textcuts

Abandoned cart follow up messages: 15 templates you can send today

Someone asked about your product, said they would think about it, and then went quiet. Automated cart emails fill the internet, but a small shop can do something better and safer: write one friendly message, by hand, to a person who is already talking to you. This page is for that. Every message here assumes the person contacted you or agreed to hear from you, nudges once, answers a real question and leaves the door open. There is no fake countdown and no invented scarcity. Copy any message, or add all 15 to your keyboard and send them from Instagram, WhatsApp, SMS, Etsy messages or any other app in one tap.

Add these 15 templates to your keyboard Add the 6 essentials

Works in WhatsApp, iMessage, Instagram, Messenger and every other app.

Words in {{double braces}} are blanks. In the textcuts keyboard you fill them with one tap, and the names you used recently come back.

Picking up a paused chat

Pick up the chat

Essential
Hi {{name}}, we were chatting about your order earlier and I wasn't sure I'd answered everything. Is there anything else I can tell you before you decide?

When to send: A day after the conversation went quiet.

Why it works: It points back to the real conversation and asks if you missed something.

Shipping question again

{{name}}, you asked about shipping and I think my answer got buried. Tell me where it's going and I'll give you the exact cost and timing.

When to send: When a shipping question went unanswered or unclear.

Why it works: Shipping surprises end more sales than price, so answer it in the open.

Help with size

Choosing a size can be tricky, {{name}}. Send me your measurements and I'll tell you honestly which one fits best.

When to send: For clothing, rings or anything with sizes.

Why it works: An offer of help in place of a reminder.

Need it by a date

If you need it by {{date}}, I'll tell you honestly whether I can make it. Just say the word and I'll check the delivery estimate.

When to send: When someone mentioned an occasion or deadline.

Why it works: It speaks to the real worry, which is timing.

Custom quote waiting

Pro
{{name}}, the quote I sent was {{price}} for your custom piece. Happy to adjust details if the price or timing isn't quite right.

When to send: A few days after sending a custom quote.

Why it works: It opens a negotiation about the details, not a push to buy.

Help choosing

Not sure which color to pick, {{name}}? Send me a photo of the room or outfit you have in mind, and I'll tell you which one I would choose.

When to send: When the person is torn between two options.

Why it works: A small, specific offer that makes deciding easier.

A gentle nudge

Item still in cart

Essential
Your {{item}} is still waiting in your cart whenever you're ready. If something held you back, tell me and I'll happily help. And if you'd rather I didn't follow up, just say so.

When to send: Only to people who agreed to hear from you about their cart.

Why it works: It names the item, offers help and gives an easy way out.

Payment did not go through

Essential
Hi {{name}}, it looks like the payment didn't go through. That happens sometimes. If you'd like, I can send you a fresh link to try again.

When to send: When a customer says the checkout failed.

Why it works: A technical glitch is the kindest explanation, and it comes with a fix.

Text with an opt out

Essential
Hi {{name}}, it's the shop. You left something in your cart and said texts were okay. Need a hand finishing? Reply STOP and I won't text again.

When to send: Only if they agreed to marketing texts.

Why it works: A text nudge is marketing, so it carries a clear way out.

Story reply on Instagram

Hey {{name}}, thanks for replying to my story. Do you still want the one you asked about? I'm happy to send a link.

When to send: After someone replied to your story or post.

Why it works: They started the conversation, so you are replying and not pitching.

After the catalog

Hi {{name}}, did the catalog I sent help? Tell me what you're after and I'll point out two or three good fits.

When to send: After sending a catalog or price list they asked for.

Why it works: It narrows choices, which helps people decide.

One of a kind piece

Pro
{{name}}, this is a one of a kind piece. I can hold it for you until {{day}}, and after that I'll need to list it again.

When to send: Only when it truly is the only one.

Why it works: Honest scarcity, with a date, is fine. Invented scarcity is not.

Etsy message again

Hi {{name}}, answering your message again in case it got buried: yes, I can do that. The listing is still live whenever you want it.

When to send: On Etsy, to someone who messaged you.

Why it works: It stays on the question they asked.

Closing the loop

What made you pause

Essential
{{name}}, can I ask what made you pause? Price, timing, size, anything. Your answer helps me improve, even if the answer is no.

When to send: About a week after the last message.

Why it works: One honest question gets more replies than another nudge.

Last note

Essential
Last note from me on this, {{name}}. I'll leave the details with you and won't message again about it. Thanks for looking.

When to send: After one nudge and one question with no reply.

Why it works: It ends on a kind note, and it does end.

When to send each message

WhenMessageNote
1 day after a paused chatPick up the chatOnly for people who were talking to you.
Same day, if they say checkout failedPayment did not go throughSend a fresh link.
2 to 3 days after a custom quoteCustom quote waitingOnce.
1 to 2 days after they agreed to textsText with an opt outOnly one text, with the STOP line, between 8 am and 9 pm their time.
The day after a story replyStory reply on InstagramThey messaged first, so you may answer.
About a week laterWhat made you pauseYour second message. Then only the closing note.
After the question, if nothingLast noteThen stop.

Do not say

  • Texting or WhatsApping a cart reminder to a number that did not agree to marketing messages.

    Instead: Message only people who agreed, or who wrote to you first.

    Source

  • Assuming email consent covers texts. Marketing texts need their own yes.

    Instead: Ask for the text yes separately, and keep a record of it.

    Source

  • "Only 2 left!" or a countdown timer that resets.

    Instead: Use only true scarcity, with a date you will keep.

  • Sending a second, third and fourth nudge.

    Instead: One nudge, one question, one closing note.

  • Messaging Etsy favoriters or cart holders through Etsy messages.

    Instead: Reply on Etsy only to buyers who wrote to you.

    Source

  • Emailing a cart reminder with no opt out and a misleading subject line.

    Instead: Use an honest subject and a working way to unsubscribe.

    Source

  • Carrying on after "stop" or "don't message me".

    Instead: Confirm that you stopped, and stop.

    Source

Add these 15 templates to your keyboard Add the 6 essentials

Works in WhatsApp, iMessage, Instagram, Messenger and every other app.

Frequently asked questions

Can I message anyone who left something in their cart?

Only if they agreed to hear from you or wrote to you first. A checkout address does not always mean a yes to marketing, and email consent is not text consent. Send marketing texts only between 8 am and 9 pm in the person's time zone, and stop when they say stop. These are common rules, not legal advice, so check what applies where you sell.

How many follow ups are right?

One nudge, one question and a short closing note at most. If the person asked a real question, answering it counts as a message of its own.

Does this work on Etsy?

Only for buyers who messaged you. Etsy's House Rules rule out unsolicited promotion in Messages. For shoppers who only carted or favorited an item, Etsy has its own targeted offers in Shop Manager, which Etsy emails for you.

Should I offer a discount?

You can, but you do not have to. Helping with a size, a date or a shipping cost solves the usual reason people pause. If you do offer something, make it true and make it clear.

Do these templates work on the free plan?

Yes. 13 of the 15 use a single blank, which fills in on the free plan. The 2 with two blanks ("Custom quote waiting" and "One of a kind piece") need Pro to fill both from the keyboard. The free plan holds 8 textcuts and 1 folder, and importing is never blocked, so you can add the whole pack and keep the ones you use most.

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