Actually, the low inventory is probably deliberate. Home Depot does the same thing, and it’s one of the reasons why I avoid that place whenever I can as well: fewer different items for sale and empty shelves.
Low inventory is one of those business school shibboleths all good MBA bean counters learn, namely the concept of “velocity”, that is, how long goods sit on the shelves incurring inventory “costs”. You can improve “velocity” by turning good over quickly, OR you can improve it by not putting goods on the shelf in the first place. Guess which one is easiest to pull off? Yep, no goods on shelves. Of course, no goods equals no sales, but that doesn’t matter to bean counters, just so long as they get that “velocity” number improved. So what if customers give up in disgust shopping in your empty-shelf store. After all, if they can reduce “velocity”, the company MUST be doing good, right?
LOL I guess so. It’s sad though. Sam Walton’s stores under his watch were smaller in square ft yet had more selection and items were usually either on the shelves or in the stockroom. About two years ago my local Walmart was out of 10W30 motor oil for several weeks. All brands. Walmart staying on it’s current course will be the next Kmart within a decade. Someone will see their corporate stupidity as an opportunity.