Stock limit

Your stock analysis shows your current stock limit and your expected stock limit for next month. You can find your stock analysis by going to the ‘Artikelen’ menu in your seller account and choosing ‘Lvb Voorraad Analyse’. A stock limit is the maximum number of items you can store in the bol fulfilment centers.

When you pre-announce items, take your stock limit into account. Sometimes it is not possible to deliver the desired number of items, as you need to take into account your allocated stock limit. In addition to the items already in stock at bol, items that have been pre-announced but are not yet on their way are taken into account for your stock limit. 

The stock limit is divided into categories. This means that in addition to stock limit on regular assortment, a stock limit can also be added for specific assortment. The different stock limits can be found in the pre-announcing screen in the seller dashboard. The type of assortment can be found in the ‘Category’ column and the breakdown on your total stock limit can be found below the information icon at the bottom.

Why is there a stock limit?

To make the best use of the storage space in our fulfilment centers and to make sure that our partners’ stock is as healthy as possible, we work with a stock limit. 

How is my stock limit determined? 

Each month, your new stock limit for the coming month is determined based on the health of your stock. In doing so, we look at: 

• Expected sales (sales history and growth adjustments) 
• Your current stock health 
• The assortment type 
• Available storage space in fulfilment centers
• This calculation method is the same for all partners selling through the Logistics via bol service

Your expected stock limit for the next month is updated weekly and is therefore an indication. Your final stock limit for the next month is only determined on the first working day of the new month. 

Stock health 

Your inventory health is determined based on the expected rate (number of days) at which items are sold. As an example, we find a selling rate of 28 days healthy. 

The duration of the stock limit

Your stock limit is fixed for one month. We communicate your new stock limit on the first working day of the new month and it applies for that month. 

Your seller dashboard will show your current stock limit and your expected stock limit for the next month. Please note: your expected stock limit for the next month is updated weekly and is therefore an indication. Your final stock limit for the next month is only determined on the first working day of the new month. 

Raising the stock limit

If your inventory ceiling has been raised, you have the option to pre-announce additional items in your seller dashboard. To do this, look carefully at your stock limit and current stock in your seller account. Only add stock you expect to sell within 4 weeks.

Lowering the stock limit

Your stock limit is fixed for one month. We communicate your new stock limit on the first business day of the new month, and it is valid for that month.

In your seller dashboard, your current inventory limit and your expected inventory limit for the next month will be shown. Please note: your expected inventory limit for the next month is updated weekly and is therefore an indication. Your final inventory limit for the next month is only determined on the first business day of the new month.

If your stock limit is lowered, there are 2 situations possible:

1. Your current stock is still below your stock limit, and you therefore have the opportunity to deposit more items with us. You can pre-announce additional items in your seller account. Look carefully at your stock limit and current stock in your seller account. Only place stock that you expect to sell within 4 weeks.
2. Your current stock is above your stock limit. You can no longer pre-announce items. Try to boost sales of your items by improving product information or lowering the price. You can also recall stock. To do this, take a close look at the inventory analysis dashboard in your seller account to see which items are not selling or not selling very well.

Pre-announce a shipment
When creating a new shipment, your inventory ceiling allows you to pre-announce a maximum number of pieces. As soon as you get close to your stock limit, it is displayed during shipment creation.

Calculation
The maximum number of pieces you can pre-report is calculated as follows:

Your stock limit minus the number of pieces in stock, minus the number of pieces already pre-announced and not yet received (reserved), is the maximum number of pieces you can pre-announce.

Determining current stock
The number of items in stock can be viewed in your seller account. As soon as a customer places an order, this is deducted from your current stock. Also when you place a return shipment to retrieve items, this is deducted from your current stock. Please note that it may take several hours for the status of your current stock to be updated in your sales account.

Please note that the number of items that have been pre-announced and not yet received will be reserved and deducted from the maximum number of items you can pre-register.

Example:
If you pre-registered one hundred pieces and accidentally send only ninety, we will reserve the remaining ten pieces for three business days after receiving the shipment. After that, the ten pieces that did not arrive will be released again. It is therefore important that the number of pieces of your pre-notification is equal to the number of pieces of your shipment. This way you maintain an overview of your current stock.

Returns
We expect a high number of returns during the holiday season, so unfortunately, we cannot always guarantee the standard of ten business days. We make every effort to process shipments as quickly as possible (maximum within twenty business days).

Restrictions on processing your shipment
As of now, it is no longer possible to schedule a shipment for the next day. A new shipment to the distribution center must be pre-notified at least two business days in advance.

It is also possible that we are temporarily unable to allow deliveries in the event of extreme pressure. Therefore, these days cannot be selected as an option when creating a new Logistics via bol.com shipment.

Peak rate on stock
During the months of October, November and December, there is a peak rate on stocks.