Everything you need to know about backorders

A backorder is an order you accept for a product that is not in stock at that moment. You put the order on hold, reorder from your supplier, and fulfill it as soon as new stock arrives. This lets you capture demand without keeping everything in stock all the time.

With a backorder, you accept an order for a product that is not in stock at that moment. Instead of losing the sale, you place the order on hold and fulfill it as soon as new stock arrives. For webshops and marketplace sellers, a backorder is a way to capture demand without having to keep everything in stock all the time. In this article you'll learn what a backorder is, how the process works, and how to manage backorders smoothly.

How a backorder works

A backorder happens when a customer orders something that is temporarily sold out. The order is accepted and flagged, so it's clear which products and how many of them still need to be delivered. Once new stock comes in, you pick the order back up and ship it.

1. The customer places an order for a product that is not in stock.

2. The order is accepted and recorded as a backorder, with an expected delivery time for the customer.

3. You reorder the product from your supplier or manufacturer.

4. As soon as the stock arrives, the order is processed, packed, and shipped.

Your inventory management is critical here: you need to know exactly what's on the shelf, what's on the way, and what's already promised to customers. Otherwise you'll commit to products you can't deliver.

Why backorders are useful

Well-managed backorders keep customers who would otherwise turn to a competitor. You capture demand without holding large buffer stocks, which cuts storage costs and the risk of dead stock. Backorders also give you valuable signals: a product that is constantly on backorder is a clear sign to adjust your purchasing and stock forecast.

The flip side is that a backorder only pays off when the communication is right. An unexpected wait or a vague status update costs trust. Keep delivery times realistic and proactively let customers know about delays.

Managing backorders without the headaches

Tracking orders from several sales channels separately quickly leads to mistakes and oversells. With ShopLinkr you process every order from bol, Shopify, WooCommerce, Kaufland, and other channels in one central place. A few things that make managing backorders easier:

• Real-time inventory sync across all your channels, so you never sell what you don't have. With stock forecasting you see in advance when something is about to run out.

• Purchase advice per supplier, so you reorder on time and backorders don't drag on longer than they need to.

• Pick lists and barcode scanning: as soon as stock arrives, you clear open orders quickly and accurately with smart pick lists.

• One-click shipping labels for carriers like PostNL, DPD, and MyParcel, with track and trace sent back to the sales channel automatically.

Frequently asked questions about backorders

What happens if a backorder can't be fulfilled?

You let the customer know. They can then choose to wait longer or cancel the order. Clear communication prevents most of the frustration here.

Can you cancel a backorder?

Yes. As long as the order hasn't been processed and shipped, a backorder can be canceled.

Is a backorder the same as a delayed delivery?

No. A backorder means the product is temporarily out of stock but is intentionally being restocked and shipped later. It is not a sign of poor service, as long as you hit the delivery time you promised.

Want to manage backorders and your entire order processing in one place? With ShopLinkr you connect your sales channels and carriers and keep track of stock and orders effortlessly. You can try it free for 14 days.