End-of-sale
Also known as: EOS
The end-of-sale status means that sales of the said product have stopped. Production has now ceased and it is likely that the manufacturer has since replaced the product with an improved version. All marketing activities are focused on the product's successors.
Discontinuing sales is a logical step in the product life cycle. Manufacturers who want to innovate want to be able to focus on new products at some point. It is possible that only a few copies are still temporarily available through a limited number of channels. This is purely because some stock still exists somewhere in the distribution chain.
Basically, the cessation of sales does not affect current owners of the product. The manufacturer will continue to support the product in the form of warranty and service. It also ensures that sufficient spare parts remain available for users. Only when the end-of-life status is declared can product support change.
Although reaching end-of-sale status has no practical consequences for users, the focus on improved successors to a product may provide a reason for replacement earlier than when the product is actually discarded.
