品切れ and 売り切れ: overlapping out-of-stock notices
Compare lack of available stock with goods sold out, while preserving the overlap in notices. Check restocking details separately.
A notice of unavailable stock
品切れ, read しなぎれ, means out of stock. 棚の札には品切れと書かれていた。 says that the shelf sign had 品切れ written on it.
The notice gives unavailable-stock information. Do not add a restocking date or a detailed cause that the sign does not state.
Goods sold out
売り切れ, read うりきれ, means sold out. 人気のパンは昼前に売り切れになった。 says that the popular bread sold out before noon.
This example reports the sold-out result and its time. It does not make every stock notice a report of the exact time of depletion.
Keep the overlap in use
人気の色は朝のうちに品切れになった。 says that the popular color became unavailable during the morning. 品切れ can also be used for stock depleted through sales.
Both expressions can announce the same unavailable-stock situation. Read the focus and accompanying explanation instead of prohibiting 品切れ in sold-out contexts.
Is 品切れ excluded whenever stock has been depleted through sales?
Show the answer and why
No. The notices can overlap. Read the specific depletion circumstances and any restocking date from additional statements.