Ways to find hidden inventory on Anthropologie’s site

As we all know (and HATE), Anthropologie has recently started redirecting sold out product pages back to their homepage. I have no clue why they’re doing this and quite frankly it’s beyond annoying. Lots of times these items get inventory restocks due to returns, etc., yet the page continues to redirect.

But this post isn’t about my annoyance. We’ve got some crafty community members and they’ve found one way around the redirects. I’ve got another. Let’s share our tips & tricks shall we? Update 1:45 PM – Kim and I must be on the same wavelength (great minds think alike and all that). She’s posted her own tips today as well.

The first trick comes through an Anonymous comment yesterday as well as a couple of reader emails (thank you!). Flipping through the old catalogs online it was discovered that products that still have stock will show available sizes in the catalog popups (as shown for the Lolland Sweater Dress on page 3 of the October 2009 catalogue above).

Here are links to a few recent catalogues (which themselves become hidden on the site after three months, oy):
December 2009
November 2009

October 2009
September 2009
Additional catalog links are in the right sidebar of Natalie’s Anthropologie Addict blog.

The second trick to seeing hidden inventory is to add items to your wishlist while they’re available. These days I add an item even if I’m just remotely interested in it. That way once it’s “sold out” on the site I can still track the item’s inventory in my wishlist. This isn’t failsafe unfortunately. The wishlist has been broken since the redirects were put into place, so some items on my list still show up as having stock even though they’re long gone.


A last failsafe is to keep items in your cart or saved for later. This is particularly effective with sale items. Items saved for later won’t stop you from placing an order quickly but they will clearly show when an item is out of stock vs. in-stock. This is super helpful for sale items that sell out only to have inventory come back due to returns. Unfortunately the more items you have saved for later the longer the rich cart takes to load so it’s a tradeoff. I wouldn’t recommend doing this for more than a couple of items.

Hopefully this helps you out if you’re relentlessly stalking an item (we’ve all been there, right?). Of course a better solution would be for Anthropologie to drop these J.Crewesque website shenanigans but that seems unlikely. Do you have any other tricks to share with the community?

50 Comments

  1. January 6, 2010 / 5:01 pm

    Thanks Roxy! I went right to the Oct09 catalog and (hopefully) got the Always A Lady skirt- at least if it's too big I can return it! Also, I found the flocked chiffon blouse in a couple sizes, if anyone's looking!

  2. January 6, 2010 / 5:04 pm

    Molly Darling that's awesome! I know you've been looking for that skirt for a little bit now. I hope the order goes through and that the fit is right. 🙂

  3. January 6, 2010 / 5:30 pm

    These are great tips. I'd like to add one caveat: sometimes the item you really, really want is not featured in a catalog, which is a bummer for one the first tip.

  4. January 6, 2010 / 5:44 pm

    Also, if you previously purchased an item, you can access the product page through your orders screen- for instance, there's at least one grand holiday dress in a medium in stock for $60.

  5. January 6, 2010 / 6:14 pm

    Another trick: If your size is already sold out, you can always add a different size on to your wishlist so you can check the drop box for any popbacks. That's how the Frilled Heels became mine.

  6. Stacy O
    January 6, 2010 / 6:17 pm

    This is how I scored the Morning Leaves cardigan 3 weeks ago. I was checking out old catalogs online and found the cardi available in my size when I clicked on the item and bought it! It arrived in beautiful condition :)I had also discovered that if I kept the item on my wish list and it goes out of stock, that it may come back. I was also successful getting a couple things this way. I also did notice that if the item sold out before it went to sale, it will come back at the original price – not at a sale price. :(I guess the folks at Anthro don't want to create a flurry of customer service requests by posting them back to the main page, because they would surely sell out quickly. Therefore they figure crafty Anthro-fanatics like us will figure this out and clean out their returned stock!

