but you can tell if an item is in stock if it has a “free pick-up” option, especially if it gives a short time frame such as “free self-pickup from the store “. in an hour. “However, don’t place a pickup order or run out the door! Wait until you receive a confirmation email from them as they say,” Stock status is approximate and may not reflect recent sales. “
- Home Depot : The more active store’s online inventory works similarly to Toys “R” Us. If an itemis listed as available in store pickup, it is probably there . But again, the only way to be sure is to use the store pickup feature and wait for the confirmation email before heading out.
- Staples : Same as Toys “R” Us and Home Depot. If your store says pick it up today, it’s probably there. And if it says “pick it up today – in just an hour!” You can be sure that the product is at hand. However, just in case, wait for the letter with the words “ready for pickup”. If you don’t reserve it, someone can buy the last one while you go to the store.
- Barnes & Noble : The bookstore chain will indicate if a book is in stock or not on the product page after you enter your zip code. Then you can click “Reserve” for them to hold it for you. However, as with other stores, they do not guarantee that the book listed as “in stock” is actually there. Luckily, you can subscribe to the confirmation text when booking so you know if someone out there actually found it and set it aside for you at the cashier’s desk.
- Gamestop : The big video game retailer is doing a little differently. When you browse the product page, you can see the “Pick up from store – check availability” link. If you click on it, you will select your preferred store on the map or after entering the zip code, then you will need to fill out a form with your name, email address and phone number. If they have it, they will contact you and let you know that it is available and stored under your name. However, the “Pick up at store” link definitely does not mean that they have the item on hand . Gamestop explains that their online inventory is updated “periodically,” but they also strongly warn that you should always call ahead or try to reserve a copy online before heading to the store.
In general, you can assume that most stores only update their online resources once a day, usually when they close or open. This will never be accurate, especially for stores in high traffic areas where inventory can change every minute. For high-demand items like the Nintendo Switch, this daily update will be even less accurate because they sell out so quickly. And the information listed on inventory tracking sites like Zoolert, BrickSeek, StockInformer, and NowInStock uses the same information, so don’t assume these tools know better.
In summary, you should always call before going anywhere . Or at least use the store pick-up function and wait for your confirmation . Don’t even leave the house until you double check. You probably already knew about this. I knew that too. Everyone “knows” this. But what I’m trying to say is that this is not some vague recommendation that you can refuse, thinking, “Well, maybe this time I’ll get lucky.” You literally invest all your precious time and energy in gambling – and the house usually wins. Do yourself a favor and just pick up the phone.
If you want a really hot item, you can probably trust the on-line seller to see if it’s on their mind. Why? Because you are probably the thousandth person who was called and asked that day. If you ask them to check again, they will probably take a look at their computer inventory and tell you what they already know. And if you ask them to “get verified in the background,” they’ll probably do what I did when I was working in retail: put you on hold, check their text messages for a minute or two, and then come back to tell you that they are actually sold out. But listen, at least you’ll save yourself some time and get rid of that awful urge to shame home.
Update (3/28/17, 1:40 PM): An anonymous Best Buy employee contacted me to explain how often their website updates in-store items. The information above has been modified to reflect this new information.