Preorders allow customers to purchase items that are not immediately available. To manage preorder duration and stock limits effectively, you can define time-based availability and quantity-based limits for each preorder plan.
Availability Schedule (Time-Based Activation & End)
This section lets you control when preorders start and stop.
Start Date & Time
- Preorders will become active at the specified date and time.
- Until this time, the preorder remains inactive and customers won’t see the option to order.
End Date & Time (Optional)
- If an end date is set, preorders will automatically stop on the specified date and time.
- If no end date is set, preorders continue running indefinitely unless a limit is reached.
Scenario | Start Date | End Date | Preorder Ends When... |
Limited-time preorders | ✅Set | ✅Set | On the end date, even if stock remains. |
Open-ended preorders | ✅Set | ❌Not Set | Runs until manually stopped or stock runs out. |
Note: The End Date is a hard stop—preorders will not continue beyond this date, even if stock is available.
Preorder Limits (Stock-Based Ending)
This section helps prevent overselling by setting a maximum preorder quantity.
Limit Options
- Unlimited → Preorders continue until the end date (or indefinitely if no end date is set).
- Set a limit per product → Preorders stop when the specified quantity is reached.
Scenario | Preorder Limit | End Date | Preorder Stops When... |
Preorder for 100 units only | 100 units | ❌Not Set | When 100 units are preordered. |
Preorder up to 200 units until Dec 31 | 200 units | ✅Set | Whichever comes first: Dec 31 or 200 units sold. |
No limits, open indefinitely | ❌Unlimited | ❌Not Set | Runs until manually disabled. |
Note: If a preorder limit is reached, the preorder automatically stops, even if the end date has not arrived.
How Preorder Availability & Limits Work Together
Scenario | Start Date | End Date | Preorder Limit | Preorder Stops When... |
Preorder runs for 30 days or up to 500 units | ✅Aug 1, 2024 | ✅Aug 31, 2024 | ✅500 units | Whichever happens first: Aug 31 or 500 units sold. |
Preorder for unlimited stock but time-bound | ✅Aug 1, 2024 | ✅Aug 31, 2024 | ❌Unlimited | Preorders end on Aug 31. |
Preorder stops when stock runs out | ✅Aug 1, 2024 | ❌Not Set | ✅300 units | Stops when 300 units are sold. |
No predefined stop condition (manual control) | ✅Aug 1, 2024 | ❌Not Set | ❌Unlimited | Preorders continue until manually disabled. |
Notes:
- Preorders Always Stop at the End Date (if set), regardless of stock availability.
- Preorders Always Stop When the Limit is Reached, even if an end date exists.
- No End Date + No Limit → Preorders must be manually disabled when needed
FAQs
Q1: Can I set both an end date and a stock limit?
A: Yes! The preorder will end at whichever happens first—the end date or the limit being reached.
Q2: What happens if I set an end date but don’t set a stock limit?
A: The preorder will continue accepting orders until the end date, regardless of how many units are sold.
Q3: What happens if I set a stock limit but don’t set an end date?
A: The preorder stops automatically when the limit is reached.
Q4: What if I don’t set either an end date or a stock limit?
A: Preorders run indefinitely until you manually disable them.