How to Avoid Going Out of Stock on Amazon (Even When You Launch Small)

Apr 11

One of the first rules every Amazon seller hears is:

“Never go out of stock.”

It’s great advice. But when you’re launching a small, self-funded product — testing demand, watching cash flow, and placing cautious first orders — it’s also really hard to follow.

In this post, I’m going to share how I went out of stock with my latest Amazon product (Breathing Exercise Cards for Kids), why it happened, and what I’ve learned about FBA inventory planning from the inside. Whether you’re just launching or scaling up, this is the stuff no one really talks about — but every seller eventually faces.

Why Amazon Stockouts Are So Dangerous

When your product goes out of stock on Amazon, it’s not just about missed sales.

You also risk:

Losing your organic keyword ranking
Getting hit with the "Currently Unavailable" badge that kills momentum
Losing visibility with Vine reviewers or returning buyers
Restarting your PPC campaigns from scratch once you're back in stock

The longer you're unavailable, the more it feels like you're starting over.

So yes — stockouts hurt. But avoiding them, especially on your first or second inventory order, is tricky.

My Real Story: A Business Order Wiped My Inventory Overnight

If you follow my weekly blog updates, you already know I launched a product recently:
→ Breathing Exercise Cards for Kids

Sales were building steadily, and I was managing inventory carefully.

Then, one morning… I got a 25-unit order from a business buyer.

Just like that, I was out of stock.

It felt great — validation that the product works — but also frustrating, because I knew this could cost me momentum. And here’s the real kicker: I always tell my clients, “never go out of stock.”

So why didn’t I follow my own advice?

Because you don’t know what you don’t know on a new launch.

Why New Sellers Underestimate Inventory Needs

When you're launching small:

You don’t want to tie up cash in unsold inventory
You don’t know what your daily sales velocity will be
You don’t know if you’ll get hit with Amazon compliance flags
You don’t want to risk slow sellers clogging up FBA storage limits

So what do you do?

You order 100–200 units — just enough to test.

But even with cautious scaling, there’s one thing to remember:

Unexpected orders will happen.
A business customer. A TikTok mention. A ranking jump on a niche keyword.

And if you’re not prepared, a great surprise can create a big problem.

What I Did Next (And What I’d Do Differently)

I had already placed a reorder before I sold out — a 100-unit batch that I quickly shipped off to FBA. After that, I placed an additional 250-unit reorder to prepare for the next wave.

So while I reacted fast, here’s what I should’ve done differently:

Placed the reorder a few days sooner
Built in buffer for unexpected orders
Paused ads earlier (I did this, but just in time)
Used a tracking tool for sales velocity (I’m now using a spreadsheet + Helium 10)

Amazon FBA Restocking Tips for New Sellers

If you’re just getting started, here’s how to avoid stockouts without overordering:

1. Watch your daily sales velocity early

Track your 7-day and 14-day rolling average daily sales. If you’re selling 3–4 units/day and only have 30 left, that’s your signal to reorder immediately.

2. Always have your reorder plan ready

Don’t wait until you’re low to think about your supplier. Pre-negotiate timelines and reprint options in advance.

3. Pause ads early if stock is tight

Ads can sell you out faster than you think. When you hit 15–20 units left, consider pausing campaigns until your reorder is close to check-in.

4. Use smaller, more frequent batches

It’s better to place 2–3 smaller reorders (even at slightly higher unit cost) than to overcommit early and get stuck with dead inventory.

5. Get your listing retail-ready for restock

This includes:

Building A+ Content
Optimizing your title for high-converting keywords
Collecting Vine reviews or user-generated content

So when you’re back in stock, you’re ready to convert.

What to Do If You Already Went Out of Stock

If you're reading this and your listing is already showing “Currently Unavailable”, here's how to minimize the damage:

Create a new shipping plan immediately
Even if the inventory is a week out, get it moving.
Keep monitoring keyword rankings
I use Helium 10’s Cerebro to track movement before, during, and after stockouts.
Resume ads slowly after check-in
Don’t blow your budget in the first 24 hours. Ramp back up over 3–5 days.
Let your audience know (if applicable)
If you're active on socials or email, tell people you're restocking and when to expect it.
Turn your lesson into leverage
You now have real insight. Share it — like I’m doing here — and let it shape how you scale.

Final Thoughts

Going out of stock isn’t a death sentence. But it is a learning opportunity — and a reminder that Amazon selling isn’t just about product ideas or good listings. It’s about logistics, timing, and momentum.

The key is to stay calm, stay data-driven, and keep moving.

If you're in your first few months and trying to figure it all out, just know — you're not the only one learning as you go. And that’s exactly why I’m documenting everything here.

📌 If you missed it, check out How I Launched My First Product on Amazon (Step by Step). It’s the full breakdown of how I got started — from idea to listing to first reviews.

More insights coming soon.

karlis vilmanis