Phantom inventory
Meaning in sales & retail, with examples
In sales & retail, phantom inventory means: Stock recorded as available in a retail system that cannot actually be found for sale.
In Turkish: kayıtta olup bulunamayan stok
How it is used
Use when recorded availability is false; investigate the discrepancy before promising the item to a customer.
Example sentences
Phantom inventory kept the store from reordering a charger that was no longer on the shelf.
False availability can prevent replenishment even when the shelf is empty.
A physical count revealed phantom inventory after several damaged units went unrecorded.
Unrecorded stock changes can create a mismatch between records and reality.
Common collocations
- identify phantom inventory
- correct phantom inventory
Related terms
More terms: Merchandising & Stock
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