How to Get Shopify Pre-Orders Without an App
Introduction
Your Shopify store can experience unprecedented success levels with the implementation of pre-orders. Your Shopify store permits customers to place advance orders then maintains product sales after inventory depletion. The implementation of this method will boost both sales numbers and customer connections. Utilizing a Shopify pre-order template can streamline the process, ensuring a smooth customer experience from start to finish.
Shopify lacks a built-in pre-order status by default thus forcing business owners to adopt alternative methods for pre-order function activation. A manual pre-order process exists in Shopify stores through alternatives to pre-order Shopify apps. Using a custom Shopify product template can also provide a tailored experience for your customers without the need for third-party applications.
The following guide demonstrates exactly how to activate pre-orders through Shopify without using any third-party application for a smooth customer experience. You’ll also learn how to implement a pre-order checkout system for your Shopify store.
How Setting Up Pre-Orders on Shopify
Shopify pre-order functionality starts by configuring payment collection through manual methods. Your ability to process payments becomes available after you complete the order due to this setup. Following that you must create new template pages for pre-order products and add listed items onto those pages using the Shopify pre-order template.
The Shopify pre-order apps function without charging fees, but you can run pre-orders from your portal without needing any app.
This is the step-by-step guide to doing it:
Step 1: Manually Record Payments:
- Sign into your Shopify admin dashboard and access Settings through the menu.
- Select Payments from the left-menu.
- Click Manage from the Payment capture method field to proceed.
- Set your payment capture method to manual and click Save.
Note: The Shopify system has a standard 7-day window during which payment is effective. The authorization period exceeding 7 days would require implementing a third-party payment gateway.
Step 2: Allowing Customers to Order Out-of-Stock Items
The functionality of pre-orders requires status functionality that enables customers to place orders for items even when supplies run out. With the pre-order Shopify template, you can customize how customers interact with out-of-stock products.
- Steps to allow out-of-stock orders:
- Open the Products section from the Shopify admin panel.
- Start by selecting the product you need pre-orders for.
- Continue down to the Inventory section of the page.
- Enable product sales through the option Keep selling even if out of stock.
- Click Save.
Ready to launch your Shopify store? We will create a standout site with our development and optimization to build a store that sells.
Contact us now and get your store up and running fast!
Step 3: Creating a Pre-Order Product Page Template
Standard product pages on Shopify do not enable pre-order features. Shopify standard product pages do not support pre-orders, so users need to generate a custom Shopify product template.
The creation of a pre-order product page shopify template requires these steps:
- Open the Shopify admin panel, then navigate to Online Store > Themes.
- Navigate to Customize by selecting the three dots then click Edit Code.
- Open the left-hand menu then select Add a new template.
- Create the Template as a Product with JSON format to handle pre-order management.
- Click Done.
Copy the Shopify pre-order product page template code and save it.
The Shopify pre-order product page template allows you to customize it according to your business requirements. Non-professional coders should seek help from professionals for their coding needs. Theme code errors and misconfigured settings can destroy your digital business and store programs.
Step 4: Adding Products to the Pre-Order Template
The next step requires you to link products with the pre-order Shopify template. Using the pre-order checkout method, you can streamline the customer’s purchasing process for pre-order items.
Before adding products to the pre-order template, follow these steps:
- Use the Products option in Shopify admin.
- Choose the product you want to make available for pre-order from the selection.
- Select the pre-order template within the Theme template setting.
- Click Save.
Use the pre-order template for inserting a new product. The chosen product will receive a pre-order designation through a storefront label.
Output :
Challenges in Managing Pre-Orders
Manually managing pre-ordered items proves to be quite difficult. Some difficulties you will encounter in this process include:
- Businesses must track pre-ordered stock levels through inventory management systems.
- Customer expectations: Clearly communicating shipping timelines and expected delivery dates.
- Delivery teams must verify that payment transactions record without errors.
Best Practices for Pre-Order Sales
- All pre-ordered materials need proper labeling for easy identification.
- Show estimated shipping times for consistent customer expectation management.
- A regular stream of order progress updates should be sent through email and SMS communication channels.
- Pre-order customers can access discounts as part of your promotional offers.
Let Shopify Experts Support Your Pre-Order Process
The pre-order function embedded on your Shopify website proves an effective method to boost your merchandise sales. Addition of pre-order checkout functionality on Shopify through its website poses technical difficulties which most companies find hard to grasp, especially when employees lack expertise in IT. The implementation of Shopify pre-order apps or a Shopify pre-order template can help you overcome these hurdles.
The implementation of Shopify pre-order templates and tools helps manage the complexity of Shopify pre-order capabilities. Our team of professional Shopify developers has helped thousands of businesses manage Shopify pre-orders through their site without any additional application.