Can I let customers place orders for products that have not yet arrived?

For example:

🌱 A new product is about to launch, and you want to accept orders in advance.

📦 Products are in transit and expected to arrive next month.

🧵 Handmade products are only produced after the customer places an order.

🎁 Festive gift boxes require collecting orders in advance before arranging production in batches.

👕 New apparel has not yet been stocked, and you want to confirm customer demand first.

These situations may all be suitable for selling through **product pre-orders (Pre-order)**.

The key to product pre-orders is not only letting customers buy in advance, but ensuring that before they place an order, they clearly understand:

🛍️ What product are they buying?

🎨 Which variants can they choose?

📅 When does pre-ordering open?

🚚 When is shipping expected?

💳 How should they pay?

📦 Is the product limited in quantity?

🔄 How will delays or order cancellations be handled?

When arranging pre-order products in the WeiCity Shop, merchants can first compile complete pre-order information, then configure settings based on the features supported by the current product editing page.

Note that marking a product as "Pre-order" on the product page does not necessarily mean the system has automatic pre-order, deposit payment, inventory reservation, or staggered shipping features.

Specific operations should be based on the features WeiCity currently actually provides.

Pre-sale refers to a merchant accepting customer pre-orders before the product reaches the agreed delivery conditions, and supplying the product according to the arrangements explained in advance.

In-stock usually means the merchant already has products available for supply.

For example:

📦 Inventory is already in the warehouse.

🛒 Customers can buy them.

🚚 The merchant arranges shipment through the regular order process.

Actual processing time still depends on the merchant's operating arrangements.

Pre-sale products may not have arrived yet, or may need to be made after the order is received.

For example:

🌱 New products have not yet been launched.

📦 Products are in transit.

🧵 Products need to be made.

🎁 Products need to be purchased in bulk.

In-stock products: Usually have available inventory and can be handled through the regular stocking process.

Pre-sale products: Customers need to accept the waiting time and delivery arrangements explained in advance.

Pre-sales can help merchants:

📊 Understand customer demand in advance.

📦 Plan purchase quantities.

🧵 Schedule production time.

🎁 Prepare festival products.

🛒 Process orders in batches.

However, pre-sales also require merchants to accurately assess their supply capacity.

If the promised delivery time is unreasonable, it may actually increase customer complaints and after-sales issues.

📌 Pre-selling a product is not simply collecting payment in advance; it requires clear product, payment, and delivery arrangements.

Different products are supplied in different ways, and not every product needs to be pre-sold.

For example:

The merchant is preparing to launch a new season of clothing.

It can be shown in advance:

🎨 Color.

📏 Size.

🖼️ Product photos.

📅 Estimated shipping time.

For example:

👜 Handmade bags.

🎁 Custom gifts.

🧵 Handmade fabric crafts.

🪵 Woodwork pieces.

These products may need to be made only after an order is received.

For example:

☕ Insulated cups.

📱 Phone accessories.

🛠️ Hardware tools.

🏠 Home goods.

The merchant has arranged procurement, but the products have not yet entered the warehouse.

For example:

🧧 New Year gift boxes.

🎄 Christmas gifts.

💐 Mother's Day flower arrangements.

🎁 Corporate gift sets.

Merchants can open pre-orders in advance based on their actual supply arrangements.

For example:

🪑 Chairs in a specified color.

🛋️ Furniture in specific sizes.

🪵 Custom wooden products.

If a product has any of the following issues, a fixed shipping time should not be promised lightly:

❌ The supplier has not yet confirmed production.

❌ Product specifications may still change significantly.

❌ The arrival time cannot be reasonably estimated.

❌ There is no reliable basis for the supply quantity.

❌ Cancellation and refund arrangements cannot be clearly explained.

📌 Pre-sales are suitable for products with clear supply plans, rather than passing uncertain supply situations directly to customers to bear.

Pre-sale products may involve several time points.

Merchants should explain each one separately to avoid customers mistakenly thinking the pre-order deadline is the shipping date.

Indicates when customers can start placing pre-orders.

For example:

Pre-orders are accepted starting November 1.

Indicates when the merchant plans to stop accepting pre-orders for this batch.

For example:

The deadline is November 10.

