ARE YOU STOCKING ME?

Attention shoppers: selling out just got less scary.

It's a familiar shopping downer:

You stalk a pair of shoes, a dress, or a coat.  You toss, you turn, you finally realize your closet won't be complete without it.  And then, as soon as you go online to click "Buy," you're greeted with a menacing sight:

Your shopping target is sold out, marked with a cold and cruel tagline:  "We're sorry, this item is no longer in stock." 

The shame!  The anger!  The loss!

But it seems some big stores know how you feel.  In recent weeks, a discrete but brilliant "Back in Stock" button has popped up on several of our favorite shopping websites, including Net-a-Porter, TopShop, Oak NYC, and La Garconne.

That means the Alex Wang boots you missed the first time, the $32 quilted fingerless gloves that seemed so Chanel, or the Rachel Comey husband coat that seems to go with everything are all still available for future fans.

Does this mean you'll be dropping more money?  Probably.  But at least you won't have those nightmares about the last pair of skinny jeans snatched off your chosen hanger.
--FARAN KRENTCIL



This story was published on November 24, 2009.