Does a low stock message on the product page lift sales?
The product page showed the flavor options with no note about stock. We tested an almost sold out message placed just above the flavor selector. Conversion rate was flat at -0.5% over 16 days, with no clear winner.
Not significant Responsive 16 days Not called
The hypothesis
By showing a low stock message before the flavor selector, we will add urgency and perceived value, resulting in a higher conversion rate.
Scarcity is a common push to buy now. When an item looks close to selling out, shoppers may see it as popular and act before it is gone.
We ran the message on 1 product type only, on both mobile and desktop.
What we changed
We added an almost sold out message above the flavor selector.
In the variation, a short inventory message appeared just before the flavor selector, set in a deep pink so it stood out from the rest of the page. The message ran only on 1 product type, on mobile and desktop. Everything else on the page stayed the same.
- Inventory message above the flavor selector
- Message set in deep pink to draw the eye
- Shown on 1 product type only
The result
Conversion rate was flat at -0.5% with a low stock message.
Across mobile and desktop, conversion rate changed -0.5% and revenue per visitor fell 4.5% over 16 days. Neither number reached our 90% confidence bar, so we paused the test without a winner.
What we would do next
A stock warning alone did not change buying on this page.
The message did not hurt conversion, but it did not help it either, and revenue per visitor trended down. Stock may not have been what held shoppers back on this page. A next test could place the urgency message next to the add to cart button instead of above the options.