Don’t you hate it when you head out to get your favourite product only to be told it’s out of stock? I think I mentioned before that I’m not one of those people who’re eager to try new things. Once I find something that works for me, I stick to it and good luck trying to convince me to switch things up.
I therefore find it frustrating when I can’t find something I particularly like. I will go to every Shop and Supermarket and if I still can’t find it, I’m ready for a chat with the supplier! It would make sense if it were something edible because for instance, some crops are seasonal and so if you don’t find certain fruits or veggies at your local Supermarket, it’s most likely because it’s not harvest season yet or there was a severe drought, you know!
What baffles me is when non-food items disappear from shelves. Things like Deodorant, detergent, toothpaste and cosmetics. What’s the excuse really? Shouldn’t it be a simple demand-supply arrangement? Many of these products have been on the market for years and surely, the manufacturers know they’re highly sought so why hold out?
As a buyer, I don’t want to wait indefinitely. When suppliers and retailers "allow” certain things to go out of stock, they force buyers to settle for alternatives and I don’t know about you but many times, the substitutes are not as effective.
Why not stock up in advance, you may be asking. I actually do that whenever I can but still, you’re bound to run out at some point. Besides, some products are pricey and you may not always be in position to buy several at a time, not to mention expiry dates so those options aren’t always practical.
What is practical is for producers to track inventory and make sure clients aren’t left hanging. I’d understand if a company was closing or dealing with a major catastrophe but many times, that is even not the case and I know that because often, you’ll see a range of other products from the same manufacturer and yet your favourite product is missing.
I have written to some, nothing rude or disrespectful, just general enquiries like what happened and when they think the item will be available all in the hopes that something would be done but I usually don’t get any response and if I do, it’s ambiguous or non-committal like "Thank you for getting in touch. We will get back to you soon.” Of course they never do! I wish there was a way we could petition or even sue because it can be distressing.
I think it’s only fair that if a company launches a product and said product is a hit in whatever market, they owe it to the buyers to keep supply chains open, especially for regular products as earlier mentioned. Everybody knows it’s a different story when it comes to "bigger things” like cars, jets and such.