A new collection, a reprint, a limited edition: the interest is there before the stock. Pre-orders turn that interest into sales, finance the production and tell you how many units to order.
What customers need to see
- A clear Pre-order label, not a normal Add to cart.
- The release date, and a countdown for launches.
- “Ships from …” in the cart, the checkout and the confirmation email.
Payment: now or later?
Charging at the time of the order is the simplest and the most common: the customer pays, the order waits with a “Pre-ordered” status, and ships on the release date. Be clear about it on the product page.
Keep pre-orders separate
A cart mixing a pre-order and products in stock creates a problem: ship twice or make the customer wait. Most stores ask customers to order pre-orders separately.
Release day
- Orders move from Pre-ordered to Processing.
- Customers receive an email: the order is being prepared.
- The product is sold normally from that day.
Tips
- Announce the pre-order to your email list first.
- Give a small bonus to early buyers (a gift, free shipping).
- If the date changes, email customers immediately.
Preordly adds the Pre-order button, the release date and countdown, keeps pre-orders separate and releases orders automatically on the date. See it on the demo and read how to run a pre-order launch.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell an out of stock product as a pre-order?
Yes, with a pre-order plugin the product can be ordered even when it is out of stock or not released yet.
When is the customer charged for a pre-order?
With Preordly, at the time of the order; the order then waits until the release date.
What happens on the release date?
The waiting orders move to Processing automatically and customers are emailed.