WhatsApp Stock Checks and Back in Stock Alerts for the Exact Variant
Stock and back in stock on WhatsApp means a customer who asks “do you have this in M?” gets the live answer, and if it is sold out, gets a WhatsApp message the day that exact size and color is back. AeroChat checks stock in Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce, Wix or your Google Sheets store, offers the closest variant in stock, signs the customer up with their consent, and sends the alert as an approved template when your store restocks.
What happens today
A customer asks about a sold-out size. Someone says “we’ll let you know” and writes the number on a list, or forgets to.
When the stock arrives, nobody goes back through the chats to tell those customers. They have already bought from another store, and the restock sits on the shelf while the people who asked for it never hear about it.
How it runs on WhatsApp
- The customer asks about an item, a size or a color. AeroChat asks for the size or color if it is not clear.
- It checks live stock for that exact variant in your store.
- If it is in stock, it says so and sends the link, or creates the order and sends a payment link.
- If it is sold out, it offers the closest variant in stock, such as another color in the same size, and shares a restock date only if you have put one in your records.
- If the customer wants to wait, AeroChat asks whether you may message them on WhatsApp when it is back, and records the sign-up for that variant with their consent, in your restock list or your alerts app.
- When your store reports the variant back in stock, AeroChat sends your approved back in stock template to everyone on the list for that variant, with the product link.
- When a customer replies to the alert, AeroChat takes the order in the same chat.
The recipe
Copy this into AeroChat
When a customer asks whether something is in stock, follow these steps.
- Find the product and the exact variant. If they have not said the size or color, ask.
- If it is in stock, say so and send the product link. If they want to buy now, create the order and send a payment link.
- If it is sold out, offer the closest variant in stock. Give a restock date only if the Restock column in our Stock Sheet has one (example).
- If they want to wait, ask whether we may message them on WhatsApp when it is back. If they agree, add a row to the Restock Requests tab with the date, name, phone number, product, variant and “opted in”.
- When the stock for that variant goes above 0, send our approved template back_in_stock (example) to every opted-in customer on the list for that variant, and mark their row “alerted”.
- If they reply to the alert, help them order in the chat.
Never say an item is in stock without checking the count. Never promise to hold stock. Reply in the customer’s language.
Change the Sheet, the tab names and the template name to your own. If you use Klaviyo, Notify Me or STOQ for alerts, name that app in step 4.
Connect the systems behind it
- Klaviyo: creates the back in stock sign-up for the variant, for stores whose alerts go by email or SMS.
- Notify Me and STOQ: add the customer to the restock list in the alerts app you already use.
- Google Sheets: holds stock and the restock list for sellers who run their store from a Sheet. See stock and back in stock on Google Sheets.
- Square: live stock per location for shops that sell through Square.
- Shopify, WordPress and Wix. Built in. AeroChat reads live stock for each product variant and sees when it comes back.
Using a different system? If it has a public API, it connects to AeroChat the same way: describe what you want, paste in its key, and it runs.
Can’t find your tool? Message us in the chat on this page and we’ll tell you how it connects.
What it costs on WhatsApp
Stock questions come from customers, so they cost nothing to receive. AeroChat’s replies inside the 24-hour customer service window are service messages: free up to 1,000 a month per business phone number, then charged per message. The back in stock alert usually goes out days later, so it is an approved template, charged per delivered message at the rate for its category, and only to customers who agreed to receive it. Replies after the customer answers the alert are service messages again. Rates vary by country and are set in Meta’s rate cards. AeroChat passes Meta’s WhatsApp fees through at cost.
Also on Instagram, Messenger and web chat
The same stock check runs on Instagram, Facebook Messenger, TikTok Shop buyer chat, Telegram, web chat and email, from the same live count. On those channels, the restock alert goes by email or by WhatsApp to customers who opted in. See the stock and back in stock workflow across every channel.
Who uses it
- Fashion stores: sold-out sizes and colors, with an alert for the exact variant.
- Beauty stores: restock questions on favorite products.
For quick stock answers by location and trade quantities, see stock and availability questions on WhatsApp. Template wording: back in stock templates.
Questions
Can WhatsApp send back in stock alerts automatically?
Yes. AeroChat signs up the customer with their consent for the exact variant, and sends your approved template to the list when your store shows the variant back in stock.
Does the customer need to opt in?
Yes. A message your business starts needs the customer’s opt-in and an approved template. AeroChat asks in the chat and records the answer with the sign-up.
Can it alert for one size and color only?
Yes. The sign-up is for the variant the customer asked about, so a restock of another size does not trigger their alert.
What does a back in stock alert cost on WhatsApp?
Meta charges each delivered template at the rate for its category and the customer’s country. The customer’s reply is free, and replies after it are service messages, free up to 1,000 a month per business phone number.
Tell every waiting customer the day it’s back
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On Shopify? Install AeroChat from the Shopify App Store.
Related: product recommendations and opt-in and opt-out.