  7. Anonymous
    January 6, 2010 / 6:24 pm

    good tips, and they do work! i had the winding ruffles boots on my wishlist for the longest and they sold out. but b/c i left them there, they must have been returned and were back in stock. yay! i used to only put serious wants on my wishlist (for my husband's reference), but now i put anything i slightly like and think might go on sale. now i'm going to go browse some catalogs … 🙂

  8. January 6, 2010 / 6:28 pm

    I've been using the catalog link trick for a while (that's how I got my hands on Lill's Hailstones Shirtdress in mid-July, in spite of the fact that it was featured in the January catalog!). One caveat: The orders that I have made using this technique are much more likely to be canceled than other Anthro orders (I've had somewhere around a 33% success rate). I think that sometimes there is a glitch in their inventory and an item is showing up even if it doesn't exist. Also, since these items are usually the last of their kind, there's a decent chance that they'll be out of stock if someone orders the item around the same time that you do.

  9. Anonymous
    January 6, 2010 / 6:35 pm

    Wow Roxy, thanks for sharing those great tips!! Other bloggers have refused to share but you are the best! 🙂

  10. January 6, 2010 / 6:35 pm

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  11. January 6, 2010 / 6:39 pm

    I think I posted my blog today at the same time, because I hadn't seen you posted this, and I posted my trick, which is a little different. I use google 🙂 I will link your post on my blog and feel free to link my post w/my trick 🙂 Thanks for sharing roxy!

  12. January 6, 2010 / 6:41 pm

    I commented but deleted it because I realized I hadn't read the tip on here and couldn't figure out where I read it, but I just saw Kim's comment and that's where I got the idea to Google it. Anyways, I just bought the Rare Bloom tee using that method and am hoping that it doesn't get cancelled!

  13. Anonymous
    January 6, 2010 / 7:21 pm

    fyi, I know I've seen some of the more recent 'sold-out' stuff floating around in stores like the flocked chiffon blouses and rare-bloom tees so I recommend first trying CS & charge-sending for the free shipping! Bring back free shipping Anthro!

  14. January 6, 2010 / 7:25 pm

    Totally second this Anon. Soho for example still has a few Soft Drape Blouses and dresses that have been gone from the site for weeks. Anthropologie is working to update its inventory system, and I really hope a store inventory search is among the new features.

  15. January 6, 2010 / 7:27 pm

    Called CS and it looks like my order will go through… fingers crossed the warehouses chooses USPS over UPS to ship- I'd have it in time for my husband's homecoming!

  16. January 6, 2010 / 7:31 pm

    I know I'm being a total PW today, but I forgot something- CS said you can request a certain method of shipping (ie USPS, UPS, FedEx) for standard shipping if you call in to place your order. Wish I had known that!

  17. Anonymous
    January 6, 2010 / 7:38 pm

    The twilit skirt escaped me today… In size 10. Had it for but 30 sec. If anyone sees it or a sz 12, please do tell. CS says sold out, but Im giving it a go. thanks, Marge_6(at)hotmail

  18. January 6, 2010 / 7:45 pm

    I scored a dress that was on super sale by keeping in on my wish list even though it was out of stock.I happened to log in one day and it said "in stock" at the sale price. I clicked add to bag…and made it mine!

  19. Anonymous
    January 6, 2010 / 7:55 pm

    i scored 2 TWO corby shifts today for 19.95! Not sure which size I will need.

  20. Anonymous
    January 6, 2010 / 7:58 pm

    also got 2 of the felice cardigans this morning for 9.95! Again, because I wasnt sure about the size.

  21. January 6, 2010 / 8:01 pm

    Anon, my jaw just dropped. That's an awesome deal for both items. I was able to order my holy grail Tawny Lawns bag through a reader tip over the weekend, but it's been stuck in processing ever since so I have no idea if it will ship or get cancelled. Hoping for the former.

  22. January 6, 2010 / 8:45 pm

    Marge_6,I think I saw a size 10 twilit skirt @ Houston's Town & Country yesterday. (713) 973-0561You can call and see if it is still there.

