Contact Us
Live Chat
HELP CENTER
VIDEO TUTORIALS
STEP BY STEP GUIDES
FAQ
Preorder Management
Back in stock notifications
Support and Resources
Analytics and Reporting
Customisation and User experience
Feature combinations
Operational Tools and Integrations
Join the Program
Running out of stock doesn’t have to mean losing sales. With Timesact’s preorder feature, you can continue capturing revenue even when your inventory hits zero, while simultaneously gauging customer demand for future restocks. This comprehensive guide will walk you through setting up your first preorder campaign in less than 5 minutes.
Preorders are a powerful tool for ecommerce businesses. They allow you to test market demand for new products, maintain sales momentum during inventory gaps, and create anticipation for upcoming launches. Timesact makes this process seamless by automatically switching between “Add to Cart” and “Preorder” buttons based on your stock levels.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:
- Products listed in your Shopify inventory
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your First Preorder
Step 1: Access the Products Section
Log into your Timesact dashboard and navigate to the Products section on the left sidebar. Once there, click the “Add Product” button located in the top right corner of the screen.
Step 2: Select Your Products
Timesact will display all your Shopify products, giving you flexibility in how you add them:
- By individual product
- By collection
For this tutorial, we’ll add products individually. Browse through your product list and select the item you want to enable for preorder. When you select a product, all its variants will be added automatically, but you can deselect specific variants if you only want certain options available for preorder. Once you’ve made your selections, click “Proceed” in the top right corner.
Step 3: Configure Stock Management Settings
On the Preorder Settings page, you’ll find three stock management options. For most merchants, “Preorder only when out of stock” is the ideal choice. This intelligent option automatically switches your product button to “Preorder” when inventory reaches zero, and reverts back to “Add to Cart” when you restock (inventory of 1 or more).
This automation eliminates manual updates and ensures customers always see the appropriate purchasing option.
Step 4: Set Your Time Period (Optional)
Under the time period section, you can specify a start date for when you want your preorder campaign to begin. This is particularly useful if you’re planning a product launch or coordinating with a marketing campaign.
Step 5: Create Your Selling Plan
Select “Create a new selling plan” to set up the customer-facing information for your preorder.
Plan Name: This is for your internal reference only and won’t be visible to customers. Use descriptive names like “Preorder August” or “Fall Collection Launch” to help you organize your campaigns.
Selling Plan Name (Required): This message appears on both the checkout and cart pages, so make it clear and informative. Examples include “Ships in 2-3 weeks” or “Preorder – Available September 15th.”
Selling Plan Description (Optional but Recommended): This text appears on the product page below the preorder button. Best practice is to copy your selling plan name and paste it here to reinforce the message throughout the customer journey, from product page to checkout.
Step 6: Configure Shipping Date Settings
Timesact offers four shipping date options, each corresponding to a different order fulfillment status:
- Not Set: Order status will be “Unfulfilled”
- Date: Choose a specific shipping date, order status becomes “Scheduled”
- Period or Interval: Order status will be “On Hold”
For your first preorder, selecting “Not Set” is a safe starting point that gives you flexibility in fulfillment.
Step 7: Set Billing and Payment Options
Billing Policy: Choose between charging the full amount upfront or offering a partial payment option. Both methods are secure and integrate seamlessly with Shopify’s payment system.
Discount (Optional): Add a discount percentage to incentivize preorders. This discount will automatically appear at checkout, making it an effective tool for driving early sales.
Step 8: Configure Inventory Policy
Under inventory policy, select “On Sale” as this is the most commonly used option. This setting automatically deducts purchased units from your inventory count, keeping your stock levels accurate and preventing overselling.
After configuring all settings, click the “Save” button to activate your preorder.
Step 9: Verify Your Preorder Setup
Once saved, your products will appear on the Preorder Product List page. You’ll notice that products with zero stock show as “Active” while items with remaining inventory display as “Pending.” This visual indicator helps you quickly assess which products are currently in preorder mode.
To see how your preorder appears to customers, click the “View on Store” icon next to any active preorder product. This will take you directly to the product page where you can verify that the button displays “Preorder” instead of “Add to Cart.”
Communicate Clearly: Always provide transparent information about shipping timelines and expected delivery dates. Customers appreciate knowing exactly when to expect their orders.
Set Realistic Expectations: Only promise delivery dates you’re confident you can meet. It’s better to under-promise and over-deliver than to disappoint customers with delays.
Monitor Inventory Closely: Keep track of preorder quantities to ensure you order sufficient stock to fulfill all commitments.
Update Customers Regularly: If there are any changes to shipping dates or product availability, communicate proactively with customers who have placed preorders.
Leverage Email Marketing: Send reminder emails to customers who abandoned carts with preorder items, emphasizing the limited availability or special pricing.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your preorder button isn’t appearing, verify that your product inventory is set to zero in Shopify. The automatic switching feature only activates when stock levels reach zero.
If customers report confusion, review your selling plan description to ensure it clearly explains the preorder process and expected delivery timeline.
Maximizing Your Preorder Strategy
Preorders aren’t just for handling stock shortages. They’re valuable for launching new products, testing market interest before bulk manufacturing, creating exclusivity around limited editions, and maintaining revenue during seasonal inventory transitions.
By following this guide, you’ve set up your first Timesact preorder in under 5 minutes. The system will now automatically manage your product availability, switching between regular sales and preorders based on your inventory levels. This automation frees you to focus on marketing your products and delivering exceptional customer service.
FAQs
How does Timesact automatically switch between Add to Cart and Preorder buttons?
When you select “Preorder only when out of stock” in stock management settings, Timesact monitors your Shopify inventory levels in real-time. The moment your product inventory reaches zero, the button automatically changes to “Preorder.” When you restock and inventory goes to 1 or above, it automatically switches back to “Add to Cart” without any manual intervention required.
What's the difference between selling plan name and selling plan description?
The selling plan name is a required field that appears on your checkout and cart pages, while the selling plan description is optional and appears on the product page below the preorder button. Best practice is to use the same message in both fields to reinforce the preorder terms consistently throughout the customer journey, ensuring customers see the same shipping timeline or availability information at every step.
Can I offer a discount specifically for preorder items?
Yes, Timesact allows you to add a discount percentage directly in the preorder settings under the discount field. This discount will automatically apply at checkout for preorder items, making it an effective incentive for customers to commit to purchasing products before they’re back in stock. The discounted price will be clearly visible during the checkout process.
What happens to my order status when I set different shipping date options?
The shipping date option you select determines the initial fulfillment status in Shopify. “Not Set” creates unfulfilled orders, “Date” (with a specific date) creates scheduled orders, and “Period” or “Interval” creates orders on hold. This helps you organize and manage preorders differently based on your fulfillment workflow and when you expect inventory to arrive.
Will preorder purchases deduct from my inventory count?
Yes, if you select “On Sale” under the inventory policy setting (which is recommended), each preorder purchase will automatically deduct the purchased quantity from your inventory count. This prevents overselling and helps you track how many units you need to restock. The inventory deduction happens immediately when the customer completes their preorder, just like a regular purchase.