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Original poster

Is it me or does John Lewis have a lot of out of stock items online?

47 replies

Hairbrush123 · 05/02/2021 22:38

I try to buy whatever I can from John Lewis and I’m beginning to notice their weakness online is the availability of stock. I have wanted to buy several items from JL and decided to go elsewhere as they didn’t have any.

Does anyone else have this problem with John Lewis or am I just unlucky?

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 05/02/2021 22:40

I've absolutely noticed this too and it was the same in the shops when they were open before Christmas. I think I read somewhere that they were prioritising keeping a smaller number of items constantly in stock rather than the full range.

Nospringchickendipper · 05/02/2021 22:42

I noticed this but I was only looking at sets of saucepans.They were all out of stock.

HalfBrick · 05/02/2021 22:44

Yes, bought an item in the sale, never came, had a refund.

Ginfordinner · 05/02/2021 22:46

The reason is Brexit. We import products from all over the EU, and the rest of the world where I work. Brexit has caused massive stock issues because lorries are stuck in customs. It is affecting our service levels now.

Tuscadero · 05/02/2021 22:46

I always click the button that says 'do not display out of stock items' as otherwise I find the online John Lewis shopping experience too irritating.

Original poster
Hairbrush123 · 05/02/2021 22:46

mynameiscalypso - that’s something to bear in mind. Hopefully they’ll get back to good levels of stock once things start going back to normal!

Nospringchickendipper - I tried buying a fridge, trivet and underwear and they were all out of stock of what I wanted Confused very disappointing and hope it improves soon

OP posts:
Tuscadero · 05/02/2021 22:47

But that's always been my experience, and unrelated as to whether they're having Brexit related import issues which I assume they are.

StarryStrawberry · 05/02/2021 22:48

Yes I agree although like pp says- there's a button at the top saying 'show in stock items only'

Saves a lot of upset!

domesticslattern · 05/02/2021 22:49

I noticed this. Really big gaps in their stock. It's not just S&B but across homeware, electricals etc
It was obvious stuff like cashmere gloves, waffle maker, bread bin, leggings...stuff you would turn to JL for first. I wondered if it was Brexit.

PersonaNonGarter · 05/02/2021 22:57

@Ginfordinner it isn’t Brexit - it is happening everywhere

The problem is a global one. There is a huge massive snarl up of shipping containers due to chaos after the first lockdown eased when the value and volume of demand went through the roof. At the same time ports were running slower and unable to get goods away once they arrived at the dock. Plus there were fewer empty containers at ports in China that could be filled. So, problem.

I know people are desperate for it to be Brexit, and I am sure that doesn’t help, but there is no Brexit problem stopping goods being unloaded in the UK (for now - there may be in future).

Ifonlyiweretaller · 05/02/2021 23:41

@Tuscadero I agree re having to click the 'only show in stock items' button - but why on earth is that not the default Position ? Why would anyone shopping online want to see the out of stock items anyway! It makes me cross whenever I go on their site 😉

Tuscadero · 05/02/2021 23:44

[quote Ifonlyiweretaller]@Tuscadero I agree re having to click the 'only show in stock items' button - but why on earth is that not the default Position ? Why would anyone shopping online want to see the out of stock items anyway! It makes me cross whenever I go on their site 😉[/quote]
I know! They may as well have a little pop up saying 'ha ha, too late! you missed it!'.

Rude Grin

Rainbows2021 · 06/02/2021 06:06

JL is shit for this - if it helps there is an option in the left at the top of the filters to get rid of the OOS stuff.

mynameiscalypso · 06/02/2021 07:34

[quote Ifonlyiweretaller]@Tuscadero I agree re having to click the 'only show in stock items' button - but why on earth is that not the default Position ? Why would anyone shopping online want to see the out of stock items anyway! It makes me cross whenever I go on their site 😉[/quote]
This! Ocado do it too and it drives me bonkers

bellagogosdead · 06/02/2021 07:44

M&S too and they don't even have the hide out of stock button.

lookdeepintotheparka · 06/02/2021 08:29

I try to buy JL too but online stock levels have been low since the start of the pandemic. Sooo frustrating when some of these items are probably sitting on an empty shop floor!

Occasionally if you keep things in your wish list there's the odd thing that comes back in stock if there's a return.

I imagine Brexit has compounded things but it was certainly an issue for JL (and others) before that.

Summerhillsquare · 06/02/2021 08:46

I've had this with everywhere Ive tried to shop, now that I can't go in actual shops: Uniqlo, Baukjen, White Company, JL. Out of stock before or even AFTER you order.

Chasingsquirrels · 06/02/2021 08:50

I've seen some dining chairs on JL that would be prefect, they've been out of stock for a long time now and yesterday I had an automated email telling me that the items I'd asked for an update on weren't back in stock yet. Thanks for that, I don't want to know when they aren't, only when/if they are!

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/02/2021 09:39

If you use live chat they’ll tell you the date something’s coming back into stock.

I’m waiting for an item I could buy at Argos but I prefer JL. I can wait.

I still haven’t forgiven them for shutting the Tamworth branch though.

TheresOnlyOneJackieWeaver · 06/02/2021 09:44

I find this too. But I don’t think it’s just Brexit I’ve noticed lot’s of out of stock items for years.

Ilovemaisie · 06/02/2021 10:08

I know someone who works for the warehouse that supplies many online and high street retailers. They were tracking a ship from China that contained stock. It randomly went to a port in Morocco due to a combo of weather issues and various European ports being closed or full. Their shipping containers are apparently stuck there until they can be loaded into another ship.

Juliancoped · 06/02/2021 10:13

Ordered something in the sale and got an email a week later to say it was out of stock. There were 8 in stock when I ordered. Had to wait for refund to be processed. Pain. Don't order from them anymore really. You can find same items cheaper most of the time.

Juliancoped · 06/02/2021 10:16

I dont get the loyalty in waiting for JL to have the item when you can get elsewhere.

Chasingsquirrels · 06/02/2021 10:24

I wouldn't wait if I could get it elsewhere, and also I want to see it in person, so wouldn't be buying till then anyway.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 06/02/2021 10:32

If you want a fridge OP, I really recommend A0. They had stock when I ordered a new fridge and freezer last week and delivered the next day.
Keep trying with JL - I had my eye on a bag that was oos and they were supposed to notify me when it was back in but they didn't. I just kept checking myself and eventually got one.
It's the same with Next online too. I really miss actual shops. I'm still managing to spend loads of money but there's no fun in it right now.

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