How to send SMS for Preorders

STOQ can automatically send an SMS confirmation to customers as soon as they place a preorder. The text message includes the product name, shipping timeline, and your store name. You can enable preorder SMS alerts, customize the message content, and resend confirmations manually when needed.


Important: SMS charges apply. Every preorder SMS incurs a per-message charge that varies by country. Before enabling preorder SMS, review the full pricing breakdown in the SMS charges article.


Why Send SMS Notifications for Preorders


SMS notifications give your customers instant confirmation that their preorder was placed successfully.


  • Instant reassurance. Customers receive a text message seconds after checkout, so they know their preorder went through.
  • Higher open rates. Text messages are typically read faster than emails, making SMS a reliable way to confirm preorders.
  • Shipping timeline visibility. The SMS can include the estimated shipping date, so customers know when to expect their order.
  • Works alongside email. Preorder SMS alerts work independently from email notifications. You can enable both or just one.


Prerequisites


Before you can send preorder SMS notifications, make sure the following are in place.


  • Paid plan required. Preorder SMS alerts are only available on a paid STOQ plan. The toggle is disabled on the free plan.
  • Carrier verification. When you enable preorder SMS for the first time, STOQ submits your store for carrier verification. Customers can still place preorder orders during this process, but SMS confirmations will not be sent until verification is complete.
  • Customer must have a phone number. SMS is only sent to customers who provide a phone number at checkout. If no phone number is on file, the SMS is skipped.
  • Additional charges apply. Every SMS incurs a per-message charge that varies by country. These charges are in addition to your STOQ plan fee. **Review the SMS charges article for the full pricing breakdown before enabling preorder SMS.**


How to Enable Preorder SMS Alerts


Follow these steps to turn on automatic SMS notifications for preorders.


  1. Open the STOQ app from your Shopify admin.
  2. Click Preorders in the left menu bar. and click the Notifications tab.
  3. In the Preorder confirmed section, find and click the Customize SMS button.
  4. On the template editor page, find the SMS alerts section.
  5. Toggle Preorder SMS alerts to on.
  6. Click Save changes at the top of the page.




Important: Enabling preorder SMS will result in per-message charges for every SMS sent. Charges vary by country. Make sure you have reviewed the SMS charges article before turning this on.


Note: When you enable preorder SMS for the first time, a banner may appear saying "Verification in progress." This means STOQ is verifying your store with network carriers. SMS confirmations will not be sent until verification is complete. You can contact support if the verification takes longer than expected.


How to Customize the SMS Message


You can edit the text of the SMS notification to match your brand voice.


  1. Open the STOQ app and click Preorders in the left menu bar.
  2. Click the Notifications tab. and click the Customize SMS button in the SMS template card.
  3. In the Content section, edit the SMS Body field.
  4. Click Save changes when you are done.



Available Variables


Use these Liquid variables in your SMS body. They are automatically replaced with the correct values when the message is sent.


Variable

Description

{{shop.name}}

Your store name

{{products}}

Comma-separated list of all preorder products in the order

{{first_product}}

Name of the first preorder product

{{other_count}}

Number of additional preorder products (beyond the first)

{{products_count}}

Total number of preorder products in the order

{{shipping_timeline}}

Estimated shipping timeline of the first preorder product


Tip: To insert a variable, click Variables above the SMS Body field. A modal will appear with all available variables. Click Add to field next to a variable to append it to your message.


SMS Body Requirements


Keep these rules in mind when writing your SMS message.


  • The SMS body must include your store name ({{shop.name}}) and at least one product variable (e.g., {{products}}, {{first_product}}).
  • Keep the character count under 140 characters to avoid sending multiple text messages. The character counter below the field shows your current count.
  • Emojis require special encoding and may increase the cost of the message. See the SMS charges article for details.
  • An unsubscribe text is automatically appended to every SMS. This cannot be removed.


Test SMS Length


You can preview how long your SMS will be with a real product name.


  1. Below the SMS Body field, click Test SMS length.
  2. Enter a sample product name (e.g., "Floral Shirt - Medium").
  3. Review the character count to make sure your message stays under 140 characters.


How to Resend an SMS Confirmation Manually


If a customer did not receive their preorder SMS, you can resend it from the individual order page.


  1. Open the STOQ app and click Reports in the left menu bar.
  2. Click the Preorders tab, click on the order you want to resend the SMS for.
  3. On the order detail page, click the Notify dropdown.
  4. Select Send SMS confirmation.


Note: The Send SMS confirmation option only appears if the customer has a phone number on file. If the customer only provided an email, the SMS option will not be available.


How Preorder SMS Works Behind the Scenes


When preorder SMS alerts are enabled, here is what happens automatically.