  23. January 6, 2010 / 9:28 pm

    Arghh I just had my Web & Loom Cardigan order canceled – for the 2nd time this week! I'm particularly frustrated because I just got an e-mail from customer service this morning reassuring me that my second Web & Loom order would go through (I complained after Anthro took 6 days to tell me that the first one was canceled).If anyone sees one in store in a size small or medium, please let me know. I'm really desperate to get my hands on it. I'm a professor and I think it would look perfect for when I teach.

  24. January 6, 2010 / 9:33 pm

    Thanks for cracking the code roxy!Ali

  25. Anonymous
    January 6, 2010 / 9:52 pm

    I called the 1800 number and asked about the Lolland dress. I gave them the style number and asked them to locate a store that still has it. They told me that they had it and I could buy by phone (bought from the catalog, by phone, not from store). I also liked that necklace "flora in fauna" and could find the cache of the page on google. I clicked on the link of the cached page and added the item to my shopping card. When I did this, I was redirected to the initial page of the website, but the item was in my shopping bag! They had 42 of these necklaces hidden. It was so weird that I thought they've hidden the necklace after Michelle Obama wore the necklace, hahaha! Anyway, always call the 1800 number because they will track the catalog inventory and will tell you the phone number of stores that have the item, in case they can't find it on the catalog inventory. The people that answer Anthropologie 1800 number are so helpful that I can't thank them enough. I would hug them all if I could!

  26. January 6, 2010 / 10:12 pm

    Best day ever!! Thank you for this post, Roxy! It's like a fun game going through old catalogs, holding my breath as the info loads and then doing a happy dance as I add it to my cart :)I scored the laced roses cardigan and the diffusion vest (which I've been searching ebay for a month for) both on SALE!! crossing my fingers that the order isn't cancelled.

  27. Anonymous
    January 6, 2010 / 10:17 pm

    Oh my goodness! Words cannot express how awesome you are for letting us in on these tricks!! I have been dying for the crossway heels and just scored them using the catalog method! I hope they fit!! There were size 7 and 9 for anyone else that is interested!!

  28. January 6, 2010 / 10:28 pm

    Oooh thanks for the tips Roxy! I am definitely going to try this.Also ty for the post about the Twilit skirt. I was able to snag one this morning from a store search 😀

  29. Naomi
    January 7, 2010 / 1:37 am

    Roxy I really enjoy reading your blog. I remember back in August/September you reviewed the Juxtaposition boots by Antelope. It is no longer available, but I wanted to let everyone know who is still interested in a pair, that my local store in Texas has a size 9 on sale for $99.95. Their number is 512-236-9301

  30. January 7, 2010 / 3:14 am

    For anyone who's interested, there was a Corey Lynn Calter bengal stripe skirt in size 8 at the Austin Anthro today (I think it's $19.95. Phone number is (512)236-9301. They also had LOTS of wind-rippled tees.Thanks for this post Roxy!

  31. January 7, 2010 / 3:31 am

    Roxy, thanks for the tips. Something really weird happened to me tonight regarding the Rare Bloom tee. I was just going thru my wish list and the rare bloom tee was back in stock in several sizes. So I pulled the trigger and ordered it but then I tried to find it again in the website and no luck. I hope the shirt does ship because I was so sad when I thought it was all sold out.

  32. Anonymous
    January 7, 2010 / 4:39 am

    Molly Darling, there are two "always a lady skirt", sizes M and L, in Bellevue, WA. Look for their phone number on the website.

  33. January 7, 2010 / 5:05 am

    Thanks Anon- I'll call tomorrow if my order doesn't go through.

  34. January 7, 2010 / 5:26 am

    If anyone sees the Bengal skirt in a 0 or a 2, please email me! (Azelma dot Roark at Gmail dot com) Thanks for this tip, Roxy!! I had so much fun going through old catalogs tonight! Nothing that I wanted had popped back in my size, but now that I know where to look, I will def keep checking back!