Indicates when the merchant expects to hand the products over to the delivery provider.

For example:

Expected to ship in batches from November 20 to November 25.

Indicates when customers are expected to receive the products after they are shipped.

Actual delivery times may be affected by:

🚚 Delivery area.

📦 Logistics arrangements.

🌧️ Weather conditions.

📅 Public holidays.

and other factors.

For example:

Estimated shipping date: November 20.

This means the merchant plans to send the products out on this day.

However, it does not mean customers will definitely receive the products on November 20.

📅 Pre-order period: November 1 to November 10.

🚚 Estimated shipping: November 20 to November 25.

📦 Shipping method: Shipped in batches according to order processing progress.

📍 Delivery time: Subject to actual delivery arrangements.

For example:

❌ Arriving soon.

❌ Shipping immediately.

❌ Will be sent out shortly.

If a specific date cannot be confirmed for the time being, the merchant should state a reasonable estimated range and the related uncertainties.

📌 The clearer the pre-sale timing, the easier it is for customers to decide whether they are willing to wait.

Because customers cannot receive pre-sale products immediately, product pages need to provide more complete explanations.

It is recommended to clearly indicate the pre-sale nature.

For example:

Canvas Zip Tote Bag | Pre-Sale Edition

Or:

Stainless Steel Insulated Cup | New Product Pre-Order

It is recommended to prepare:

📷 Main product image.

🔍 Detail photos.

🎨 Different colors.

📏 Size information.

📦 Package contents.

If sample images, design drawings, or rendered images are used, their nature should be explained to avoid customers mistakenly thinking all details have been finalized.

For example:

🎨 Color.

📏 Dimensions.

☕ Capacity.

👜 Style.

Instructions:

💰 Product selling price.

📦 Set contents.

🚚 Applicable delivery fees.

💳 Actual payment arrangements.

For example:

⏰ Start date.

🛑 Deadline.

🚚 Estimated shipping time.

For example:

📦 Whether the quantity is limited.

🎨 Whether different specifications have separate quantities.

Explain the applicable:

📝 Cancellation method.

💳 Refund arrangements.

📅 Postponement handling.

Let customers know how they can contact the merchant if they have questions.

📌 Pre-sale product information should let customers understand the main purchase conditions before paying.

The same pre-sale product may come in multiple colors and sizes.

However, the available quantities for different specifications may not be the same.

Product: Casual Top Pre-Sale Edition

⚪ White + M: Can accept 20 pre-orders.

⚪ White + L: Can accept 15 pre-orders.

🔵 Navy Blue + M: Can accept 10 pre-orders.

The above quantities are hypothetical.

Because customers may concentrate purchases on one particular version.

For example:

The white M size has already reached the acceptable pre-order quantity.

However, the white L size can still continue accepting pre-orders.

If only the total quantity for the entire product is recorded, excessive orders for a specific specification may be overlooked.

For example:

TEE01-WHT-M.

TEE01-WHT-L.

TEE01-BLU-M.

Merchants can use the SKU correspondence to check pre-order quantities for different versions.

For example:

The merchant plans to accept pre-orders for 20 white M-size tops.

However, the warehouse may currently have none of them.

Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish between:

📦 Actual in-stock quantity.

🛒 Quantity of pre-orders already accepted.

📊 Planned supply quantity.

Whether the following is provided:

📦 Pre-sale quantity.

🎨 Quantity limits by specification.

🏷️ SKU pre-order quota.

📅 Batch-based pre-sales.

Please refer to the current product management features.

📌 Pre-sale quantities should be set according to actual supply capacity to avoid accepting orders that exceed deliverable capacity.

Pre-sale products may use different payment methods.

However, which method is actually used depends on the merchant's operating arrangements and the payment features WeiCity currently supports.

Customers pay the full agreed product amount when placing the order.

For example:

Product selling price: RM100.

The customer pays RM100 as agreed.

The merchant then arranges supply according to the pre-order instructions.

Some merchants may use staged payment.

For example:

Product selling price: RM100.

Initial deposit: RM30.

Remaining balance: RM70.

The above is only an example to illustrate the payment structure.

💰 Deposit amount.

🧾 Remaining balance.

📅 When the balance is due.