  1. A customer places a preorder on your store and provides a phone number at checkout.
  2. STOQ detects the new preorder and checks that SMS alerts are enabled and your store is verified.
  3. STOQ sends a text message to the customer's phone number with the content you configured in the SMS template.
  4. The message is sent via a verified carrier network. An unsubscribe link is automatically included.


No action is needed from you after the initial setup. The SMS is sent automatically for every new preorder where the customer has a phone number.


Checking SMS Alert Status


You can quickly see whether preorder SMS alerts are active from the Notifications tab.


  1. Go to Preorders > Notifications.
  2. Look at the Status section at the bottom of the Preorder confirmed card.
  3. A green checkmark next to SMS alerts means preorder SMS is enabled. A grey icon means it is disabled.


Blocked Countries


Some countries have regulations that prevent preorder SMS notifications from being sent. If your store is affected, a warning will appear on the SMS template editor page listing the blocked country codes. Customers with phone numbers starting with those codes will not receive SMS notifications.


Tip: If you see a blocked countries warning, contact STOQ support for assistance.


Known Limitations


Keep these points in mind when using preorder SMS notifications.


  • Preorder SMS alerts require a paid STOQ plan. The toggle is disabled on the free plan.
  • Carrier verification is required before SMS messages can be sent. This process runs automatically when you first enable SMS.
  • SMS is only sent to customers who provide a phone number at checkout. Customers with only an email address will not receive a text.
  • Additional per-message charges apply and vary by country. See the SMS charges article for the full pricing breakdown.
  • The unsubscribe text is automatically appended and cannot be removed.
  • Emojis may increase message cost due to special encoding.
  • Messages over 140 characters may be split into multiple texts, increasing cost.
  • Some countries are blocked due to local regulations. Affected country codes are shown as a warning in the template editor.
  • Preorder SMS uses a separate toggle from back in stock SMS alerts. Enabling one does not enable the other.
  • Multi-language SMS is supported if multi-language is enabled in your STOQ settings. The SMS body will use the customer's locale.


Troubleshooting


If preorder SMS notifications are not working as expected, use this table to find a fix.


Symptom

Likely Cause

Fix

Preorder SMS alerts toggle is disabled

Store is on the free plan

Upgrade to a paid STOQ plan

"Verification in progress" banner appears

Carrier verification has not completed

Wait for verification to finish. Contact support if it takes longer than expected

SMS not sent for a specific order

Customer did not provide a phone number

Check the order details for a phone number. SMS is skipped if no phone is on file

SMS not sent despite toggle being on

Store is not verified or SMS is not allowed

Check that your store has been verified. Contact support if needed

Customer in a blocked country did not receive SMS

Country is restricted due to regulations

Check the blocked countries warning on the SMS template editor. Contact support for options

SMS body shows an error

Missing required variables

Make sure the SMS body includes {{shop.name}} and at least one product variable

Customer received multiple text messages

SMS body exceeded 140 characters

Shorten your SMS body to stay under the 140-character limit


FAQs


Q : When is the preorder SMS sent?

A : The SMS is sent automatically immediately after a customer completes checkout for a preorder product. No manual action is required after setup.


Q : Does enabling preorder SMS also enable back in stock SMS?

A : No. Preorder SMS and back in stock SMS have separate toggles. Enabling one does not affect the other. You can manage back in stock SMS under Back in stock alerts > Notifications.


Q : How much does preorder SMS cost?

A : SMS is billed per message and pricing varies by country. Charges are separate from your STOQ subscription. Messages longer than 140 characters may be split into multiple texts, increasing the cost. Emojis use special encoding and may also increase charges. Refer to the SMS pricing article for full details.


Q : Can I remove the unsubscribe text from the SMS?

A : No. The unsubscribe text is required for compliance and is automatically included in every SMS. It cannot be removed.


Q : What happens if a customer's phone number is invalid?

A : If the phone number is invalid or unreachable, the SMS will fail to deliver. You can review the delivery status in the STOQ app under the order details.


Q : Can I customize the SMS for different languages?

A : Yes. If multi language is enabled in STOQ, you can translate the SMS content. Use the Languages option at the top of the SMS template editor.


Q : How do I know if carrier verification is complete?

A : Once verification is complete, the Verification in progress banner will disappear from the SMS template page. The Notifications tab will also show a green checkmark next to SMS alerts.


Q : Can I resend an SMS to a customer?

A : Yes. Go to Reports > Preorders, open the order, click the Notify dropdown, and select Send SMS confirmation. This option is available only if the customer has a valid phone number.


Updated on: 18/02/2026

Was this article helpful?

Share your feedback

Cancel

Thank you!