Julian, The point I would make is that customers don't really care whether the item is in stock or not. They're interested in how quickly they can receive the product. So focus your messages around that part of the experience.
Tell them if a product has been discontinued and you can no longer supply it. Tell them if a product has been superseded and let them know what the replacement product will be. Otherwise, tell them how quickly you can deliver it, from today, if they order it now. Don't bother them with why it takes that long, unless they show an interest in the details (so make sure the details are handy). And if there are different delivery options that will get the product to them sooner (or take longer) - let them know that as well. Amazon does a good job of communicating this information to customers. They're not alone, though. Hope that helps. Steve 2009/5/19 Julian Mccrea <[email protected]> > Hey guys and gals, > > > > Has anyone seen any good examples of out of stock messages on e-commerce > sites? > > > > What I am looking for are examples which show a company to have: > > > > 1) The right tone i.e. honest, apologetic, encouraging etc > > 2) The right time to deliver the message in the userflow i.e. is it best > represented on the product page, as opposed to at the basket. > > > > Thanks in advance, > > Julian McCrea > User Experience Architect > > GT > The Griffin Building > 83 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1R 5AR > > > switchboard: +44 (0)20 7343 3700 > mobile: +44 (0)7965 458 585 > fax: +44 (0)20 7343 3701 > > We're recruiting! > Visit: http://www.wearegt.com <blocked::http://www.goodtechnology.com/> > > thinking human > > > > > > > <font face="arial" size="-1">The information contained within this email is > confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to > whom it is addressed. > If you are not the intended recipient any disclosure, copying, distribution > or other use of, or reliance upon, this information is strictly > prohibited. If you received this email in error, please notify the sender > by replying to this message and then delete it from your system. Thank you. > > Please advise immediately if you or your employer does not consent to email > for messages of this kind. Opinions, conclusions and other information > in this message that do not relate to the official business of the WPP > Group shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it. GT > and its employees conduct business in accordance with the WPP Code of > Business Conduct and Corporate Responsibility Policy; these can > be found on www.wpp.com. > > This email originated from GT London Ltd, company registration number > 2974377 (registered in the UK). > Registered Office: The Griffin Building, 83 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1R > 5AR. VAT No: GB 649885074 > > GT is a member of IPA and IAB.</font> > > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [email protected] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > -- Steve 'Doc' Baty | Principal | Meld Consulting | P: +61 417 061 292 | E: [email protected] | Twitter: docbaty | Skype: steve_baty | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stevebaty Director, IxDA - ixda.org Editor: Johnny Holland - johnnyholland.org Contributor: UXMatters - www.uxmatters.com UX Australia: 26-28 August, http://uxaustralia.com.au UX Book Club: http://uxbookclub.org/ - Read, discuss, connect. Blog: http://meld.com.au/blog ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