  35. Anonymous
    January 7, 2010 / 12:26 pm

    If you can call CS more than once. Called in the morning for that twilit skirt and was told there were none. Called again at night after ellie22's comment and I was able to get one YAY!!!! Plus, thanks to the tips I scored a Painted lotus dress from the catalog!! I think you just created a monster 🙂 Thanks Marge

  36. January 29, 2010 / 4:49 pm

    I just discovered this post and I've started scouring the old catalogs. To go back further, you just change the month in the address. So far I've found items as far back as April (the Citrus Salad top is still available in a size 8 in the April catalog! If only I were a size 8!) The month codes for 2009 not listed in this post are: Jan09Feb09Mar09Apr09May09Jun09Jul09Aug09Happy Hunting!

  37. GeoInCalifornia
    April 11, 2010 / 9:33 pm

    I am new to this blog. I live in an area where the nearest Anthro is 2 hours away. I am completely dependant on the online store.I have also found hidden stock before. I used a different approach. I went to order a Ruffled Firelight Cardi. It was nowhere on the site. Didn't come up in search. Wasn't in my Wish List. I knew it hadn't sold out that fast. So I started clicking through the sweaters and kept my eye on the links off to the side of each item. That's when I saw the sweater. Was able to open the link and found that it had gone on sale. But like I said, it wasn't in the sale section or anywhere else on the site. I was able to order it by phone. The next day they appeared in the sale section. And it wasn't a sale day.I have also found shoes the same way described above.I too have had success with an Out of Stock Wish List Item. The Owls Nest Necklace. There was one left.

  38. April 11, 2010 / 10:56 pm

    Welcome GeoInCalifornia! And thank you so much for the tip, I will have to run another tips & tricks post soon. 🙂

  39. April 28, 2010 / 10:42 pm

    I love how you girls are not selfish and share your knowledge! I've been trying to play around w/ the url but I haven't been successful. But I've noticed my things from my wish list are not on the website anymore but are still available, so it is a wise advice to pile up your wish list :]

  40. April 29, 2010 / 1:19 am

    Does anybody know what the codes are for 2010? I've been trying all sorts of combinations w/o any success 🙁

  41. April 29, 2010 / 8:50 pm

    Nadja – do you mean the catalogues? Natalie has a list of links to every catalogue in the sidebar of her blog Anthro Addict.

  42. May 1, 2010 / 2:32 am

    Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, I just scored the Maeshowe dress!!! Great Tips!!!

  43. Anonymous
    May 2, 2010 / 3:05 am

    Does anyone else have a problem with their Anthro shopping cart? My computer freezes up everytime I go to it. I know it could be my computer, but it is relatively new/doesn't do this any other time. So is it just me?

  44. Anonymous
    May 24, 2010 / 9:09 pm

    Thanks to everyone for the useful tips! Has anyone been able to access the January 2010 catalog recently? The couple of links for it that I came across, i,e, on Anthro Addict site, end up redirecting me to the May catalog.

  45. Karen
    December 3, 2010 / 9:16 pm

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! Waited too long for the Kaerlie coat…and then poof it was gone. Just went shopping through the old catalog and found my size is still available! YIPPEE

  46. Jamiekitty
    January 7, 2011 / 7:58 pm

    I really want Anthropologie's "Sticky Teaspoons" but cannot find them ANYWHERE! I called all stores in Canada and they had either never received them or heard of them. Ugh. Any tips?http://svpply.com/item/159422/Sticky_Teaspoons

  47. January 16, 2011 / 6:09 am

    any help on the tights called "gam Games" I can find various cached links, but none from when they were in stock…

  48. January 16, 2011 / 6:29 am

    If the cached link isn't working that means the item is out of stock. You won't be able to find any cached links from when the item was in-stock. Sorry!

  49. May 26, 2011 / 2:34 am

    Thank you for this post! I just found the shoes I had been stocking today available on my wishlist.


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