---
title: "Stock levels and messages"
description: "Set the safety buffer, when a store counts as low on stock, and the in stock, low stock, and out of stock messages customers see."
product: "Shoppy Find in Store"
section: "Stock"
url: https://help.shoppyconnect.com/find-in-store/stock/stock-levels-and-messages
markdown_url: https://help.shoppyconnect.com/find-in-store/stock/stock-levels-and-messages.md
last_updated: 2026-11-05
tags: ["stock", "safety buffer", "low stock", "out of stock", "stock messages", "settings"]
---

# Stock levels and messages

> Set the safety buffer, when a store counts as low on stock, and the in stock, low stock, and out of stock messages customers see.

The **Stock** tab in **Settings** controls when a store counts as in stock, out of stock, or low on stock, and what customers see for each. Change a setting, then click **Save** at the top right.

## Stock levels

![The Stock levels section, with Safety buffer and Low stock at, both set to 0, and the Count low stock by dropdown](https://help.shoppyconnect.com/_astro/01-stock-levels.C3ZbZDSJ_Z1Mblih.webp)

### Safety buffer

The number of items a store must have before it shows as **In stock**.

- A store shows **In stock** when it has more than the safety buffer.
- It shows **Out of stock** when it has the safety buffer or fewer.

For example, with a safety buffer of `2`, a store with 3 shows **In stock**, and a store with 2 shows **Out of stock**.

Use it to avoid sending customers to a store for the last one or two items, which may already be on hold or on display. Out of the box, it's `0`.

#### Set a different buffer for one product

To use a different buffer for a product, add a product metafield in Shopify:

1. In your Shopify admin, go to **Settings** › **Custom data** › **Products** and add a metafield definition with the namespace and key `custom.shoppy_collect_buffer`, and the type **Integer**.
2. Open the product and enter the buffer in the new field, for example `5`.
3. Click **Save**.

The product's buffer is used instead of the one in **Settings**.

### Low stock

Show an extra message, such as **Only a few left**, when a store is running low.

| Setting                | What it does                                                                                                                                                       |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Low stock at**       | The level at which the low stock message shows. The message shows when stock is below this number.                                                                 |
| **Count low stock by** | **This variant's quantity at the store**: each store's own stock. **Total quantity across all stores**: the product's stock across all your stores added together. |

The low stock message only shows when you've entered a **Low stock** message under **Stock messages**. Leave it empty to turn it off.

The low stock message shows in the store list with the **Anchor**, **Tab**, **Radio**, **Accordion**, and **Inline - Automatic Store Display** display types. At the moment, it doesn't show with **Stacked** or **Drawer Accordion**.

## Stock messages

![The Stock messages section, with empty In stock, Low stock, Out of stock, and Out of stock everywhere fields showing example text, and the Out of stock everywhere styling option](https://help.shoppyconnect.com/_astro/02-stock-messages.ym_ZG7Rm_Z1oypil.webp)

| Message                     | When customers see it                                                     | Example                      |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| **In stock**                | On a store that has more than your safety buffer.                         | `In stock`                   |
| **Low stock**               | On a store that's below your **Low stock at** level.                      | `Only a few left`            |
| **Out of stock**            | On a store that has your safety buffer or fewer.                          | `Out of stock`               |
| **Out of stock everywhere** | When no store is listed for the product, for example none nearby have it. | `Not available in any store` |

If you leave **In stock**, **Out of stock**, or **Out of stock everywhere** empty, the widget uses its own wording. The grey text in each field is only an example.

Click **"Out of stock everywhere" styling** to change the size, weight, and line height of that message.

To show these messages in other languages, use **Translate** in the app menu. See [Translations](https://help.shoppyconnect.com/find-in-store/shoppers-and-integrations/translations.md#wording-in-settings-and-in-translate).

## Stock banners

Set the colours of the **In stock** and **Out of stock** banners in **Stock banners**, at the bottom of this tab:

1. Click **In stock banner** or **Out of stock banner**.
2. Set its **Background Color**, **Font Color**, **Font Weight**, and **Border Radius**.
3. Click **Advanced styling** for the font size, spacing, border, and custom CSS.
4. Click **Save**.

Use this tab for banner colours. **Widget appearance** also has a **Stock banners** section, but at the moment its changes don't show on your online store.

## Related guides

- [How stock works](https://help.shoppyconnect.com/find-in-store/stock/how-stock-works.md)
- [Colours, fonts, and store cards](https://help.shoppyconnect.com/find-in-store/widget-settings-and-design/colours-fonts-and-store-cards.md)