How to Handle Out-of-Stock Amazon Orders Without Hurting Your Metrics
Running out of stock is a nightmare for Amazon sellers. But what you do next can make or break your performance metrics. Cancel too fast, and your cancellation rate goes up. Wait too long, and customers complain. Ship the wrong product, and you risk negative reviews. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what to do when a product goes out of stock — and how to protect your Amazon account from penalties in the process.
Why Out-of-Stock Orders Are a Big Deal When you accept an order on Amazon, you're committing to fulfill it quickly and accurately. Failing to do so impacts your:
Pre-fulfillment cancellation rate
Late shipment rate
Customer satisfaction metrics
Amazon expects sellers to maintain high fulfillment standards — or face account warnings, Buy Box losses, or even suspension.
Your 3 Options When an Order Comes In and You’re Out of Stock
1. Cancel the Order Immediately
Amazon allows you to cancel unshipped orders
BUT doing it right away results in a pre-fulfillment cancellation penalty
Too many of these will harm your metrics long term
2. Ship an Incorrect Product (Not Recommended)
Some sellers try to ship a similar or placeholder item
This avoids the cancellation metric, but:
Costs you double in shipping
Risks return requests and negative reviews
May lead to A-to-Z Guarantee claims
3. Cancel on Day 8 (Strategic Delay)
Amazon allows you to cancel up to 7 days after order placement
If you cancel on the 8th day, it does NOT count against your metrics
Use this option only if restocking isn't possible in time
Pro Tip: If you think restock is possible within 7 days, hold the order. Cancel only on day 8 if stock doesn’t arrive.
How to Minimize Out-of-Stock Issues
Use Inventory Management Tools to avoid overselling
Set realistic lead times and update availability daily
Work with a reliable 3PL like Hardway Enterprises for real-time warehouse tracking
Keep safety stock for best-selling items
How Hardway Enterprises Helps Prevent Stockouts
At Hardway Enterprises, we don’t just ship — we track. Our clients benefit from:
Real-time inventory monitoring
Low-stock alerts and automatic reorder flags
Fulfillment planning based on sales trends
You focus on growth — we’ll keep your shelves full.
Final Thoughts Out-of-stock situations are inevitable at some point. What matters is how you respond. By delaying cancellation strategically and working with a proactive fulfillment partner, you can protect your Amazon metrics and keep customers happy.
Worried about stockouts hurting your seller account? Talk to Hardway Enterprises about smarter fulfillment solutions.
