What is a backorder?

The customer agrees to wait. The shop records the order, orders the item from the supplier, and tells the customer when it comes in. Backorders suit bigger, planned purchases such as appliances and furniture. For everyday goods like bread or drinks, customers just go elsewhere, which is simply a stock-out.

A shop has 5 ceiling fans and takes orders for 8. Three are on backorder. The supplier's lead time is 10 days, so the shop tells the three customers to expect them in about two weeks. A deposit of $20 per fan, noted on the order, shows each customer is serious and covers part of the cost.

1. Fill the 5 from stock and record the sales.
2. Write down the 3 waiting customers, their contact and what each paid.
3. Order 3 fans, plus a few for the next buyers.
4. When the delivery arrives, record it and call the customers first.

• Give an honest date. Add a few days to the supplier's promise.
• Keep a written list. A backorder in your head will be forgotten.
• Give a way out. Let the customer cancel and have a refund if it takes too long.
• Do not count it as stock. Backorders are demand you have not met, and they help you decide how much to order.

Do not take payment for items you cannot get. A backorder is a promise, and a broken promise costs more than a lost sale.

Shopkeepa's first release has no dedicated backorder feature. Keep your own list of waiting customers, and record the sale when the stock arrives and is handed over. When you record the delivery with Stock In, the count is updated.