Quick Answer
The easiest way to add preorder sales to your Shopify store is by using a preorder app, which Shopify itself recommends. Manual workarounds exist, however they require constant updates, technical expertise, and can lead to overselling or product mismanagement. Magical Preorder automates the entire process, preventing overselling, keeping customers informed with clear preorder messaging, and eliminating manual work so you can start selling preorders instantly.
Detailed Answer
Preorder sales allow Shopify merchants to sell products before they’re in stock, helping forecast demand, earn revenue faster, and prevent stock shortages. However, Shopify does not have built-in preorder functionality. Shopify’s official stance is that merchants should use an app. A couple of workarounds exist, but they are not ideal:
- You could oversell products even when out of stock, and add a preorder message, however this requires constant manual updates and risks customer confusion.
- You could hire a developer to build a custom-coded preorder system, but this is costly, requires technical expertise, and also requires a ton of time to set up.
The fastest, easiest way to add preorder sales to Shopify is to use an app like Magical Preorder. A preorder app automates inventory tracking, prevents overselling, and improves the customer experience by displaying clear preorder messaging, estimated shipping dates, and automated notifications.
We’ve reviewed the top preorder apps, and Magical Preorder is the best overall choice. It’s easy to set up, affordable, and includes essential features like condition-based preorder settings, bulk updates, and customer alerts.
Key Benefits of Using a Preorder App
- Eliminates manual work by automating inventory adjustments and preorder activations.
- Keeps customers informed with clear preorder messaging and shipping timelines.
- Prevents overselling by automatically managing stock levels.
- Improves customer satisfaction and reduces order cancellations.
Video Explainer
I made a 30-second video that explains how you can add preorders to your Shopify store using an app, and why it’s much better than any existing native solutions.
Supporting Answers
How to Add Preorder Sales Using an App
The fastest and easiest way to offer preorders on Shopify is by using an app. Shopify itself recommends using an app for preorders instead of relying on manual methods, which can be time-consuming and error-prone.
A preorder app improves customer experience by displaying clear shipping timelines, managing inventory limits, and automating notifications. This helps merchants control preorder sales, prevent overselling, and provide customers with a seamless shopping experience.
We’ve compared the top preorder apps available today and found that Magical Preorder is the best all-around solution. It’s easy to use, affordable and offers essential features to manage every stage of the preorder process.
Once you choose an app and follow the setup instructions, Shopify provides additional settings to configure product availability. You can choose:
- To sell the product as a preorder-only option, which is useful if customers can only purchase the product through a preorder and no immediate stock is available. In Shopify, go to Products > Purchase Options and select ‘Only display this product with these purchase options.’
- To offer both preorders and immediate purchases if you have some stock available for immediate purchase while also taking preorders. Deselect ‘Only display this product with these purchase options’ so customers can choose between preordering or buying in-stock items.
After configuring these settings, Shopify offers tools to track preorder sales, manage customer details, and process payments. However, using an app like Magical Preorder makes this process even easier by automating bulk updates, customer notifications, and order tracking, saving you time while keeping your inventory under control.
How to Add Preorder Sales Natively in Shopify
Shopify does not have native features to process preorders on your online store. In Shopify’s guide to preorders, their official statement is that merchants will “need to install a preorder app from the Shopify App Store and then manage preorders in the Shopify admin.”
While Shopify recommends using an app, some merchants attempt to set up preorders manually. These methods exist but come with significant drawbacks.
1. Adjust Product Availability and Messaging
The simplest native solution is to simply oversell products on your website. This means that customers can continue to purchase a product even when the inventory falls to zero. You would need to update the product with a message that clearly lets customers know that this will be a preorder.
Why it falls short:
- Requires frequent manual updates to prevent overselling.
- Customers may not see the preorder message, leading to confusion.
- No automatic inventory management when stock arrives.
2. Custom Code a Preorder System
You could hire a developer to build a custom solution that allows preorder functionality. In the Shopify Community forums, an expert goes over how you can add code.
However, this isn’t easy.
Shopify clearly states a notice of caution, saying, “This is an advanced tutorial and is not supported by Shopify. Knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Liquid is required.” These methods build upon the process of continuing to sell products when out-of-stock, so you can expect this to be an advanced version of what was outlined above.
Why it falls short:
- Requires technical expertise or hiring a developer, making it costly.
- Custom code must be maintained and updated over time.
- Poor implementation can lead to checkout issues or security vulnerabilities.
If you’re considering native options for your Shopify store, neither of these solutions is ideal. Manually adjusting product availability requires constant updates, while custom coding is expensive and difficult to maintain. Neither option provides automated inventory control or a seamless customer experience.
Don’t let manual work slow you down. Magical Preorder automates the entire preorder process, preventing overselling and keeping customers informed. Get started today and turn preorders into a seamless revenue stream!
Real-Life Experiences
I don’t play as many video games as I used to, but one game I will always play is Final Fantasy. It’s my favourite game series and I know when a new game is announced that I don’t need to wait for reviews…I preorder the game immediately. I love getting access to exclusive screenshots and videos as a reward for preordering, and the process generally keeps me excited for the upcoming release.
-Kyle Godon, Shopify App Expert
Preorders don’t just drive sales…they create excitement. Just like gamers eagerly preorder their favourite titles, your customers will love getting early access to must-have products. Make preorders a key part of your store’s success and build anticipation for every launch!
Key Takeaway
While Shopify offers some manual methods to enable preorders, they require ongoing management and lack automation. Using an app like Magical Preorder streamlines the process, improves customer experience, and ensures preorder sales are handled efficiently.
Magical Preorder
Everything you need to add preorder sales to your shop. Forecast demand. Build hype. Boost sales.