> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.mathership.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Availability

> Set whether vendor products are available or not available for ordering

# Availability

Product availability lets vendors control whether a product can currently be ordered by customers.

Use this feature when a product is temporarily unavailable, out of stock, paused, or available again.

## What it means

Availability is a status on a vendor product.

It shows whether the product can currently be ordered.

| Status        | Meaning                                                  |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| Available     | Customers can normally see and order the product         |
| Not available | The product should not be treated as currently orderable |

## Who can update it?

This status can be updated by vendor users.

A vendor can only update products that belong to their own vendor company.

<Warning>
  Vendors cannot update products from another vendor company.
</Warning>

## When to use it

Use this setting when:

* A product is temporarily sold out
* A product is paused
* A product is no longer offered for the moment
* A seasonal product should be hidden or marked unavailable
* A product becomes available again

## How it works

Mathership checks that:

* The user is logged in
* The user is a vendor
* The vendor company exists
* The product exists
* The product belongs to the vendor company
* The submitted status value is valid

If the checks pass, Mathership updates the product.

## Supported values

The product status supports two values:

| Value          | Meaning                  |
| -------------- | ------------------------ |
| available      | Product is available     |
| not\_available | Product is not available |

If another value is submitted, Mathership rejects the update.

<Warning>
  The value must be either available or not\_available.
</Warning>

## Product access rules

Changes are protected by vendor ownership.

This means:

* Vendors can update their own products
* Vendors cannot update products from another vendor
* Customers cannot change this setting

## Example: Mark a product as not available

A vendor has a product that is temporarily sold out.

| Step | Action                             |
| ---- | ---------------------------------- |
| 1    | Open the vendor product list       |
| 2    | Find the product                   |
| 3    | Change the status to not available |
| 4    | Save the product                   |

The product is then marked as not currently available.

## Example: Make a product available again

A product was unavailable but is now back in stock.

| Step | Action                         |
| ---- | ------------------------------ |
| 1    | Open the product               |
| 2    | Change the status to available |
| 3    | Save the product               |

Customers can then treat the product as available again.

## Status and stock

Availability is separate from stock quantity.

| Field        | Purpose                                          |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------ |
| Availability | Shows whether the product is currently available |
| Stock        | Stores a numeric stock value if used             |

A product can have a stock value and still be marked as not available.

## Status and deleted products

Marking a product as unavailable is not the same as deleting it.

| Action             | Meaning                                                       |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Mark not available | Product remains in the catalog but is not currently available |
| Delete product     | Product is removed or hidden from normal product lists        |

Use not available for temporary pauses.

Use delete only when the product should no longer be used.

## Common problems

### Status cannot be updated

Check that:

* You are logged in as a vendor
* You opened the correct vendor company
* The product belongs to your vendor company
* The submitted value is valid

### Product is not found

Check that:

* The product still exists
* The product was not deleted
* You are using the correct vendor company

### Access is denied

Access is denied if the product belongs to another vendor company or the user is not a vendor.

### Invalid value

Only these values are valid:

* available
* not\_available

## Best practices

### Use not available for temporary issues

If a product is only temporarily unavailable, mark it as not available instead of deleting it.

### Keep product status updated

Update products when they are sold out, paused, seasonal, or back in stock.

### Review unavailable products regularly

Check unavailable products from time to time so products are not accidentally left inactive.

### Use clear product names

Clear product names make it easier to find the right product before changing its status.

## Related pages

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Adding Products" icon="plus" href="/en/vendors/products/add-products">
    Add a new product to your vendor catalog.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Edit Products" icon="pen-to-square" href="/en/vendors/products/edit-products">
    Update existing product information.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Delete Products" icon="trash" href="/en/vendors/products/delete-products">
    Remove products from your vendor catalog.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Product Images" icon="image" href="/en/vendors/products/product-images">
    Manage product images and automatic image lookup.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>