(And Reduce No-Shows)
Did you know that up to 30% of in-store reservations go unclaimed? For retailers, this means lost sales, wasted inventory space, and frustrated staff.
Whether you’re holding a product for a VIP customer or offering layaway options, unclaimed reservations can be a big problem. But the good news? With the right reservation system and communication strategy, you can drastically reduce no-shows and keep sales moving.
Here’s how to make in-store reservations work for your business - without losing stock or sales.
Why Do Customers Fail to Pick Up Reserved Items?
Before we jump into solutions, let’s break down why reservations often go unclaimed:
- Customers forget about their reservations. Without a reminder, people simply move on.
- No urgency to pick up. If there’s no deposit or deadline, there’s no reason to hurry.
- Lack of follow-up. Some stores take reservations but fail to communicate pickup deadlines.
- Inventory gets lost or overbooked. A manual tracking system increases the risk of mistakes.
💡 The Solution?
A structured reservation and layaway system that includes automated reminders, deposits, and inventory syncing.
5 Best Practices for Managing In-Store Reservations Effectively
1️⃣ Use a Digital Reservation System (Not Sticky Notes & Spreadsheets)
Manually tracking reservations leads to errors and lost inventory. Instead, use Shopify POS with a dedicated layaway app to:
- Mark items as “reserved” in real-time.
- Track who reserved an item and when it’s due for pickup.
- Keep inventory accurate—no mix-ups or lost stock.
2️⃣ Require a Small Deposit to Increase Commitment
People value what they pay for. Even a small deposit ($5-$10) makes customers more likely to return.
- It discourages casual holds from non-serious buyers.
- It reduces no-shows by making the commitment “real.”
- It ensures inventory isn’t held indefinitely for someone who may never return.
💡 Pro Tip: If you don’t want to require upfront deposits, consider charging a small cancellation fee for no-shows.
3️⃣ Set Clear Expiry Dates & Pickup Deadlines
If a customer can hold an item forever, they have no reason to act. Instead, set a strict pickup window - for example, 3-7 days.
- Clearly communicate the deadline when taking the reservation.
- Send reminders (see next step) as the deadline approaches.
- Auto-cancel expired reservations and return stock to inventory.
4️⃣ Send Automated SMS & Email Reminders
🔔 The #1 reason people fail to pick up reservations? They simply forget.
The best way to fix this is to automate reminders:
📩 Instant confirmation → Sent when the reservation is placed.
📆 24-hour reminder → A friendly nudge before pickup.
🚨 Final notice → “Your item will be released tomorrow.”
💡 Why SMS?
Studies show SMS open rates are 98%, while email is only 20-30%. A quick text makes a huge difference!
5️⃣ Auto-Restock Unclaimed Items to Prevent Lost Sales
If a reservation expires, don’t let stock sit unused! Use an automated system to:
- Cancel unclaimed reservations and restock items automatically.
- Notify staff when an item is available for sale again.
- Re-market high-demand items to waiting customers.
💡 A good layaway system should free up stock instantly—without manual tracking.
How the Layaway POS App Makes This Easy
Managing reservations manually is frustrating. But the Layaway POS App does all of this inside Shopify POS:
✅ Automates reservations and assigns them to customers.
✅ Sends SMS & email notifications so customers never forget.
✅ Lets you set expiry dates & deposits for serious buyers.
✅ Auto-restocks unclaimed reservations to prevent lost sales.
Make In-Store Reservations Work for Your Business
Reducing no-shows isn’t about chasing customers, it’s about making the process seamless.
- Use a digital reservation system to track stock properly.
- Require a deposit to increase customer commitment.
- Set pickup deadlines & automate reminders for easy follow-up.
- Auto-cancel & restock expired reservations so you never lose sales.