Systems and methods for providing substitute products in place of ordered products that are out of stock

A method of enabling consumers to purchase substitute products when the products ordered by the consumers are out of stock, the method comprising:

• processing, at an order processing server, an internet order for a product received from a consumer in a geographic location;
• providing an electronic inventory management device at a retail sales facility associated with the geographic location of the consumer;
• providing an inventory management database configured to store electronic data associated with product inventory at the retail facility;
• providing an electronic scanning device;
• permitting a worker at the retail sales facility to scan, using the electronic scanning device, an identifying indicia of the product ordered by the consumer;
• transmitting, from the electronic scanning device, an electronic signal representing a query to the inventory management database regarding inventory status of the product ordered by the consumer;
• in response to receipt, from the inventory management database, of electronic data indicating that the product ordered by the consumer is out of stock at the retail sales facility, generating, via the electronic scanning device, an alert signal including an electronic notification indicating that the product ordered by the consumer is out of stock at the retail sales facility;
• and
• transmitting the alert signal to the electronic inventory management device;
• receiving, at the electronic inventory management device, the alert signal including the electronic notification indicating that the product ordered by the consumer is out of stock at the retail sales facility;
• generating, at an electronic inventory management device at the retail sales facility, an electronic message including an indication that the product ordered by the consumer is out of stock at the retail sales facility and including a selection option of at least one substitute product for the product ordered by the consumer;
• transmitting the electronic message from the electronic inventory management device at the retail sales facility to an electronic computing device of the consumer;
• setting, via the electronic inventory management device, a predetermined time interval for the consumer to accept the selection option of the at least one substitute product;
• after receiving an electronic message within the predetermined time interval from the electronic device of the consumer indicating that the consumer accepts the at least one substitute product, triggering, via the electronic inventory management device, a delivery to the consumer of the at least one substitute product accepted by the consumer;
• and
• after not receiving a response within the predetermined time interval from the electronic device of the consumer indicating an acceptance of the selection option of the at least one substitute product, triggering, via the electronic inventory management device, a delivery to the consumer of the at least one substitute product after the predetermined time interval elapses.