Customers can identify products that they would like to
purchase but are currently out of stock. Once you place
the product in stock, you can run the Send Email routine
from the module admin interface. It sends an unlimited number
of notifications as one process, using MIVA Engine
functions to prevent timeout. Each waiting customer
will receive an email telling them that the product is
back in stock in your MIVA Merchant store.
Important Note. This module only works on inventory
by product code. If you have implemented inventory at the
attribute level, this module will not work for your store.
If you are using my Inventory Management (IM) module
(version 2.x or 3.x) or MIVA's Inventory Management
(version 4.x or 5.x), the wait list manager will automatically
insert the Wait List link on the product page when the
quantity is zero or less (version 2.x or 3.x) or out of
stock (version 4.x or 5.x configurable on a product by product
basis). If you have modified your IM (version 2.x or 3.x)
to allow ordering at less than zero to a specified lower
amount, you can modify the Wait List Manager to account
for that. In 4.x or 5.x, this is determined by the global default
or individual product's "out" setting. You can even block the
automatic link insertion by including the product code in
the blocking list through the admin interface. If you
are not using an Inventory Management module, you can
still use the Wait List Manager by manually inserting the
link into the product description of products you want to
"Wait List". In the case of "other" inventory management
systems, you can insert the link into the code that those
systems generate for out-of-stock messages.
When the customer clicks the Wait List link they are
taken to a form to verify/enter their email address. If
they are logged in, it inserts their email address for
them. If not, they just type it in. The form also lists
the number of other customers waiting for the item if
that number is 5 or above (just to the right of the
product name). This will give customers a sense
of urgency when they receive the in-stock notification. When
they add themselves to the list, you have the option (in admin)
of sending them a thank you (for their interest) email. If
you employ this option, it will also tell them their position
on the Wait List. When products are in short supply, that may
be something your customers would like to know. Also, if they
are already on the Wait List, and sign up again, it will not
duplicate their record, rather it will email them that they are
already on the list and what their current position is on the
list.
The admin configuration screen allows you to vary the name and/or image
associated with this program so you aren't locked into the
term "Wait List". You can also change the colors and fonts
in the form along with the verbage in the form and notification
email. You may even want to pass on a coupon code in the
notification email for customers who have been waiting for a
product.
When editing an individual product in admin, you can also
display all of the Wait List records associated with that
product. They can be deleted manually in this screen if you don't
plan to restock the item. There
is also a handy link for mailing them to verify their continued
interest in the item. For those not using the built-in Inventory Management,
this is also the screen that allows you to use Wait List to
notify customers when an item is re-stocked. The Inventory
Override works with either no online inventory system or inventory
systems from other 3rd party module providers. Naturally, it
also works with mine (version 2.x and 3.x) and MIVA's
(version 4.x and 5.x) inventory systems. You can even limit the
notification in this screen to just some of the waiting customers.
This is useful when you only receive a small number of the out-of-stock
item and there are many more waiting for it. Since the entries
are arranged in order, it is easy to give those on the waiting list
the longest, the first shot at the newly re-stocked item.
You can quickly get a summary of all of the items on "Wait
List" to provide you with a re-order, based on demand, tool.
When you Send Email, the module searches all products with
a stock level (if using mine or MIVA's Inventory Management systems) above
zero and checks the product code against the Wait List database.
Pending Wait List customers are notified of the re-stock of the
product and their Wait List record is then deleted.
This module works with both the MIVA Merchant and OpenUI
look and feel user interfaces. Minor editing is required if
you are not using the OpenUI.
To help the store owner identify needs quickly, an
optional CC email can be sent when an item is wait listed.
In the compiled version, you can use this module with
the standard MMUI, as mmui.mv edits are not required in
Merchant versions 4.14 and newer.
New in the compiled version is an alternate template form for
the customer to enter their name and email address. This template can
be HTML customized to suit your look and feel. If you are
not skilled at coding HTML, you can still use the default
(built in) form which is customized with colors, fonts,
etc with easy inputs in admin.
The 4.x compiled version of this module can use OpenTokens
instead of hook points within OpenObjects. The
OpenDesigner screen lists the OpenObjects which can
replace all or some screens within the OpenUI user
interface. The OpenObjects provide a template screen
which contains the existing hook points (backward
compatibility), OpenToken capability, and the ability to
move output around within the OpenObject screen. Since
the tokens in this module conform to OpenToken
functionality, they may be used in other template type
screens like those provided by Viking Coders. Place the
wait list button on the Merchant pages so that it
better fits your desired look.
Online overview
and initial setup instructions for our MIVA Merchant modules.
