EZ Preorder glossary of preorder and restock terms
This glossary defines the terms used in EZ Preorder & Back In Stock, the Shopify app for preorders and restock alerts, and the Shopify settings it works with. Each definition stands on its own. Labels in bold are the exact names you see in the app or in Shopify.
Available on: All plans.
Preorder terms
Preorder
A preorder is an order for a product that is not in stock yet, either because it has not been released or because it sold out and more is on the way. In EZ Preorder, a variant is sold as a preorder when it is on your Preorder List, its product is enabled, and its preorder rule matches its current inventory.
Preorder button
The preorder button is the button EZ Preorder shows in place of your theme's add to cart button when a variant is on preorder. Its default text is "Pre-order", and you can change and translate it in Configuration → Pre-order Button Text.
Preorder List
The Preorder List is the page in EZ Preorder (Preorders in the app menu) that holds every product and variant you sell as a preorder, with each variant's rule, status and note. See How to manage your Preorder List.
Preorder rule
A preorder rule decides when a variant shows the preorder button. EZ Preorder has three rules, set per variant: Always, Sold out and Specific inventory level. See What the preorder rules do.
Always rule
The Always preorder rule shows the preorder button whatever the variant's stock, and turns on Continue selling when out of stock for the variant. It suits products that are always made to order or not yet released.
Sold out rule
The Sold out preorder rule shows the preorder button only when the variant's inventory is 0 or less, and turns on Continue selling when out of stock. When stock comes back, the theme's normal add to cart button returns.
Specific inventory level rule
The Specific inventory level preorder rule sells a set number of preorder units. The preorder button shows while inventory is above 0; at 0 the variant shows as sold out. It turns off Continue selling when out of stock. It is the rule new products get when you add them to the list.
Preorder status
Preorder status is whether a product's preorders are switched on (Enabled) or off (Disabled) in EZ Preorder. A disabled product keeps its settings but shows your theme's normal button.
Scheduled preorder
A scheduled preorder has a start date, an end date or both, and EZ Preorder switches it on and off on those dates. Available on the Growth plan and above. See How to schedule preorders with start and end dates.
Custom note
The custom note is text or HTML that EZ Preorder shows above the preorder button, such as an estimated ship date. It is set per variant and per language. See How to add a custom note to preorder products.
type: preorder line item property
type: preorder is the line item property EZ Preorder adds to an item when a shopper uses the preorder button. It appears with the item at checkout and on the order. Preorder discounts and free gifts apply only to items that carry it.
preorder order tag
preorder is the tag EZ Preorder adds to a Shopify order that contains at least one preorder variant. Filter your Shopify Orders list by this tag to find preorders. See How to find and manage preorder orders.
Backorder
A backorder is an order taken for a product that is temporarily out of stock and will be restocked. In EZ Preorder, backorders use the Sold out rule. See Preorder vs backorder vs back in stock.
Presale
A presale (or pre-sale) is another word for selling a product before its release date. In EZ Preorder, presales usually use the Always rule, often with a scheduled end date.
Shopify inventory terms
Continue selling when out of stock
Continue selling when out of stock is a Shopify variant setting that lets checkout accept orders when inventory is 0 or less. EZ Preorder turns it on for the Always and Sold out rules and off for Specific inventory level. Disabling or removing a preorder does not turn it off. See Why a product still sells after its preorder is turned off or ends.
Track quantity
Track quantity is the Shopify setting that makes Shopify count a variant's inventory. Preorder rules and restock alerts read that count, so turn it on for products you use with EZ Preorder.
Negative inventory
Negative inventory is a stock count below 0 in Shopify. With the Always and Sold out rules, each preorder lowers the count, so -12 means 12 units are promised to customers that you do not have yet.
Overselling
Overselling is selling more units than you can supply. It happens when Continue selling when out of stock stays on after a preorder ends. EZ Preorder does not turn that setting off when you disable or remove a preorder.
Theme and storefront terms
App embed
An app embed is a switch in the Shopify theme editor (Online Store → Themes → Customize → App embeds) that loads an app on every page. EZ Preorder's app embed is called Pre order theme extension; preorder buttons do not appear without it.
App block
An app block is a section an app adds to the Shopify theme editor, which you place on a template. EZ Preorder has three: EZ PreOrder - Notify Me, EZ PreOrder - Free Gifts and Preorder Featured Product. App blocks need an Online Store 2.0 theme.
