OOS
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Out of stock |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Business & Finance, Education & Academia |
OOS has two meanings. It stands for Out of stock (e-commerce & retail) or Out-of-state (academic).
Meanings of OOS at a glance
| # | OOS stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Out of stock | Business & Finance › E-commerce & Retail |
| 2 | Out-of-state | Education & Academia › Academic |
1. Out of stock
Business & Finance · E-commerce & Retail Abbreviations
Status of an item that is unavailable for sale because inventory has run out, whether on a store shelf or on a website. Out-of-stock rates are a key retail performance measure because shoppers often switch brands or stores instead of waiting.
Example: The blue size 10 has been OOS for three weeks, so we're losing sales to competitors.
A widely cited 2002 industry study by Thomas Gruen and colleagues found average retail out-of-stock rates of about 8% worldwide, with many caused by store ordering and shelving problems rather than supplier shortages. Online stores choose between hiding OOS items, showing them with a back-in-stock alert or taking backorders.
2. Out-of-state
Education & Academia · Academic Abbreviations
Tuition rate and residency status for students attending a public college outside their home state, usually far higher than the in-state rate. Residency rules require proof of living in a state for a set period, often 12 months, for reasons other than education.
Example: OOS tuition at the flagship is nearly three times the in-state rate.
Regional exchanges such as the Western Undergraduate Exchange and the Midwest Student Exchange Program offer discounted rates. Some universities offer merit scholarships that reduce or match in-state costs for OOS students. In retail, OOS means "out of stock".
Related abbreviations
More e-commerce & retail abbreviations
- NWOT – New without tags
- NWT – New with tags
- OBO – Or best offer
- OMS – Order management system
- OSA – On-shelf availability
- OTB – Open to buy
- P&P – Postage and packing
- PDP – Product detail page
See all 75 e-commerce & retail abbreviations →