No window fans in 80 degree weather?

Oh, if I had a crystal ball to determine the weather! These types of
products (heaters, fans, a/cs) are ordered well in advance.In the
north, many, many folks are already buying up air conditioners
anticipating a very hot summer. Smart people! They think ahead. All
the best.

Doesn't make sense, does it? Christmas decorations are out by October,
swim suits by February, winter coats in August..but no fans yet.

At my store, fans are just arriving.

They are not to be put out on the floor until we sell through some
more of our winter heaters, ice melt and snow shovels and scrapers,
which we have a lot of owing to the unseasonably warm winter.

Maybe they didn't anticipate the mass purchases of so many fans due to
weather that they were all out. Just because it's a store doesn't
guarantee they're going to stock every single item you want, when you
want it. Get used to it. In transitional seasons as well, it's just
likely they hadn't gotten their shipment in yet for the season. As
someone who's worked retail, it never surprises me that customers
don't understand that sometimes, you just run out of something and
it's in transition to get back into the store soon. Sorry that the
time you picked was one of those times. There's a zillion stores out
there...pick one.

I agree they should be stocked up on fans. My Target store got rid of
winter coats here (Minnesota) in January to make room for swim suits.
They're now fully stocked on gardening/grilling/summer items, etc.

but what about in a few days when it's around 40/50 degree? What will
the store do will all those window fans that are now taking up space
on the store shelves?

"I can't understand how Walmart doesn't have any fans in the entire
store when it is 80 degrees outside."


Several reasons.

1) It's uncommonly warm, early. They cannot magically produce stock
just because the weather changes suddenly.

2) Other paying customers got to them before you did.



even with big stores... they do run out of things.

I know many people think because it's a store they have the ability to
just summon more instantly but... it really doesn't work that way.
You have to build the items first, then ship them. And even if they
did build more... there's no guarantee other paying customers won't
snatch them up before you get to the store.


Sometimes it's best to consider buying the heater in the summer and
the fan in the winter. Sure I know you're thinking "but I don't need
a fan in winter"... and the answer is "Exactly!" the stores will want
to get rid of them and other customers won't be buying them first.

NA

I'm sure you know we have been having unseasonably warm weather in the
northeast. I'm sure the buyers for Walmart did not anticipate a need
for window fans in March when it's more likely they would need those
space heaters and electric blankets.

Have you tried their website to see if you can order one "site to
store". I'm sure the main distribution centers are stocking some now
in the warmer parts of the country.

Inventory is ordered in advance. They had no way of knowing when they
were setting up the inventory for this time frame that there would be
this type of heat. Typical March weather still calls for heating
equipment is most areas. (I'm in the Northwest, and I still have
flannel sheets on the bed.) Stores can't have products for every
imaginable scenario stocked & ready at a moment's notice.

If you NEED a fan, you might try other retailers. Possibly hardware
stores/home improvement stores may have some year-round availability.

What did you do for cooling last summer?

And yes, it's too early for stores to routinely stock warm weather
products. I bet you didn't find end caps of coolers, sunscreen or
beach towels either.

Stores don't have the ability or room to have stock for every possible
weather anomaly. I can just imagine the letters if the temperatures
drop to normal and Walmart only has warm-weather products.

It's still too early for those things. Yes, it's unseasonably warm
weather, but it's still to early. Those things don't show up in stores
until at least April.

I could use an extra fan myself, but I'm making do with what I have
until they stock box fans.

If you really want a fan, try ordering online. I'm sure there are some
online merchants that have some for sale.

I really doubt someone was in the store going, man it hit 80 today
maybe we should get some fans early.

Its been in the 60's and 70's in mass (and a quite a few 40-50 nights)
so I dont think they are in a rush to bring in summer stuff.

I only know temps because Im originally from Mass and I still have
friends up there that I like to remind is nice and warm down here.