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What has happened to the stock control in shops?

(48 Posts)
Elless Thu 04-Sept-25 16:48:06

I have just come back from shopping and visited M&S and Asda. M&S wasn't too bad but it was depressing in Asda because half the shelves were empty. This seems to be the norm these days. We called in B&Q the other day for some handles, if they'd been fully stocked we would have had quite a choice but there were hardly any, just the odd one left in a large space where there should have been loads. 😠

sodapop Sun 14-Sept-25 15:42:30

Definitely found this happens with on line shopping. Several sites are invariably out of stock when I come to order. Not just larger sizes either, my daughter has experienced this as well and she is a size 10.

Trisha99 Sun 14-Sept-25 15:25:04

Aveline

Lots of Christmas stock appearing in my local M&S sad

Mid September was always the time for M&S Christmas food to start coming into store.
I worked for them for @30 years from the early 80s, mainly on the food side of the business, and remember well making room in the stock room and on the shelves for Christmas cakes, biscuits and chocolates.
People would moan about it being too early, but the stock always sold!

Robin202 Sun 14-Sept-25 15:15:22

Completely agree with your observation. Shopping is quite frustrating these days as the choice just isn’t there. Empty shelves and out of stock. Its quite a miserable experience.
More and more will move to online now.
Thats why I use Amazon for so much now (although I wish I didnt have to). But at least I can find what Im
looking for and get next day ‘free’ delivery.

Aveline Sun 14-Sept-25 14:58:00

Lots of Christmas stock appearing in my local M&S sad

Allira Sun 14-Sept-25 14:38:08

nanna8

Hasn’t happened in Australia - yet. During Covid lockdown there were shortages but mainly because of stockpiling. We grow most of our own food so maybe that helps.

Yes but you only have to have a cyclone and the shelves in some areas are completely empty, because of the ways in which the big supermarkets operate.

There is one supermarket I know of which stocks locally grown products and when the roads and bridges were destroyed last year in the storms and floods, that supermarket was the only one with fresh food, as well as local small supermarkets run by farmers.

nanna8 Sun 14-Sept-25 14:22:52

Hasn’t happened in Australia - yet. During Covid lockdown there were shortages but mainly because of stockpiling. We grow most of our own food so maybe that helps.

valdavi Sun 14-Sept-25 13:16:07

Our Tescos is bad too. I go to the supermarket rather than local shops because you can get everything on your list in one place & save loads of time - but the last 2 or 3 years, that's often not the case because they're out of something & I need to go elsewhere. Our B&Q also is poorly stocked. Maybe it is Brexit, never used to be like this.

Granmarderby10 Sun 14-Sept-25 13:01:56

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Granmarderby10 Sun 14-Sept-25 13:00:06

I was in M&S to try some of their Japanese style milk buns to have with hot dog. I asked if they have jars or tins of hotdogs sausages 
after a thorough search the assistant said sorry we do usually but they’ll be “making way” for Christmas stocking.
Oh well Sainsburys gain!
Same a month ago I felt sure they’d sell Bruschetta? Nope. Must have gone out of fashion.

Mt61 Tue 09-Sept-25 09:06:59

Mt61

Body care shelves are almost empty- I asked if they were closing down. They said it was down to Trump & his tariffs.
Super drug, ram, jam full.

Found out body care shutting down. Big sign in the window

Beechnut Tue 09-Sept-25 09:01:44

Perhaps it’s all part of a new shopping initiative for us. First we had to start bringing our own bags, then self scanning. Before long they’ll have us restocking the shelves 😂

Shinamae Sun 07-Sept-25 16:30:31

My Tesco is exactly the same. It’s not one of the huge ones, but it’s quite a big store.
Stock will go missing for a few days and invariably when it comes back, the price is hiked AGAIN!!

OldFrill Sun 07-Sept-25 16:23:38

The local supermarket is not a very big Morrisons, they do have stock control problems. I noticed today that they have filled some of the previously empty shelves with Christmas goodies! - cakes, biscuits, etc. Also they've removed the marked down food from it's usual cabinet and thrown it in with the full priced cream cakes (rather disappointed they weren't marked down too rather than now sharing space with near OOD meat and fish, yuk).

SORES Sun 07-Sept-25 16:17:37

Mum1959 - constantly !

Mum1959 Sun 07-Sept-25 16:04:19

Ever feel there are things going on that we know nothing about?

Marmin Sat 06-Sept-25 15:47:57

I have been looking forca particular milk ( organic semi skimmed) in Waitrose for the last four days, without success. Today it was back on the shelf but all cartons had a reduced sticker on. A close inspection showed the best before date as 7 Sept. This suggests a transportation problem.

Celieanne86 Sat 06-Sept-25 15:42:19

My online Morrisons had three items out of stock today, 0nions, no replacement, Nectarines replacement, small oranges, and sourdough Loaf, replacement, Warburtons wholemeal.
As I’ve clicked on no replacements on any item I wonder if the shopper was either unable to read or just chucked anything in to make it look good.
It took me 10 minutes to sort out the two returns but
Onions, honestly, the size of the store â˜č
I can no longer go shopping so getting frustrated doesn’t help, but we are finding our local co op shop is no dearer now than the bigger names and my carer has taken out a local charity fob which gives a discount on everything bought and I’m saving actual cash so I’m quite happy 😊

GrannyGravy13 Sat 06-Sept-25 15:24:56

Another thought is that they are winding down the summer stock to get ready for Halloween and Christmas bits and bobs.

HelterSkelter1 Sat 06-Sept-25 15:18:47

Our Boots is poorly stocked. Our Superdrug is brilliant and the staff are so helpful.

HelterSkelter1 Sat 06-Sept-25 15:14:31

Noticing empty and poorly stocked shelves yesterday in waitrose I asked why this morning and was told that there will be a move around this week.
Oh dear a few days of searching and worried looking customers. Me included.

Mt61 Sat 06-Sept-25 15:03:28

Body care shelves are almost empty- I asked if they were closing down. They said it was down to Trump & his tariffs.
Super drug, ram, jam full.

Babs03 Sat 06-Sept-25 13:35:11

pably15

I've noticed shopping in supermarkets ( online ) there are quite a few items out of stock,,,and for several weeks,,,never used to be like this.

I tried for several weeks to order tiger bread buns from Asda bakery with my online shop, each time it doesn’t say out of stock but when I order it says unavailable.
Can’t seem to order much from the bakery it doesn’t show any variety and most are unavailable.
I now go to our local Lidl bakery instead.

pably15 Sat 06-Sept-25 12:52:24

I've noticed shopping in supermarkets ( online ) there are quite a few items out of stock,,,and for several weeks,,,never used to be like this.

Samsara1 Sat 06-Sept-25 12:49:37

Perhaps they have moved from 'just in case' to 'just in time'. Saves wastage.

Parsley3 Sat 06-Sept-25 12:28:53

I have experienced empty shelves in M&S food hall. We are not used to this in the UK so it probably seems odd when we come across it. It could indeed a be lack of staff to replenish the shelves. On the other hand, my Sainsbury usually has lots of staff on the floor stocking the shelves.