Test a restock alert
This test follows one shopper from a sold-out variant to a delivered restock email. Use a product and address you control, and record the variant so you restock exactly what you subscribed to.
Prepare the test
- Vensa Wishlist Widget is saved as enabled on the theme you will test.
- Display → Shopper wishlist has Show “Notify me when back” on out-of-stock variants enabled.
- Alerts has Send back-in-stock alerts enabled. Choose Immediately for this first run and save.
- Email branding has been saved and a template test reaches your inbox.
Subscribe to a sold-out variant
- 1
Make the exact variant unavailable
In Shopify's product inventory controls, use a tracked variant and set its sellable quantity to zero. Open the storefront product and select that variant. For example, use Navy / Medium, not simply the product called Classic Tee.
Confirm the storefront actually treats Navy / Medium as sold out. A product that remains purchasable because of its inventory policy is not a reliable sold-out test.
- 2
Request the notification
Click Notify me when back. Enter an email you can access when prompted and submit. Wait for the on-screen confirmation before changing inventory.
If double opt-in is enabled, open the confirmation email and follow its link first. A saved wishlist item without a completed notification request is not the same test.
- 3
Verify what is waiting
Open Wishlist Items → Products and search for the product. Check the variant title and waiting count. Keep the product URL and exact option values for the next step.
Restock and inspect the result
- 1
Increase the same variant's quantity
Change Navy / Medium from zero to a positive sellable quantity, for example 5. Refresh the storefront and confirm that variant is available. Changing Navy / Small does not test the Medium subscriber.
- 2
Allow the event to be processed
Immediate delivery still needs Shopify's inventory update, the app's processing and the email provider. Allow a few minutes rather than toggling the stock repeatedly. With Batch hourly selected, wait for the hourly run instead.
- 3
Open Alert log
In Alerts, scroll to Alert log. Filter by Back in stock and inspect the product, variant, time, recipients and status. A failed row needs a delivery check; no row suggests the subscription or qualifying event needs investigation.
- 4
Inspect the inbox and link
Open the email, check the product and variant text, then follow the main button. Verify the destination and selected variant. Check spam if the log reports a successful send but the message is missing.
Understand a second test
A successful subscriber is no longer waiting
After a successful restock notification, the subscription moves out of waiting. Changing stock again immediately does not promise another message. Daily limits, per-variant repeat limits and a short stock-change debounce can also suppress repeated tests.
For a second independent run, use another test variant or a fresh subscriber. Change one condition at a time so you can identify whether the problem is subscription, inventory matching or delivery.
If the test stops at a step
| Result | Check next |
|---|---|
| No Notify me button | The selected variant is truly unavailable, the Display switch is on and the page uses the enabled theme. |
| No confirmation email | Double opt-in setting, supplied address, spam and Email delivery. |
| No alert entry after restock | Exact variant, waiting subscription, alert switch and sellable stock. |
| Failed entry | SMTP or built-in sender; fix delivery before using Retry. |
| Email arrives but looks different | Save branding before testing and select the intended template. |
Need help?
Open the chat bubble in the Shopify app, or contact us with your store address and what you are stuck on.