Can I Advertise a product with no stock.....

[allsafetysolutions1]

Hi, hoping one of you boardies can help me. I want to upload some items that I have had manufactured (custom made tshirts for big men) on Ebay to get people interested, however, I won't receive the stock until Mid August. Is there a way to load them onto my store so people can see "what's coming" but not be able to buy as yet or is this a no no. Thanks in advance

[lyndal1838]

You can list items for Pre-order as long as you can supply them within a certain timeframe.....21 days I think.

It is most often used for DVDs etc which have a definite release date.

But as a buyer I would not be happy at clothing being listed that way.   If I am looking for clothing I want it available now.....not at some date in the future.

[allsafetysolutions1]

Yep - that sounds fair enough. I'll just wait until the stock arrives. Thanks

[digital*ghost]

If you've upgraded to the new store format, which include the ability to upload a decent sized banner on the store home page, I'm pretty sure you're allowed to use it to promote "coming soon" kind of items - there's no listing, and exposure is limited to those who visit your home page, but it might still get a bit of interest etc (you may want to double-check the policies on the banner, just to make sure it's kocher). 

[fixnwear]

lyndal1838,

But as a buyer I would not be happy at clothing being listed that way.   If I am looking for clothing I want it available now.....not at some date in the future.

Oh yes you would! If you wanted something bad enough, not only you'd wait, you would be required to pre pay in full - and you couldn't do it fast enough!

And that goes for any highly covetted items, handbags, shoes, dresses from runways - before they even hit the stores.

Handbags are the longest, wait time usually from 2 - 5 years!

So, OP,  there is nothing wrong with you wanting to show and sell items that are coming, as pre orders... after all it's not like no one has seen that concept before, many times.

Good luck with your new venture!

[allsafetysolutions1]

Thanks, but I don't really want people to pay for them before they receive them, but just a little advertising in advance. I did load one onto ebay as a trial and put the start date (as lyndal1838 states) 21 days ahead. When I went and had a look, it's looks like a normal sale, but when you hit buy it now, it gives a message (can't remember what is was) but I don't want potential customers going through all the regmeral of choosing the design etc.....thinking that they are going to receive it within a couple of days (because ebay still give an estimated delivery of a few days) then can't go any further.....I hope that makes sense. Might pee a few people off.

[lyndal1838]

---

@fixnwear wrote:

lyndal1838,

But as a buyer I would not be happy at clothing being listed that way.   If I am looking for clothing I want it available now.....not at some date in the future.

Oh yes you would! If you wanted something bad enough, not only you'd wait, you would be required to pre pay in full - and you couldn't do it fast enough!

And that goes for any highly covetted items, handbags, shoes, dresses from runways - before they even hit the stores.

Handbags are the longest, wait time usually from 2 - 5 years!

So, OP,  there is nothing wrong with you wanting to show and sell items that are coming, as pre orders... after all it's not like no one has seen that concept before, many times.

Good luck with your new venture!

---

Pardon me.....I would never buy clothing from a pre-order listing on ebay.

What you are talking about is designer clothing, bags and shoes and anyone who buys them from ebay is asking for trouble.  And they could never be listed with a waiting time of months.