Switch to STOQ from another back in stock app
Use this guide if you're replacing another back in stock app with STOQ. You export your existing waitlist as a CSV, import it into STOQ so those customers keep their place in line, then turn on STOQ's Notify me widget and delivery channels so future signups and alerts run through STOQ.
Before you begin
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| App installed | STOQ is installed on your Shopify store |
| Your old waitlist exported | A spreadsheet of pending requests from your previous app, with at least each customer's email and the product or variant they want |
| Admin access | Go to STOQ → Back in stock alerts in your Shopify admin |
What customers will see
Importing doesn't email anyone. Each imported row just joins the waitlist for its product or variant, the same as if the customer had signed up directly on your store. Once you turn on STOQ's widget, new visitors to an out-of-stock product see STOQ's "Notify me" button in place of your old app's, and both imported and new customers get their restock alert through STOQ.
Set it up
Export your waitlist from your old app
Export your pending back in stock requests to a spreadsheet. STOQ doesn't connect to other back in stock apps directly, so you move the data yourself. At minimum, keep each customer's email or phone number and the product or variant they're waiting on.
Import your waitlist into STOQ
- In the STOQ admin, go to Back in stock alerts.
- Click the Settings tab.
- Open the Integrations sub-tab.
- Find the Import data card and click it to expand the instructions.
- Click the STOQ Import Template link, make your own copy, and move your exported data into its columns (product SKU or variant ID, plus email and/or phone).
- Export your finished sheet as a CSV, then click Upload CSV on the Import data card and choose the file.
- Review the column mapping STOQ shows you, adjust anything that didn't match automatically, and start the import.
For the full column reference and troubleshooting, see Import your waitlist from another app.
Turn on the Notify me widget
In the Signup widget sub-tab, click Enable on the widget status card so STOQ's "Notify me" button starts showing on your out-of-stock products. If your theme needs STOQ's app embed activated, a banner tells you and links to enable it.
Connect a delivery channel
In the Notifications sub-tab, connect at least one way to reach customers: email is on by default, SMS requires setup. Without a working channel, signups (including your imported ones) are collected but no alert is ever sent.
For the full first-time setup walkthrough, including product eligibility and a test signup, see Set up alerts.
If your old app's widget is still active on your theme, customers can see two "Notify me" buttons. Disable or uninstall the old app once you've confirmed STOQ's widget is working.
Check your setup
- STOQ emails a status update to your report email address when the import finishes; you can also click View imports on the Import data card to check its status.
- Confirm imported customers appear on the waitlist for the right product, on the Products tab.
- Visit a live out-of-stock product page and confirm STOQ's "Notify me" button appears, and your old app's does not.
- Submit a test signup with your own email or phone number to confirm new requests still work.
FAQ
Do imported customers get an alert right away?
No. Importing only recreates the pending requests on the waitlist. Alerts go out later, when the product restocks and meets your delivery settings, the same as for anyone who signs up directly on your store.
Will customers who are already on both waitlists get duplicate alerts?
No. If a customer is already on STOQ's waitlist for a variant, a later import for that same variant is skipped, so re-uploading or importing overlapping lists won't create duplicates.
Do I need to cancel my old app before importing?
No, importing doesn't depend on your old app's status. But leave both widgets active at once only briefly, since customers would see two "Notify me" buttons until you disable the old one.
Can I keep importing after I've already started using STOQ?
Yes. You can upload additional CSVs at any time, for example to catch customers you missed the first export, and each import is listed with its own status under View imports.
Which apps can I export a waitlist from?
Any app, as long as it can export your pending requests to a spreadsheet. STOQ doesn't integrate with other back in stock apps to pull the data automatically, so you copy the export into the STOQ Import Template and upload it as a CSV.
Related guides
Import your waitlist from another app
Full column reference and troubleshooting for the CSV import.
Set up alerts
The full first-time setup walkthrough for the Notify me widget and delivery.
Back in stock alerts overview
See how all the Back in Stock sections and settings fit together.
Manage a product's waitlist
View and edit the customers waiting on a specific product.