💳 Payment methods.

📝 Conditions for order confirmation.

🔄 Cancellation and refund arrangements.

If WeiCity's current product type does not provide automatic deposit or balance functionality, you must not simply write "pay deposit" in the product description and cause customers to believe the system will collect payment in stages automatically.

Merchants need to confirm:

💳 What the actual checkout page displays.

🧾 How much the system will charge.

📋 How the order is recorded.

💬 How customers receive later payment instructions.

Merchants should check the actual order and payment records.

Do not assume payment has been received merely because a customer submitted an order.

📌 The pre-order payment method must match the actual checkout process to avoid customers misunderstanding payment terms.

A customer may purchase the following in the same order:

📦 One in-stock item.

🛍️ One pre-order item.

In this case, the merchant needs to clearly state the shipping method.

For example:

The customer purchases:

☕ In-stock thermos bottle.

👜 Pre-order tote bag.

The merchant agrees to wait until the tote bag arrives, then ship both items together.

For example:

📦 The thermos bottle is shipped first.

👜 The tote bag is shipped after it arrives.

If this method is used, the following must be explained:

🚚 Whether it will be sent as two packages.

💰 How shipping fees are calculated.

📋 How to track the delivery status of each package.

If the current system is not suitable for handling mixed orders, the merchant may clearly explain separate ordering arrangements based on the actual purchase process.

Whether the following is provided:

📦 Batch shipping.

🚚 Multi-package delivery.

📝 Partial shipment status.

🔗 Multiple logistics records.

The current order management functions shall prevail.

📌 When in-stock and pre-order products are bought together, the shipping method should be clearly explained before the customer places the order.

Pre-order products may be affected by production, transportation, or supply arrangements.

For example:

🏭 Factory production delay.

🚚 Increased transit time.

📦 Insufficient arrival quantity.

🔍 Product needs to be re-inspected.

🎨 A certain color is temporarily unavailable.

If the expected shipping arrangements change, the merchant should promptly confirm the scope of impact and explain it to the affected customers.

For example:

👜 Canvas tote bag pre-order.

For example:

🔵 Navy blue delayed.

⚪ Off-white supplied as originally planned.

For example:

Original estimated shipping:

November 20 to November 25.

Updated estimated shipping:

November 28 to December 3.

The above dates are examples.

Based on the actual contact channels, you may explain to customers:

📦 Which products are affected.

📅 The new estimated shipping arrangement.

💬 How to contact the merchant.

🔄 How the matter can be handled going forward.

If the pre-order remains open, the relevant instructions should be updated so that customers who order later can see the new arrangements.

Customers who have already ordered also need to receive relevant notifications based on their actual orders and contact arrangements.

If a customer requests cancellation or a refund due to the delay, handle it according to the purchase conditions already disclosed, platform rules, and applicable laws.

📌 When a pre-order is delayed, promptly explaining changes is more important than having customers keep asking about shipping progress.

The following is a hypothetical case illustrating pre-order information. It does not represent a fixed WeiCity setting or automatic processing rule.

Canvas Zip Tote Bag | New Arrival Pre-Order.

⚪ Off-white.

🔵 Navy blue.

Fill in according to actual product information.

RM49 / piece.

The above price is an example.

November 1 to November 10.

Shipped in batches from November 20 to November 25.

Full payment is made at the time of ordering.

Provided that the actual checkout process matches the instructions.

Handled according to confirmed pre-order quantities and the actual supply plan.

If a customer buys in-stock and pre-order products together, they are handled as described in advance on the page.

Inquire through the contact channels listed on the product page.

Product: Canvas Zip Tote Bag | New Arrival Pre-Order

👜 This product is a pre-order item and is not an in-stock item that ships immediately.

🎨 Available colors: off-white, navy blue.

📏 Product size: as shown on the actual page.

💰 Product price: RM49 / piece.

📅 Pre-order period: November 1 to November 10.

🚚 Estimated shipping: arranged in batches from November 20 to November 25.

💳 Payment method: according to the actual payment arrangement shown on the current product checkout page.

📦 If the order includes other products, the shipping method shall follow the page instructions and the actual order arrangement.

💬 For pre-order progress, please inquire through the contact channels provided on the product page.

