Choose a fulfillment setup
Preorder fulfillment is controlled by two settings in your offer's Shipping section: Fulfillment status, what happens to the preorder item, and Fulfillment options, what happens to the rest of a mixed order. Use this guide to pick the right combination; setting these correctly matters most for mixed orders, when a customer buys a preorder item and an in-stock item together. Each setup below links to its own guide for the click-by-click steps.
Before you begin
- Split fulfillments, Hold all fulfillments, Separate orders, and per-product timelines require a paid plan (Lite and above). Unfulfilled, Scheduled, and On hold fulfillment statuses are available on all plans.
- Scheduled and On hold both require the Shopify purchase option (selling plan) to be on for the offer. Turning the purchase option off resets fulfillment status to Unfulfilled and payment to full.
STOQ controls preorder messaging, fulfillment timing, holds, and split behavior. Shipping methods and rates, local pickup, and local delivery are controlled by Shopify, not STOQ.
Choose your setup
Fulfillment status, in Shipping → Fulfillment status, decides how the preorder item behaves. It affects only the preorder item; in-stock items in the same order always ship right away.
- Unfulfilled: the preorder item is available to fulfill right away, like a normal order.
- Scheduled: the item shows as Scheduled, then automatically becomes Unfulfilled on a date you set, either a specific date or a number of days after purchase. You can still fulfill it earlier. Unavailable when you set a different timeline per product.
- On hold: the item is held until you release it manually. In-stock items in the same order aren't affected.
On hold holds only the preorder item. To hold the entire order, including in-stock items, use Hold all fulfillments under Fulfillment options instead, they have opposite effects on in-stock items.
Fulfillment options, in Shipping → Fulfillment options, decide what happens to the rest of a mixed order. Pick at most one, turning one on turns the others off.
- Split fulfillments for preorders: in-stock items ship now and the preorder ships later, in the same order. Only available when the fulfillment status is Unfulfilled. Keeps deposits and partial payments. See Split fulfillments for preorders.
- Hold all fulfillments: holds the whole order, including in-stock items, until you release it. Use this when nothing should ship until the preorder is ready. See Place the entire order on hold.
- Separate orders for mixed preorders (Experimental): the Move preorder items to a separate order checkbox in the offer editor. Moves preorder items into a separate order, so the original order's in-stock items can ship on their own. Turns off the Shopify purchase option, which disables deposits and partial payments, and requires order-editing permission.
Pick your setup by goal
Ship in-stock items now, preorder later, and allow a deposit
Set the offer like this:
- Fulfillment status: Unfulfilled.
- Fulfillment options: Split fulfillments for preorders.
- In-stock items ship immediately; the preorder is a separate fulfillment in the same order.
- Deposits and partial payments still work.
Hold only the preorder items; ship in-stock items now
Set the offer like this:
- Fulfillment status: On hold.
- Leave Fulfillment options off.
- The preorder fulfillment is held until you release it; in-stock items ship right away.
- Release from STOQ (Reports → Preorders → Orders, or, for a single offer, check its orders in the offer itself: Preorders in the left menu → Offers tab → open your offer → Orders tab) or Shopify admin.
Hold the entire order, including in-stock items
Set the offer like this:
- Fulfillment status: Unfulfilled or On hold.
- Fulfillment options: Hold all fulfillments.
- Nothing ships until you release the order.
Ship preorders automatically on a date
Fulfillment status: Scheduled, then set a specific date or a number of days after purchase. The preorder becomes fulfillable on that date; you can fulfill earlier if you want.
Run preorders without the Shopify purchase option and still hold them
Without the purchase option, only Unfulfilled status is available. To hold, use Fulfillment options: Hold all fulfillments. See Hold preorder fulfillments without the purchase option.
When you need the Shopify purchase option
| With purchase option (default) | Without purchase option |
|---|---|
| Unfulfilled, Scheduled, or On hold | Unfulfilled only |
| Deposits and partial payments available | Full payment only |
| Hold preorders with On hold or Hold all | Hold preorders with Hold all only |
Separate orders requires the purchase option to be off.
Troubleshooting
In-stock items ship when you wanted the whole order held
You used On hold, which holds only the preorder item. Use Hold all fulfillments under Fulfillment options to hold the whole order.
Scheduled or On hold isn't available
Turn on the Shopify purchase option (selling plan) for the offer, both statuses require it.
Deposits or partial payments disappear
Check whether Separate orders for mixed preorders is enabled. It turns off the purchase option, which disables deposits.
Split fulfillments for preorders isn't available
It only works when the fulfillment status is Unfulfilled.
Hold all fulfillments, Split fulfillments, Separate orders, or per-product timelines aren't available
They require a paid plan (Lite and above).
Limitations
Separate orders for mixed preorders is Experimental and requires order-editing permission in your Shopify admin.
FAQ
Can I change the setup after orders have come in?
Yes, but changes apply only to orders placed afterward. Existing orders keep the setup they were placed with. To move existing orders' dates, reschedule them from the orders report.
Does any of this affect orders with only in-stock items?
No. These settings only change how preorder items and mixed orders behave. An order with no preorder item is unaffected.
What's the simplest setup to start with?
Unfulfilled status with no fulfillment option: preorders are fulfillable like normal orders and you ship when you're ready. Add holds or scheduling later if you need them.
Can I use a deposit with any fulfillment status?
Deposits and partial payments work with Unfulfilled, Scheduled, and On hold, they need the purchase option and Shopify Payments. Separate orders is the exception: it turns the purchase option off, which disables deposits.
Related guides
Set up fulfillment and shipping options
The full walkthrough of the Shipping section.
Split fulfillments for preorders
Ship in-stock items while the preorder waits.
Hold preorders without the purchase option
Hold fulfillments when the selling plan is off.
Handle orders after inventory arrives
Release and fulfill once stock is in.
