--- site_name: Toret.net site_description: WooCommerce plugins for European e-shops site_url: https://www.toret.net contact_email: info@toret.net title: How not to lose customers? Add a back-in-stock alert feature to your e-shop url: https://www.toret.net/how-not-to-lose-customers-add-a-back-in-stock-alert-feature-to-your-e-shop/ date: 2024-04-23 modified: 2026-02-11 type: post categories: [Blog, Marketingové tipy] tags: [conversion, e-shop, product] --- # How not to lose customers? Add a back-in-stock alert feature to your e-shop 23/04/2024 Customer acquisition costs time, money, and effort. When a hard-won customer finally arrives at your e-shop and finds that the product they want is out of stock, your entire investment can go up in smoke. Running out of stock is common, and sometimes the gap between selling out and restocking can’t be avoided. But to make sure your investment in customer acquisition doesn’t go to waste, one simple step can help – **add a “watchdog” (back-in-stock alert) to your e-shop.** In today’s article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the watchdog feature and how to add it to your e-shop. ## What is a “watchdog” (back-in-stock alert)? A watchdog feature is an e-shop function that **notifies customers when out-of-stock products are restocked**. It usually takes the form of a **simple form** directly on the product page, where the interested customer enters their email address. The e-shop then sends an email notification when the product is back in stock. ## Why use a watchdog feature in your e-shop? As mentioned in the introduction, customer acquisition isn’t free. If a customer wants an out-of-stock product, they’ll likely look elsewhere unless you take additional steps. You can change that by offering customers the option to use a watchdog feature. For a customer who isn’t in a hurry, it’s easier to **enter an email address and wait for a notification** than to search for the product in another e-shop. This way, the watchdog captures some customers who would otherwise leave without buying, and therefore **increases conversions.** This feature also contributes to **higher customer satisfaction**—because what’s better than receiving a personalized email about a product you care about? High satisfaction often means the customer returns. That way, you don’t pay for acquisition again. And that’s exactly what an e-shop needs. [![A watchdog feature on a website can look like a simple form next to an out-of-stock product.](https://www.toret.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/hlidaci-pes3.png "A watchdog feature on a website can look like a simple form next to an out-of-stock product.")](https://www.toret.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04 / hlidaci-pes3.png) A watchdog feature on a website can look like a simple form next to an out-of-stock product. ## How to add a watchdog feature to WooCommerce? Adding a watchdog (back-in-stock alert) feature to WooCommerce is very easy—you just need **the right plugin**. After installing and setting up the plugin, the whole feature runs automatically. One such plugin is [Toolkit](https://www.toret.net/produkt/toolkit/). For out-of-stock products, it displays a form for entering email addresses and, after restocking, **automatically sends notifications** to those emails. > TIP: The Toret Toolkit plugin adds much more than a watchdog feature to your e-shop. It’s a set of functions that help increase e-shop conversions while also meeting legal requirements. [Learn more about the Toolkit plugin >>](https://www.toret.net/produkt/toolkit/) ## Other ways to increase conversions Besides a watchdog feature, you can use other measures in WooCommerce to make sure customers don’t lose interest in your e-shop because a product is out of stock. The first option is **showing the delivery time.** If you display a lead time for an out-of-stock product, customers will be more willing to wait for restocking—especially if the wait isn’t too long. > TIP: You can elegantly handle delivery lead times using the same plugin as the watchdog feature—the Toolkit plugin. It lets you add lead times to each product and manage them in bulk or individually as needed. [Learn more about the Toolkit plugin >>](https://www.toret.net/produkt/toolkit/) Another option is thoughtful **upselling/cross-selling**. WooCommerce allows you to assign related products to each item and display them on its product page. That way, you can try offering customers a similar—or even better—product instead of the sold-out one and still lead them to complete the purchase. ## The watchdog feature: a simple step with a big impact Acquiring new customers in a highly competitive market is relatively demanding in terms of money, time, and effort. Every e-shop owner’s goal should therefore be to **maximize conversions from the customers they bring in**—otherwise, the investment goes to waste. Out-of-stock products are a problem that can be solved well with relatively simple and low-cost measures that can prevent losing customers. One of those measures is **implementing the watchdog feature** in your e-shop, which we introduced today. It helps capture customers interested in an out-of-stock product and gives you another chance to make the sale once the product is back in stock. **Do you already have your watchdog feature, or are you letting customers slip through your fingers? For more e-shop tips, subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss a thing.** [conversion](https://www.toret.net/tag/conversion/)[e-shop](https://www.toret.net/tag/e-shop/)[product](https://www.toret.net/tag/product/) ←[Inline payment gateway vs. redirect: Which is better for your e-shop?](https://www.toret.net/inline-payment-gateway-vs-redirect-which-is-better-for-your-e-shop/) [How to import reviews from comparison sites to your WooCommerce store (and why you should do it)](https://www.toret.net/verified-by-customers-customer-reviews-help-increase-sales-display-them-on-your-store-too/)→ ## More posts ### [QR code payment in an online store: A small detail that can significantly increase revenue](https://www.toret.net/qr-code-payment-in-an-online-store-a-small-detail-that-can-significantly-increase-revenue/) [09/02/2026](https://www.toret.net/qr-code-payment-in-an-online-store-a-small-detail-that-can-significantly-increase-revenue/) --- ### [How to quickly and easily add the ThePay payment gateway to a WooCommerce store?](https://www.toret.net/how-to-quickly-and-easily-add-the-thepay-payment-gateway-to-a-woocommerce-store/) [16/12/2025](https://www.toret.net/how-to-quickly-and-easily-add-the-thepay-payment-gateway-to-a-woocommerce-store/) --- ### [Simple change, big impact: Improve the checkout phone field and save yourself a lot of hassle](https://www.toret.net/guide-to-improve-the-phone-field/) [27/11/2025](https://www.toret.net/guide-to-improve-the-phone-field/) --- ### [How to add QR code payments to a WooCommerce store?](https://www.toret.net/how-to-add-qr-code-payments-to-a-woocommerce-store/) [19/06/2025](https://www.toret.net/how-to-add-qr-code-payments-to-a-woocommerce-store/) ---