How to stop a sale of an item on the POS if the inventory is zero?

[ToughRod]

We have been having an issue for a while this Square POS.  We add the inventory count to an item.  If that item sells out, the POS still allows sales of that item.  This has become an issue several times lately. Our inventory is in the cooler and if we have 2+ employees running and taking orders on a busy day (plus online sales), we over sell items and have to refund the sale or make other accommodations which take time and also anger the customer.  There needs to be a fix for this. Is there a work around other than making all the sales online (including employee taking the customer credit card and going to our square site and ordering it that way).

[mksavage]

How interesting, @Candlestore ! That must be a default setting for Square for Retail. We're just using the generic Square platform, and that warning doesn't pop-up -- just lets you sell sell sell, haha. At least we know a warning is possible -- hopefully that means they can continue improving & integrating that functionality in the future. Seems like it's needed with all the traffic this thread has gotten! Thanks for taking the time to send those screenshots -- super interesting to see how it works on your end!

[rickszat]

We are selling original art like some of the others that have commented. There is only qty. 1 for each item in the art categories. We also sell accessories (i.e. small picture stands) where there are multiple qty on hand. Just started this business and are selling at curated art shows/events with our first show over the weekend.

I want to chime in and ask for a setting for retailers that allows the system to block the transaction if you are overselling an item. We had inadvertently rung up Qty 2 for an art piece (only 1 avail.) while selling two items. The second item that wasn't rung up was a higher priced item. 

We are running the app on an iPad (looking forward to getting a Windows 11 app available).

Having been SVP of Engineering and Product Development in multiple software companies, I understand the process of defining product requirements and planning/executing enhancements. There are different requirements for different types of business (i.e. dining, retail, service, etc.). Maybe you can structure the product that turns on/off features/functions based on type (i.e. I don't need dining options) to provide a more targeted solution per business segment while maintaining a standardized code base.

[ESHM]

I agree! This needs to be implemented asap. It makes no sense to allow the Square POS to try and sell an item with stock of zero. This is a headache.

[Candlestore]

@ESHM ;

As I see this is your 1st post welcome to the sellers community.

As of 6-27-2023 I was getting a Popup saying my item is at 0 do I really want to sell it in person?  Now this was on Square for Retail.  I still have the popup to this day on again Square from Retail.  Which is where you are posting this that as of 35 min agao you are having this error where Square for Retail is allowing your Employee or you to sell a sold out item.  

See message 42 of 45 below as my response to mksavage.

[ESHM]

We get no popup messages when adding an out-of-stock item to checkout. I'd also like the option to hide them from the list so that we're not scrolling through bunches of older sold out items to get to those that in stock.

[Candlestore]

@ESHM ;

There might be a setting as I mentioned in the earlier article and also are you using Square POS or Square for Retail?

Also do you keep track of the quantity on hand in Square?  I still get the Popup for Items I make and might be below what Square shows in inventory, but I have 20 in the basement I forgot to add to inventory.  

Also as I stated 1 item shows the warning but another item did not show the warning.  So it seems it is a setting someplace in Square that we need to enable or disable.  I just have no idea where it is, but it can be accomplished.

[ESHM]

Thanks, I'll have to dig around in the settings and see if I can find that. I'm not sure what the difference is between the POS service and the Retail POS, as this system weas already in place when I stated managing this place.

[Candlestore]

@ESHM ;

Here is a Link to Square for Retail and what all is included :  https://squareup.com/us/en/point-of-sale/retail/pricing 

I can no longer find the Square pos vs Squre for Retail chart at Square help  article 5980 

When I click the link below it takes me to a Square Help forum.

Google Search of POS vs Retail 

Here was the title of the article comparing POS vs Retail(s)  : 5980-compare-square-for-retail-and-square-point-of-sale 

Maybe a moderator has some insight on where this went since it is now a broken link.

@MayaP , @_Violet 

[HoffmanFarms]

Im selling tickets for a pop-up farm to table event and have limited seating. I have one ticket yet and am terrified I will sell multiple more tickets that I don't have seats for. This is a crazy thing to not have available for a POS system.  To put. count on something and then still be able to over sell is wild.