1. Home
  2. Marketing
  3. Product Eligibility & Maintenance
  4. Obsolete Product – Customer Notification Reference Guide

Obsolete Product – Customer Notification Reference Guide

When a product lifecycle status changes to obsolete (See product lifecycle status for further details) the below customer specific steps are required:

CUSTOMERSINSTRUCTIONS
123 StoresRemove item from the customer’s inventory feed.
AAFESNotify Customer Service rep (who will communicate the change to the buyer(s) and cc the Sales rep.
Amazon – Vendor CentralIn the Amazon Vendor Central portal, go to catalog, locate the item and mark it permanently unavailable.
Amazon – Seller CentralIn the Amazon Seller Central portal, go to the inventory, manage all inventory, search for the item using the global search field, update the inventory to 0 and select “close listing” from the drop-down menu.
Bed Bath & BeyondNotify responsible Salesperson and request they communicate the change to the appropriate buyer and/or rep group. Login to CommerceHub portal. Locate item, change quantity to 0 and discontinue.
DemcoNotify responsible Salesperson and request they communicate the change to the appropriate buyer and/or rep group.
ESP/ASI (Mercury Sports)Log into ESP/ASI portal. Select ESP ESP Updates, sorty items by item number, Ctrl+F to locate the correct item. Once selected, then click the button to “Make Inactive” and hit save.
EssendantNotify responsible Salesperson and request they communicate the change to the appropriate buyer and/or rep group.
FrontgateNotify responsible Salesperson and request they communicate the change to the appropriate buyer and/or rep group.
Global IndustrialUpdate pricing spreadsheet to “D” (instead of “A”) and upload in their portal.
GraingerUpdate pricing spreadsheet to “D” (instead of “A”) and upload in their portal.
HayneedleDiscontinue in portal.
Hobby LobbyNo additional steps required. Inventory feed notifies them.
Home Depot (stores)Notify responsible Salesperson and request they communicate the change to the appropriate buyer and/or rep group.
HomeDepot.comLogin to Commerce Hub. Locate item and change quantity to 0 and discontinue. Discontinuing in CHUB will discontinue in HD portal after a short period of time. Set calendar to check site after a few days to make sure item is discontinued in the portal ad online.
IVGRemove item from the customer’s inventory feed.
JoAnnsNo additional steps required. Inventory feed notifies them.
MarinesNotify Customer Service rep (who will communicate the change to the buyer(s) and cc the Sales rep.
MichaelsNo additional steps required. Inventory feed notifies them.
NEXCOM (Navy Exchange)Notify Customer Service rep (who will communicate the change to the buyer(s) and cc the Sales rep.
Office DepotNotify responsible Salesperson and request they communicate the change to the appropriate buyer and/or rep group.
Office Depot (ADVII)Notify ADVII team (Sales support or Salesperson) to communicate change to the buyer.
OJ CommerceRemove item from the customer’s inventory feed.
RadialRemove item from the customer’s inventory feed.
School SpecialtyNotify responsible Salesperson and request they communicate the change to the appropriate buyer and/or rep group.
SPRichardsNotify responsible Salesperson and request they communicate the change to the appropriate buyer and/or rep group.
StaplesUpdate item to “discontinued” in Staples Exchange. Create “Staples Disco” spreadsheet and email to assortmentupdates@staples.com and USQCSKUManagement@Staples.com.
Target.comNotify responsible Salesperson and request they communicate the change to the appropriate buyer and/or rep group.
Unbeatable SalesRemove item from the customer’s inventory feed.
VirVenturesRemove item from the customer’s inventory feed.
Walmart.com (DSV – Drop-ship)Log in to Retail Link. Go to the Supplier Center app, locate the item and submit an inventory of 0. Email Category specialist to let them know the item has been discontinued. Mark calendar to follow up in a few days to ensure item has been discontinued within Item 360 and by visiting walmart.com.
Walmart.com (Marketplace)Login into Retail Link. Go to Item 360 App. Go to Manage items, select item, then at the top, select Retire Items from dropdown menu. Mark calendar to follow up in a few days to ensure item has been discontinued within Item 360 and by visiting walmart.com.
WayfairDiscontinue in portal. You will need to make sure it actually is marked discontinued. Check back in a few days.
WB MasonNotify drops quarterly to the customer.
Craft Customers (general) Notify responsible Salesperson and request they communicate the change to the appropriate buyer and/or rep group.

***Please note that if an item is cross sold to a customer under a different division than the division the item falls under, the responsibility still falls to the Sales Ops Specialist for the item. The Sales Ops Specialist for the item should email the Salesperson and Sales Ops Specialist for the division the customer falls under to let them know that the item is now Obsolete so that they can then follow the steps to notify those customers***

Updated on May 8, 2024
Was this article helpful?

Related Articles