Pre-orders are a powerful way to launch products, validate demand, and collect revenue before inventory arrives. They improve cash flow, reduce risk, and create launch buzz — but setting them up in WooCommerce can feel confusing because of multiple plugins and settings. Below are two reliable, tested approaches I use on live stores, plus guidance on common pitfalls and FAQs.
Quick Answer: Two Methods
– Method 1 — Merchant by aThemes (Free + Premium): Best for beginners or small stores that want a simple, all-in-one toolkit (pre-orders, discounts, countdowns, bundles, etc.). Charges at time of order; adds a “Pre-Ordered” status in WooCommerce.
– Method 2 — YITH Pre-Order for WooCommerce (Premium): Best for stores that need advanced automation and payment options (upfront, charge upon release, or pay later), notifications, and granular control.
What Is a WooCommerce Pre-Order?
A pre-order lets customers buy a product before it’s available. You can charge immediately or collect payment later. Pre-orders are useful for limited runs, new launches, seasonal items, or digital releases where you want to guarantee a copy or fund production.
Why Use Pre-Orders?
– Better cash flow: Accept money before fulfillment to help fund production and shipping.
– Demand validation: Measure real interest and avoid overproduction.
– Launch buzz: Offer early-bird discounts, waitlists, and scarcity to drive sales.
Which Plugin Should You Use?
– Merchant (Free + $79/yr premium): Very easy, beginner-friendly, includes a dedicated Pre-Orders module and growth tools.
– YITH Pre-Order (Premium ~$140/yr): More advanced features for scheduling, payment automation, email notifications, and detailed per-product control.
Method 1 — Merchant by aThemes (Free Option)
Best for small/medium stores wanting an all-in-one toolkit and easy setup.
Summary of features:
– Dedicated Pre-Orders module
– Rules for products, categories, or tags
– Shipping dates, discounts, custom button text
– Pre-Ordered order status in WooCommerce
– Extra growth modules (bundles, scarcity, live sales, etc.)
Setup (condensed):
1. Install and activate Merchant (WordPress plugin repo).
2. Go to Merchant » Modules and open the Pre-Orders module.
3. Create a rule: name it, enable it, and choose a trigger (Specific Products is simplest).
4. Set shipping date/availability, pre-order start/end, user conditions or exclusions.
5. Optionally add a discount (percentage/fixed) and customize the pre-order button text and style.
6. Choose pre-order mode:
– Treat whole order as pre-order (delays entire order if any pre-order item is present).
– Allow only pre-orders (prevents mixing pre-order and in-stock items).
7. Save and enable the rule. Check product pages and WooCommerce » Orders (look for ‘Pre-Ordered’ status).
Tips:
– Test the product page on mobile and desktop to ensure button fits your theme.
– Merchant’s free version covers most use cases; premium unlocks advanced modules.
Method 2 — YITH Pre-Order for WooCommerce (Premium)
Best for stores selling limited-edition or high-demand products that need automated payments and notifications.
Summary of features:
– Per-product pre-order management
– Payment options: Upfront, Upon Release (auto-charge), Pay Later
– Email notifications for admins and customers
– Date formatting, button customization, cart options, quantity limits
– Optional Stripe integration for automatic charges
Setup (condensed):
1. Purchase, install, and activate YITH Pre-Order (premium recommended).
2. YITH » Pre-Order » General Options:
– Enable pre-order features.
– Decide whether out-of-stock products automatically become pre-order.
– Set who can pre-order (guests, registered users, roles).
– Configure cart rules (prevent mixing or block checkout) and save.
3. Payment Options:
– Choose charge upfront, charge upon release (requires a gateway that saves card tokens like Stripe), or pay later.
– Pick order status for pre-orders (e.g., ‘Pre-Ordered’) and save.
4. Customization:
– Set how availability dates display (user format), adjust price display, change button text/colors, and availability messages.
5. Notifications:
– Configure admin alerts (e.g., reminders before availability) and customer emails (confirmation, release notice, payment reminder).
6. Optional: Enable YITH Stripe and add API keys to support automatic charges upon release.
7. Per-product setup:
– Edit a product, open the Pre-Order tab in Product Data, enable pre-order for this product.
– Set start/end dates, availability date, per-product pre-order price (or discount), max quantity per user, and payment type.
– Publish/update the product and test the checkout flow.
8. Monitor pre-orders in WooCommerce » Orders (look for ‘Pre-Ordered’).
Tips:
– Prefer upfront or automatic charges to reduce unpaid orders.
– Use an SMTP plugin (e.g., WP Mail SMTP) to ensure delivery of pre-order emails.
– Test a full pre-order workflow including email confirmations.
Common Pre-Order Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
– Unrealistic availability dates: Build buffer time for production and shipping.
– Mixing pre-orders with in-stock items: Decide whether to block mixed carts or clearly warn customers; otherwise whole orders may be delayed.
– Missing notifications: Test emails and use SMTP to prevent spam folder issues.
– Not limiting quantities: Set per-user or total limits to avoid overselling.
– No clear refund policy: Publish a pre-order refund and cancellation policy before launch.
Frequently Asked Questions
– Can I offer discounts on pre-orders?
Yes. Merchant and YITH both support percentage or fixed discounts for pre-orders.
– Do pre-orders work for digital/downloadable products?
Yes. Mark digital products as Virtual/Downloadable and set a pre-order availability date.
– Which gateways work with pre-orders?
Standard gateways like Stripe and PayPal work for upfront payments. Auto-charging upon release typically requires gateways that save card tokens (Stripe/Braintree).
– Can I limit pre-order units?
Yes. YITH lets you set max quantity per user; Merchant can also be configured to limit via rules or product settings.
– What if I need to change the release date?
Both plugins let you update availability dates; YITH can automatically notify customers of changes.
– Do I need an SMTP service?
Strongly recommended. Use WP Mail SMTP or similar to ensure transactional emails reach customers.
Final notes
Pre-orders are an effective way to launch and validate products when set up thoughtfully. Merchant is ideal for simple, all-in-one setups; YITH is better for advanced control, automated payments, and large campaigns. Whichever you choose, test the entire flow (product page, cart, checkout, emails, order management) before going live, set realistic dates, and communicate clearly with customers.