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Stock Alerts

Since 0.9.20.

Stock Alerts capture interested shoppers when you don't have what they want yet, then email them automatically when matching inventory arrives.

There are three parts:

  1. No-results capture - when a search returns nothing, show a friendly message and a sign-up form on the search results page.
  2. Back-in-stock notifications - when new inventory matches a saved request, DMS emails the shopper automatically.
  3. Standalone sign-up form - the [dms_stock_alert] element, placed on its own page, lets shoppers request alerts for categories you choose.

Setting Up No-Results Capture

The no-results message and its sign-up form are configured in your DMS settings - globally for all inventory, and optionally overridden per inventory type.

You control:

  • Heading & message - the text shown when a search finds nothing. You can use the placeholders {singular} and {plural}, which DMS replaces with your inventory's labels (e.g. "vehicle" / "vehicles"). Basic HTML is allowed in the message.
  • Style - Info, Warning, or Danger, which sets the colour of the message box.
  • Go Back button - clears the current filters. It only appears when the shopper has actually filtered results.
  • Call to Action button - an optional extra button linking anywhere you like (give it a label and a URL).
  • Image - an optional image shown above the message.

The "Notify Me" form

Turn on Show Notify Me Form to add a sign-up form to the no-results message. It captures the shopper's details and the search they ran, so DMS knows what to watch for.

Form options:

  • Intro text - shown above the fields (supports {singular} / {plural}).
  • Phone field - optionally include a phone number field.
  • Consent text - shown beside a required consent checkbox. Leave blank to hide the checkbox.
  • Success / error messages - shown after the shopper submits.
  • Notify staff at - email address(es) to alert whenever someone signs up (from this form or the standalone element). Separate multiple addresses with commas; leave blank to send no staff notification.

Per-type overrides let a specific inventory type use its own message and form instead of the global one - enable the override switch on that type's settings.

Back-in-Stock Notifications

Once a shopper has signed up, DMS watches for matching inventory. When a new or updated listing matches their saved search, the shopper is emailed automatically.

  • Matching compares the listing against the categories/terms the shopper searched for.
  • Confirmation email - shoppers can receive a "you're on the list" confirmation right after they sign up (subject and intro are configurable, with sensible defaults).
  • Match email - the automatic email sent when inventory arrives. Sender name/address default to your site, and the content is configurable.
  • Staff notifications go to the "Notify staff at" address whenever someone signs up.

Automatic notification can be turned off globally if you prefer to review matches yourself.

The Standalone Form - [dms_stock_alert]

Place [dms_stock_alert] on any page to give shoppers a dedicated sign-up form - useful for a "Notify me about new arrivals" page separate from search.

  • You choose which categories shoppers can request alerts for.
  • It reuses the same range and checkbox filters as your search page, so shoppers can be as specific as you allow.
  • Optional captcha - if you've set up captcha keys for your forms, you can require it here too, to cut down spam sign-ups.
  • Shoppers get the same confirmation email and enter the same back-in-stock engine as the no-results form.
[dms_stock_alert]

Tips

  • Signed-up shoppers become contacts/leads, so you can see and follow up with them alongside your other leads.
  • Keep the "Notify staff at" address current so your sales team hears about demand you can't yet fill.
  • Test the flow: run a search you know returns nothing, sign up, then add a matching listing and confirm the email arrives.