So you heard about some amazing sale, raced over to the store to get it for your kid for Christmas, but are told the item is out of stock. Did you panic and waste your valuable time driving across town for nothing?
Whether it’s a regular-priced item that’s out of stock or a sale that sold out too quickly, the realization that you’ve missed out on a great opportunity can be super frustrating. Even online shopping can lead to disappointment when things are out of stock.
But there’s no need for this disappointment – you don’t have to leave the store empty-handed. We’ve got some solutions for you.
1. Out of stock? Ask for a rain cheque
Many stores offer something known as a rain cheque for this very purpose.
If an item is out of stock, they’ll fill out a specific slip of paper that entitles you to 1 or more of the item you came to purchase, and you can redeem this at a future date. The sale is usually over by the time they get more stock, so this rain cheque is essential to secure your deal.
Unfortunately, it’s uncommon for front line employees or cashiers to offer customers a rain cheque on their own. So make sure you make a point to ask for a rain cheque the next time you are faced with an out of stock situation.
Not all stores will give you a rain cheque either, but it can’t hurt to try.
It’s always important to read the fine print on almost any document, and a rain cheque is no exception. You should be looking for these details:
- Does it have an expiration date? If so, when is it?
- Do you need to call them to confirm stock, or will they call you as soon as it comes in?
- Is it only good for 1 item or can you get as many as you want, all at the sale price?
- If it’s a chain store, can the rain cheque be used at any location?
Another thing to note – whether the item is in stock or not, if you notice the advertised price doesn’t match what’s on the shelf sticker or how the item rings up at cash, make sure to enforce the Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP) rules.
You might go home without spending a dime!
2. Ask for a discount on an item similar to the one that’s out of stock
A great trick to try when a store is fresh out of stock is to ask them to substitute a similar product, preferably a higher-priced one. And insist that it be given to you at a discount, so it’s the same as the original sale item you wanted.
This can definitely be a hard sell at most places, but it isn’t unheard of.
And if you’re a decent negotiator you might walk away with something even better than what you were hoping for – at the exact same price!
3. Get the store to order the out of stock item for you
Depending on the type of item it is and the store you’re dealing with, you might be able to ask a staff member to order one in for you. It might just need to come from a nearby store, or possibly from a store in a different city, or from a warehouse somewhere.
If they can’t actually order it in, you can still ask them to check the stock in other stores. Or they can call other stores in the area and reserve the item for you if it’s available.
This usually works best with more expensive items, but the size or price of the item doesn’t really matter. Any good customer service department will call around to different stores for you until they’re able to find the item in question, no matter what it is.
4. If it’s out of stock, try price matching at a competing store
If the first store you visit is out of stock, many stores offer price matching. Best Buy, Canadian Tire, and Bed Bath and Beyond all have price match guarantees that you can take advantage of in a pinch.
Some price match policies have pretty hefty restrictions, so you might strike out here. For instance, some policies won’t match prices with any online-only offers.
So if you’re going to try this method, do your homework and be prepared.
It’s even possible that the store you’re visiting will want to avoid all the hassle of a detailed, specific price match policy and just give you the item for the price you requested.
5. Check online for the out of stock item
If the retail store doesn’t have the sale item you are looking for in stock, then you should definitely check their website. It’s very possible they’ll have the same item at the same price, and they’ll have stock.
If they do, you’ll hopefully be able to score free shipping so it doesn’t end up costing you more.
Even with free shipping, you’ll still have to wait a few days for your item to arrive. While this is better than striking out completely, it can still be inconvenient.
You can also use online stock as a way to validate a price match with a competing store if they complain that the store of origin doesn’t have any remaining stock.
6. Buy it early and avoid out of stock issues altogether
If there’s a prized item that you’ve been eyeing up, there’s another method for getting it at the best price possible.
Flyers usually come out a few days before the sale actually starts, even for big shopping days like Black Friday and Boxing Day. When you see that the thing you want is about to go on sale, go ahead and buy it early, at full price.
Then, once the item goes on sale, the stock is depleted, and other shoppers are out of luck, you can go back to the store and ask for a price adjustment.
Before doing this, though, check out the store’s policies on price adjustments like this. People overused this shopping tactic a few years back and so many stores instituted rules regarding the amount of time prior to a sale that they’ll offer a price adjustment for.
Staples used to be a favourite for shoppers trying to cash in on this method of scoring a deal. The office supply retailer used to have a 150% price match policy, so they lost big money if too many people tried to price match something that was much cheaper elsewhere.
Back then, store managers would actually get their employees to take all existing stock off the shelves until the competitor’s sale was over. This way they wouldn’t have to honour their price match policy and lose money in the process.
Unsurprisingly, Staples has since changed their price match policy.
And so, while this bargain-hunting method seems ideal, you should do your homework on your targeted retailer. Just in case.
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When a sale item is out of stock and you’ve tried absolutely everything else, your last resort is to simply wait. Most regular sales go in cycles, so if you wait long enough the same item will go on sale at a similar price.
So what do you think? Is a good deal worth this much work? Have you found a method for getting the item you want at the price you want, even when it’s out of stock?
Feel free to let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
FAQ
What do I do if an item is out of stock?
There are several methods for still getting the item you’re looking at, at the price you want. The easiest option is to ask for a rain cheque. Depending on the item, sale type, and specific Canadian store, the customer service department will allow you to come back when the item is back in stock and buy it at the advertised sale price.
If something is out of stock online, will it come back?
Usually, yes. It’s always best to ask a customer service representative when they expect the item to come back, so you’ll have an informed estimation. If you’re shopping online, the item listing might specify when stock is expected to resupply, but if not, you can send the retailer an interview or use their chat service to ask when it’s expected.
How can I buy out of stock items?
The best ways to buy an item that’s out of stock is to ask for a rain cheque, request a discount on a similar item, ask for it to be ordered in for you (possibly making your own online order), or explore price matching options. If you anticipate an item that’s on sale to go out of stock quickly, you could try buying it before the sale and requesting a price adjustment when the sale price is announced.
What is a rain cheque?
A rain cheque is an official slip of paper that a store employee can fill out for you, entitling you to purchase the out of stock item at the sale price once it’s back in stock. You may be limited to only 1, or possibly several of the same item at that price.
How can I politely ask for a rain cheque?
As retail employees don’t usually offer a rain cheque themselves, you’ll likely have to ask for one. The staff do get this request often, though, and won’t likely be surprised or upset. Simply ask if there is a rain cheque available for the missing product and whether you need to approach the customer service department to get one.
Does Shoppers Drug Mart do rain cheques?
Yes, Shoppers Drug Mart does issue rain cheques. You should expect the same process as with other retailers – employees may not offer a rain cheque, but you can easily request one. And don’t forget to use your PC Optimum card when you go back to cash in the rain cheque!
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