Because customers can understand before purchasing:

🛍️ What the product is.

🎨 What options are available.

💰 How much they need to pay.

📅 How long they need to wait.

🚚 When shipping is expected.

💬 How to get in touch if they have questions.

📌 A pre-order product page should let customers understand the purchase conditions, rather than discovering after ordering that they need to wait.

Before publishing the product, it is recommended to first organize complete pre-order information.

Then configure it according to the settings actually provided on WeiCity's current product editing page.

For example:

🌱 New product launch.

📦 Expected arrival.

🧵 Made to order.

It is recommended to clearly label:

"Pre-order"

Or:

"New Arrival Pre-Order"

Prepare:

📷 Main image.

🔍 Detail images.

🎨 Specification images.

📏 Size chart.

For example:

🎨 Color.

📏 Dimensions.

👜 Style.

Based on actual supply capacity, organize the pre-orderable quantity for each specification.

Includes:

⏰ Start time.

🛑 Deadline.

🚚 Estimated shipping time.

Check whether the product description matches the actual checkout process.

For example:

📦 Ship whole order at once.

🚚 Batch shipping.

🏪 Other delivery methods actually offered.

For example:

📝 Order cancellation.

💳 Refund handling.

📅 Delay arrangements.

Confirm:

📱 Displays properly on mobile.

🎨 Specifications are clear.

💰 Prices are accurate.

📅 Pre-order period is easy to find.

💳 Payment process matches the instructions.

Whether WeiCity provides a dedicated pre-order switch, order period limits, automatic closing, deposits, batch shipping, or pre-order quota management should be determined by the current actual features.

If there is no corresponding automation feature, merchants need to confirm which practical management methods they can use, and should not rely only on product copy to assume the system will handle it automatically.

📌 For pre-order products, first confirm the supply and payment arrangements, then publish according to the features actually available.

Publishing a pre-order product does not mean merchants can wait until the shipping date to take action.

During the pre-order period, orders and supply status must continue to be checked.

For example:

How many orders have been accepted?

How many pieces have been pre-ordered for each specification?

For example:

Which colors are more popular?

Which sizes have already reached their supply limit?

For example:

Which orders have been paid?

Which orders have not yet completed payment?

Are there any abnormal payment records?

For example:

Has the product been produced?

Has shipping been arranged?

Has the expected arrival time changed?

For example:

📦 How many pieces were actually received?

🎨 Is the color correct?

📏 Does the size match the order?

⚠️ Is there any damage or missing parts?

For example:

Which orders are ready to ship?

Do they need to be processed in batches?

For example:

Customers ask about the shipping time.

Customers need to confirm the specifications.

Customers request order changes.

For example:

Insufficient supply.

Expected shipping delay.

Customer requests cancellation.

Because merchants are accepting orders for future delivery.

Only by continuously checking actual supply progress can problems be identified sooner and handled in a timely way.

📌 Pre-order management is not only about accepting orders. It also includes following up on supply, checking payments, and delivering as agreed.

A pre-order product page should first provide clear purchase information.

On this basis, an accurate product name and description also help make the page topic easier to understand.

For example:

“Canvas Zip Tote Bag | New Arrival Pre-order”

Instructions:

🎨 Color.

📏 Dimensions.

🧵 Material.

📦 Package contents.

For example:

The expected shipping date or date range.

If sample images or rendered images are used, this should be clearly stated.

For example:

“What is the difference between pre-order and in-stock products?”

“What should you know before buying a pre-order product?”

Whether a product page is crawled, indexed, or displayed by search engines also depends on platform technical settings, page accessibility, content quality, and other factors.

📌 The foundation of pre-order product SEO is still authentic, complete, and easy-to-understand product information.

A product pre-order is when a merchant accepts customer reservations before the product has reached the agreed delivery conditions, and arranges supply according to the stated terms.

The main difference lies in the product's supply status and delivery timing.

This depends on actual supply capacity, purchase conditions, and the features currently available in the Shop.

Whether a separate pre-order switch and related automation settings are provided depends on the current product management page.

It is recommended to clearly state the expected shipping date or a reasonable time range.

No.

The pre-order deadline is when this batch stops accepting reservations, while the shipping date is when the product is scheduled to be sent out.

