--- title: "Split fulfillments" description: "Split a mixed order so in-stock items ship right away while the preorder item is fulfilled later." url: https://help.stoqapp.com/preorders/split-fulfilment-for-preorders/ product: "Preorders" section: "Fulfillment and shipping / Holds and splits" last_updated: 2026-09-28 --- # Split fulfillments > Split a mixed order so in-stock items ship right away while the preorder item is fulfilled later. Use this guide if a mixed order, one with both preorder and in-stock items, should ship in two parts instead of waiting for the preorder item. By the end, the order stays as one order with one payment, but you fulfill it as two separate shipments: the in-stock items right away, the preorder item when it's ready. ## Before you begin | Requirement | Detail | |---|---| | Paid plan | Available on Lite and above | | Unfulfilled status | Set the fulfillment status to Unfulfilled first | | Mixed orders | Splitting only happens when an order has both preorder and in-stock items | ## What customers will see When a customer orders preorder and in-stock items together, STOQ splits the order into two fulfillments after checkout: - The **in-stock items** become one fulfillment, ready to ship immediately. - The **preorder item** becomes a separate fulfillment that waits until you're ready. It stays a single order, so the customer pays once and sees the order as normal. Each fulfillment gets its own shipping and tracking, so the customer can receive the in-stock items first and the preorder item later. ## Set it up On a phone, this menu is collapsed. In the **Shopify mobile app**, tap the **STOQ** logo at the top of the screen to open it, then choose the section named below. There is no hamburger icon. See [Finding the STOQ menu](https://help.stoqapp.com/general/getting-started-with-stoq/#finding-the-stoq-menu). 1. **Open the Shipping section** 1. In the left menu bar of the STOQ app, click **Preorders**. 2. Click the **Offers** tab. 3. Click the offer you'd like to edit. Its **Overview** tab opens, showing the **Customize** button, a live preview, and the offer's **Products** section. 4. Click the **Customize** button to open the editor. 5. In the sidebar, click **Shipping**. [Image: Preorders Offers tab in the STOQ app](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/r1.png) [Image: The offer Overview tab with the Customize button](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/r2.png) [Image: The Shipping section in the offer editor](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/s1.png) 2. **Set the fulfillment status to Unfulfilled** Under **Fulfillment status**, select **Unfulfilled**. Split fulfillments only appears with this status. [Image: The Unfulfilled fulfillment status selected](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/f2.png) 3. **Enable Split fulfillments** Under **Fulfillment options**, click **Configure** to expand the options, then check **Split fulfillments for preorders**. Turning it on turns off Hold all fulfillments and Separate orders, which are mutually exclusive. [Image: The Configure link under Fulfillment options](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/g8.png) [Image: The Split fulfillments for preorders option with Save changes, in the offer editor](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/f5.png) 4. **Save changes** Click **Save changes** at the top right of the editor. The setting applies to orders placed afterward. ## Check your setup Place a test order with one in-stock item and one preorder item. In the Shopify order, confirm there are **two fulfillments**: the in-stock one fulfillable now, the preorder one separate. A 100% discount code or Shopify's Bogus Gateway avoids a real charge. ## Troubleshooting ### Split fulfillments does not appear as an option Set the offer's fulfillment status to **Unfulfilled** first. It only appears with that status. ### You can't turn on Split fulfillments It requires a paid plan (Lite and above). ### Split fulfillments won't stay on Check whether **Hold all fulfillments** or **Separate orders** is also enabled. The three are mutually exclusive, so turning one on turns off the others. ### An order isn't splitting into two fulfillments Confirm the order actually mixes preorder and in-stock items. Splitting only happens on mixed orders; an order with only preorder items has nothing to split. ## FAQ ### How is this different from Separate orders? Split fulfillments keeps everything in one order and keeps deposits and partial payments working. Separate orders creates a new order for the preorder items and requires turning off the purchase option, which disables deposits. ### Does splitting charge the customer extra shipping? No. The customer pays once at checkout. Splitting changes how you fulfill the order, not what they're charged. ### Can I use a deposit with split fulfillments? Yes. Unlike Separate orders, Split fulfillments keeps the Shopify purchase option, so deposits and partial payments still work. ### Does turning this on affect orders already placed? No. It applies to orders placed after you save; orders already placed keep their original fulfillment setup. ### Can I separate a preorder out of an order that's already been placed? No. STOQ can't retroactively split an order that already exists. Split fulfillments (and [Separate orders](https://help.stoqapp.com/preorders/separate-orders-for-mixed-preorders/)) only change how new orders are handled going forward. For an order that's already placed, ship the in-stock items now by fulfilling just those line items in Shopify, and fulfill the preorder item later. ## Related guides - [Choose a fulfillment setup](https://help.stoqapp.com/preorders/choose-preorder-fulfillment-setup/): Decide which fulfillment status and option to use. - [Hold all fulfillments](https://help.stoqapp.com/preorders/place-entire-order-on-hold/): Hold the whole order, including in-stock items. - [Separate orders for mixed preorders](https://help.stoqapp.com/preorders/separate-orders-for-mixed-preorders/): Move preorder items into their own order. - [Unfulfilled: setup and flow](https://help.stoqapp.com/preorders/unfulfilled-preorder-fulfillments/): The status Split fulfillments requires.