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Amazon Fresh Out of Stock: Here’s What You Need to Know

It can be frustrating when you’re looking for an item from a grocery delivery service like Amazon Fresh, and it is continuously out of stock. Sometimes it can be hard to know whether you should wait it out or find an alternative. However, if you know how Amazon Fresh restocking works, it will help you plan your grocery hauls.

If an item you need from Amazon Fresh is out of stock, you can set reminders for the item to ensure you will be notified when it comes back into stock. Most items are generally restocked within about 30 days. If you have already placed your order, you will be issued a refund for the out-of-stock item.

Amazon Fresh is among the most convenient services to utilize for those looking to order groceries straight to their doorstep. Although, just like any other store, items are not always fully stocked.

This article will review what you should do if your items are out of stock and how to set up notifications for restocks, so you don’t miss out on any of your favorite grocery items!

What Happens If You Order Something Out of Stock on Amazon?

Whenever you put an order through Amazon that is out of stock, the item will be canceled, which will automatically refund your money. If your order does not get refunded automatically, you can always reach out to Amazon support to inform them that the order was canceled.

The question on everyone’s mind when ordering an out-of-stock item on Amazon is how the charge goes through.

If the out-of-stock item you ordered is not refunded automatically, you can contact Amazon customer service for a refund. In this case, you will receive an issued refund from the support team for the item you did not get.

Since items being out of stock is a common problem that shoppers face, don’t be afraid to reach out to the Amazon support team.

If the item is generally restocked very quickly, you may just get the item in a separate delivery shortly after your first delivery is made.

This is the default for products that may just take a little bit longer while still being delivered within the standard amount of time for an Amazon product. In this case, simply expect minor delays and no refund.

If you are unable to find the item you need anywhere else, there are also ways to set up notifications for that specific item so that you will be informed when the item goes back into stock.

This way, you will be able to snag it before it potentially goes back out of stock, and you can get what you need as quickly as possible.

How Do I Get Notified About Item Restock on Amazon Fresh?

If you’re browsing on Amazon Fresh for your go-to grocery items and find something that says “Out of Stock” in red, where you would typically be able to find the “Add to Basket” button, here’s what you should do.

For items that allow alerts for restocks, you will find a button saying “Alert Me” to the right of the product details, where you see the “Out of Stock” print.

When you choose to be alerted, Amazon will set up an automatic email to send you when the item you’re looking for is restocked. This is the most efficient way to manage out-of-stock items as it takes away the need to check the status of the item constantly.

If you do not see the alert button on an out-of-stock item, this could mean two things:

  1. The item may not be restocked. In this case, it would not be a bad idea to find an alternative to the item if possible.
  2. It could also mean that the service simply is not offered on this item for some reason. Since this is not a service that shows up on every item, you can also contact Amazon support to inquire about the restock status of the product you’re looking for.

Does Amazon Fresh Show Out of Stock Items?

Since Amazon’s primary goal is customer satisfaction, they try not to put out-of-stock items front and center on search results. However, if you go to the product filter “Show Results For,” you can select “Include Out of Stock.” This will show you all items regardless of availability.

Another way to find availability for a specific item is to search for its exact name. For example, if you’re shopping on Amazon Fresh and search “yogurt,” Amazon will show you all the yogurt items currently in stock and available to be delivered to your home.

If you’re specifically looking for one individual brand and that brand happens to be out of stock, Amazon will not show it to you on the search result unless you refine it to show out-of-stock items as well.

The way to get around this is to search for the specific brand of yogurt you are after. This will usually bring that item up even if it is out of stock since it is the only item that fits your query.

If it does not show up in the search or after you include out-of-stock items, then you can be sure that Amazon does not carry that specific item at the moment and may never carry the item.

How Long Does It Take for Amazon to Restock?

An Amazon product may restock within days, but a third-party seller may be out of materials for weeks and, therefore, not be able to relist their product on the Amazon marketplace. Since Amazon has various third-party sellers, it can be hard to identify the exact pattern of restocks.

Alternatively, the same third-party seller may restock within days at a different time because of varying availability in backstock.

While this can make it difficult for shoppers, the notifications for restocks can alleviate some of that frustration. As an Amazon shopper, you should consider 30 days to be the longest most items take to restock.

Often it is much shorter than 30 days, but for the most part, it is no longer than 30 days. By following this timeline, you will have a better feel for when to check back on certain items that you may not set up alerts for.

Final Thoughts

It is not uncommon for items to be out of stock on Amazon Fresh. Since the number of items in stock varies so greatly by season and demand, it can be hard to gauge when to expect all of your necessary grocery items to be in stock. This is why the restocking notifications by item are so helpful.

Whenever you’re having a hard time finding the items you generally buy on your grocery trips, be sure to filter to include out-of-stock items to get a better feel for the variety of items Amazon Fresh carries.

If you purchase an item on your grocery list that was low on stock and ends up being out of stock by the time your order is being fulfilled, expect either a delay in your delivery or simply a refund for the item that could not be delivered.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Amazon grocery shopping, check out the related articles below.

Related Articles:

Amazon Fresh vs. Prime Now: What’s the Difference?

Do You Tip Amazon Fresh Delivery? (Yes, Here’s How Much)

Is It Safe to Order Food from Amazon? (Yes, Here’s Why)

Amazon Fresh vs. Whole Foods: What’s the Difference?

Do You Tip Amazon Whole Foods Delivery? (Yes, Here’s How Much)

About the Author

Eril Eti is the founder of Shopfood.com. He has over a decade of experience in consumer goods and launched many products sold at retailers like Walmart, Costco, Amazon, Target, Kroger, Publix, and more.

Eril loves food, traveling, and trying out new restaurants. Outside of work, you can find him on a hiking trail in New England or playing soccer with his kids.

By Eril Eti

November 9, 2022