If the current product type supports specification options, they can be set up according to the features actually available.

Not necessarily.

The pre-order quantity may represent the planned number of orders to accept, rather than the number of physical units already in the warehouse.

This depends on the actual purchase arrangements and the payment features currently supported.

Whether staged payment collection is supported automatically depends on the payment features actually available.

This depends on the current product and order features, as well as the shipping arrangements the merchant actually provides.

Whether order splitting, partial shipments, and multi-package records are supported depends on the current order management features.

Confirm the new expected arrangement promptly, notify affected customers, and handle any follow-up requests according to the applicable conditions and rules.

Whether reserved quantities are released or inventory is restored automatically depends on the current order and inventory rules.

No.

Pre-orders can help merchants understand demand in advance, but actual order volume and sales results still depend on the product, price, customer demand, and other factors.

📌 The key to pre-orders is making sure customers understand the waiting time, payment terms, and delivery arrangements before they order.

✅ Clearly label the pre-order nature of the product.

✅ The product name is accurate.

✅ The product version is clear.

✅ The main image is clear.

✅ Specification images are correct.

✅ Sample or rendered images are properly explained.

✅ Colors are complete.

✅ Dimensions are accurate.

✅ Different versions are easy to tell apart.

✅ Actual supply capacity has been confirmed.

✅ The pre-orderable quantity for each specification has been checked.

✅ Planned supply quantity has not been mistaken for in-stock inventory.

✅ The start date is clear.

✅ The deadline is clear.

✅ The expected shipping time is reasonable.

✅ Shipping and delivery times are not confused.

✅ The product price is correct.

✅ Payment methods are clear.

✅ The explanation of deposits or final payments matches the features actually available.

✅ The shipping method is clear.

✅ How mixed orders are handled is clear.

✅ The conditions for batch shipments have been explained.

✅ Cancellation conditions are clear.

✅ Refund arrangements comply with the applicable rules.

✅ The delay handling method is clear.

✅ Contact methods for inquiries are valid.

✅ Customers know how to check their orders.

✅ Browsing on mobile works properly.

✅ The pre-order information is easy to find.

✅ Product specifications and prices are correct.

✅ The actual checkout process matches the description.

✅ Check orders regularly.

✅ Follow up on production and shipping.

✅ Update shipping arrangements promptly.

✅ Affected customers receive relevant notifications.

📌 Before publishing a pre-order product, the most important step is to confirm that the merchant can supply the product under the conditions that have been stated.

Product pre-orders can be used for new product launches, expected arrivals, handmade items, seasonal products, bulk purchases, and other situations.

But a pre-order is more than accepting orders in advance.

Clear pre-order arrangements require customers to understand the following before they buy:

🛍️ Product information: what they are buying.

🎨 Specification choices: which colors, sizes, or styles are available.

📦 Supply quantity: which versions can be pre-ordered.

📅 Pre-order timing: when it starts and when it closes.

🚚 Expected shipping: roughly how long they need to wait.

💳 Payment arrangements: how much to pay and how to pay.

📦 Delivery method: how the product will be sent or delivered.

🔄 After-sales handling: how delays, cancellations, or refunds are arranged.

💬 Contact channels: how to reach the merchant if there are questions.

For merchants, pre-orders can help them understand demand in advance and plan procurement and production.

For customers, complete pre-order information helps them decide whether the product, price, and waiting time suit their needs.

🌱 Before a new product launches, organize the product information first.

📦 Before the goods arrive, confirm the supply plan.

🛒 Before accepting pre-orders, explain the purchase conditions.

💳 Before collecting payment, confirm the payment process.

🚚 Before committing to a shipping date, assess your delivery capacity.

🔄 When changes occur, notify the affected customers promptly.

Pre-order products in the WeiCity Shop should be based on clear product descriptions, realistic supply arrangements, and the order features currently supported, so that bookings and later fulfillment stay organized.

Specific pre-order settings, pre-order quantity limits, automatic closing, deposits and balance payments, inventory reservation, staged shipping, and refund handling depend on the current WeiCity Shop pages, your merchant settings, and the services you have activated.

👉 Open WeiCity: https://wei.city/