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#1 11-17-2016 03:01:13
- sdn
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- From: UK
- Registered: 05-29-2007
- Posts: 882
Marking Items as Obsolete not Out of Stock
We have products that are obsolete but want to keep the product pages live as they can drive potential customers to alternative products. How can we mark these items as Obsolete rather than out of stock?
I see that the inventory field is VARCHAR(20) so can accept text like "obsolete" but how I can change the code in pricedisp.php to display the message. Is that the way to go or is there another solution already built into the cart that I am not aware of?
Last edited by sdn (11-18-2016 03:25:54)
Simon
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#2 11-17-2016 07:33:29
Re: Marking Items as Obsolete not Out of Stock
I'd probably set these up with a pricing type of 'Not For Sale', which will suppress pricing and add to cart functionality. The item will display, but not display as 'out of stock'. It will not show up in feeds. Everything else works as you think it would.
Nick Hendler
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#3 11-17-2016 08:21:51
- sdn
- Member
- From: UK
- Registered: 05-29-2007
- Posts: 882
Re: Marking Items as Obsolete not Out of Stock
I tried that option. It removes the pricing info (the Add to Cart button was not there anyway as inventory level is zero) but it does still display the Out of Stock message along with the Receive In Stock Notification link.
We have no other use for the Not for Sale option so I am using that but have also amended the code in pricedisp.php and prodshowextras.php by using ($proddisp['pricestatus'] == 'D') to display a different message and remove the link.
Our previous approach was to delete obsolete product pages and set up htaccess rewrites where appropriate. This new approach keeps the link live, informs visitors that the product is discontinued, directs them to alternatives where available and saves us bloating our htaccess file with lots of redirects. I can see some negative aspects to this approach so will keep an eye on the results.
Maybe a new option could be added to V9 under the Pricing Type dropdown menu like "Obsolete (Display Only)" that does the same thing.
Last edited by sdn (11-18-2016 03:23:52)
Simon
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#4 11-18-2016 07:32:39
Re: Marking Items as Obsolete not Out of Stock
V9 has a Display Only offer type which would be perfect, based on the Not For Sale pricing type in V8, but different. FYI, I think if you disable inventory on that item that OOS message would go away as well.
Nick Hendler
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#5 11-18-2016 08:15:34
- sdn
- Member
- From: UK
- Registered: 05-29-2007
- Posts: 882
Re: Marking Items as Obsolete not Out of Stock
OK thanks. Disabling inventory does stop the OOS link from appearing so I can remove the hack from prodshowextras.php but I will keep the other code so my new message appears as the product page is confusing without.
Last edited by sdn (11-18-2016 08:16:06)
Simon
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#8 11-30-2016 13:01:28
- sdn
- Member
- From: UK
- Registered: 05-29-2007
- Posts: 882
Re: Marking Items as Obsolete not Out of Stock
It is partly the SEO aspect, partly advising the product is obsolete and also pointing visitors to alternatives. It's more appropriate for the market we operate in than a 301.
Simon
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