How to add a Backorder Button to your Shopify store
If a product on your Shopify store has sold out and you are restocking it, add a backorder button to improve your cash flow and gauge some demand for the item so you can adjust your order with suppliers accordingly. Timesact preorder Shopify app makes it easy to enable this flow in just a few steps.
Follow this link to the app page or search for the term "Timesact" on the Shopify app store and tap Install.
To allow the app to make the requisite changes to your store pages and add elements like buttons, texts, cart labels, etc., you must enable the app block that allows Timesact to communicate settings to Shopify. You can activate it directly in the app setup or in Shopify when you customize the theme.
Hit Save in the top right corner to enable the app block. Otherwise, it will not work.
You can find this step easily at all times in the Dashboard tab in the app in the Set guide section if you need to return to it later.
Go to the Settings tab in the sub-tab Templates.
Tap the New Template button on the top right corner.
Enter a unique name for the template (otherwise, it will not save) and select Template Type "Preorder" (this is the default, and we will want to use this type to allow the checkout for a sold-out product).
We will enter the button name on the next screen (Button tab). "Backorder" or any other name you wish to give the button can be entered here.
Next, we can go to the Message tab, where we can add text that will be displayed on product pages. We can use it to inform customers of discounts or when they can expect the item to ship. Example text: "This product is on backorder, shipping in 30 days. Order now for 15% off."
In this tab, you can also set a countdown timer to the restock, for example, to make it more compelling.
Next, we can add a badge to the product images on the product page and/or the collection pages. Go for something short here, like "Backorder".
Next, in the Cart tab, we can add a label for the item with information about the shipping date, for example.
If you have a specific policy for shipping backorder or sold-out items, like when everything will be shipped out, you can use the pop-up cart alert. This tab will throw a pop-up and get customers' acknowledgment of the policy.
In the Products tab on the left side navigation bar you have the button on the top right corner to Add Products.
In the next screen, you can select either by clicking individual product variants or collections, or you can choose an identifier such as a vendor or product tag.
When you're done selecting the products you wish to add to the app, tap the Next/Add button in the top right corner.
You can also find it on the bottom right corner if you are lower down the page already.
Alternatively, you can use the Tag Automation feature to do this process on autopilot.
On the next screen, you'll need to select the template you created earlier for the backorder settings.
In the following screen, you can set things like how the app should manage stock, backorder quantity limits, and a start and end date for your preorder campaign.
If these settings are not important for you feel free to go with the defaults.
To create a backorder option, Shopify requires a selling plan. In this screen, you can enter your settings for payment type, discount, inventory policy, and shipping date.
You can also choose to create multiple selling plans if different products have different discounts or restocking times.
If these settings are not important for you feel free to go with the defaults here as well.
Once you finish all the selections and settings, tap the Save button in the bottom right corner.
It's always a good idea to check the pages and ensure all the elements look good. You can easily do this by tapping the eye icon on the right side of each product variant added to the app.
Alternatively, you can just navigate to the product page on your website.
Remember you have 24/7 support on chat or email at support@timesact.com if you get stuck at any step on the list.
Step 1 - Install the app on your Shopify store
Follow this link to the app page or search for the term "Timesact" on the Shopify app store and tap Install.
Step 2 - Turn on the app block for the Timesact app
To allow the app to make the requisite changes to your store pages and add elements like buttons, texts, cart labels, etc., you must enable the app block that allows Timesact to communicate settings to Shopify. You can activate it directly in the app setup or in Shopify when you customize the theme.
Hit Save in the top right corner to enable the app block. Otherwise, it will not work.
You can find this step easily at all times in the Dashboard tab in the app in the Set guide section if you need to return to it later.
Step 3 - Create a custom template for your backorder products
Go to the Settings tab in the sub-tab Templates.
Tap the New Template button on the top right corner.
Enter a unique name for the template (otherwise, it will not save) and select Template Type "Preorder" (this is the default, and we will want to use this type to allow the checkout for a sold-out product).
We will enter the button name on the next screen (Button tab). "Backorder" or any other name you wish to give the button can be entered here.
Next, we can go to the Message tab, where we can add text that will be displayed on product pages. We can use it to inform customers of discounts or when they can expect the item to ship. Example text: "This product is on backorder, shipping in 30 days. Order now for 15% off."
In this tab, you can also set a countdown timer to the restock, for example, to make it more compelling.
Next, we can add a badge to the product images on the product page and/or the collection pages. Go for something short here, like "Backorder".
Next, in the Cart tab, we can add a label for the item with information about the shipping date, for example.
If you have a specific policy for shipping backorder or sold-out items, like when everything will be shipped out, you can use the pop-up cart alert. This tab will throw a pop-up and get customers' acknowledgment of the policy.
Step 4 - Add your products to the app
In the Products tab on the left side navigation bar you have the button on the top right corner to Add Products.
In the next screen, you can select either by clicking individual product variants or collections, or you can choose an identifier such as a vendor or product tag.
When you're done selecting the products you wish to add to the app, tap the Next/Add button in the top right corner.
You can also find it on the bottom right corner if you are lower down the page already.
Alternatively, you can use the Tag Automation feature to do this process on autopilot.
Step 5 - Select the template you created for your backorder products
On the next screen, you'll need to select the template you created earlier for the backorder settings.
Optional step 1 - Additional settings
In the following screen, you can set things like how the app should manage stock, backorder quantity limits, and a start and end date for your preorder campaign.
If these settings are not important for you feel free to go with the defaults.
Optional step 2 - Change the selling plan settings
To create a backorder option, Shopify requires a selling plan. In this screen, you can enter your settings for payment type, discount, inventory policy, and shipping date.
You can also choose to create multiple selling plans if different products have different discounts or restocking times.
If these settings are not important for you feel free to go with the defaults here as well.
Once you finish all the selections and settings, tap the Save button in the bottom right corner.
You are now done! Congrats!
It's always a good idea to check the pages and ensure all the elements look good. You can easily do this by tapping the eye icon on the right side of each product variant added to the app.
Alternatively, you can just navigate to the product page on your website.
Remember you have 24/7 support on chat or email at support@timesact.com if you get stuck at any step on the list.
Updated on: 05/02/2025
Thank you!