Theme preset
A theme preset is a saved set of settings that makes EZ Preorder fit a particular theme. Pick yours in Configuration → Theme Settings → Theme Selector. See What Shopify themes work with EZ Preorder.
CSS selector
A CSS selector is the code name of a part of your theme's page, such as its add to cart button. EZ Preorder uses selectors to find where to put the preorder button. You only change them for heavily customized themes. See How to use the advanced theme settings in EZ Preorder.
Preorder badge
A preorder badge is a label, "Preorder" by default, that EZ Preorder places on preorder product images on collection pages. Available on the Growth plan and above. See How to show preorder badges on collection pages.
Featured Pre-Order Section
The Featured Pre-Order Section is a theme section that shows one preorder product, its variants and a preorder button anywhere in your store. Available on the Growth plan and above. See How to add a featured preorder section to your store.
Custom Pre-Order Page
The Custom Pre-Order Page is a single page in your store that lists every product currently on preorder, at /apps/pre-order/all-preorders. Available on the Growth plan and above. See How to set up a custom page that lists all your preorder products.
Direct to Checkout
Direct to Checkout is a setting that sends shoppers straight to checkout when they click the preorder button. Available on the Professional plan and above. See How to enable the direct to checkout preorder button.
Payment terms
Partial payment (deposit)
A partial payment is a deposit the shopper pays at checkout, with the remaining balance charged later. EZ Preorder supports a percentage or a fixed deposit on the Professional plan and above. See How to take deposits and partial payments on preorders.
Remaining balance
The remaining balance is the part of a deposit order still to be paid. EZ Preorder charges it automatically to the shopper's saved payment method on the payment completion date. See How remaining balances are charged on preorder deposits.
Payment completion date
The payment completion date is when the remaining balance is charged: either a number of days after checkout or a fixed date (00:00 UTC). It is shown to the shopper at checkout.
Purchase option (selling plan)
A purchase option, called a selling plan in Shopify's developer terms, is how Shopify lets a product be bought on different payment terms. EZ Preorder creates a purchase option named Pre-Order for deposits while partial payments are on. See What the Pre-Order purchase option on Shopify product pages does.
Preorder discount
A preorder discount is a percentage or fixed amount off every preorder item, applied at checkout as a Shopify automatic discount named EZ PreOrder Discount. Available on the Professional plan and above. See How to give a discount on preorder products.
Free gift
A free gift is a product EZ Preorder adds to the cart at no cost when a shopper adds a preorder item from the product page. Available on the Professional plan and above. See How to give a free gift with preorder products.
Fulfillment hold
A fulfillment hold puts a Shopify order On hold so it is not shipped until you release it. EZ Preorder can hold new preorder orders automatically with Configuration → Fulfillment Order Status. See How to put preorder orders on hold until you can fulfill them.
Restock alert terms
Restock alert (back in stock alert, Notify Me)
A restock alert is an email EZ Preorder sends to shoppers who asked to hear when a sold-out product is back. Restock alerts, back in stock alerts and Notify Me alerts are the same feature. See What are restock alerts and how do they work?.
Notify Me button
The Notify Me button is the button shoppers click on a sold-out product to sign up for a restock alert. It comes from the EZ PreOrder - Notify Me theme block. See How to customize the Notify Me button and signup popup.
Restock signup
A restock signup is one shopper's request to be emailed about one variant. A signup is Active (waiting) until the alert is sent and it becomes Notified, or until you cancel it (Canceled). Plan limits count signups.
Restock revenue
Restock revenue is the order value EZ Preorder credits to restock alerts, when a shopper places an order after arriving from a restock alert email. See How to track restock signups and revenue.
Plan and billing terms
Billing cycle
A billing cycle is the 30-day period your Shopify app subscription renews on. Paid plan limits reset at the start of each cycle. The Free plan's allowance does not reset.
Plan limit
A plan limit is the number of preorders, the preorder revenue or the number of restock signups your plan includes. On Free, Core, Growth and Professional, preorders switch off at the limit. See What counts toward your EZ Preorder plan limits.
Usage charge
A usage charge is a fee added on top of the plan price for usage past what the plan includes. On the Scale plan it is 1% of preorder revenue past the included amount and $0.01 per restock alert email past 3,000. See What EZ Preorder usage charges are and when they are billed.
AI and support terms
Ada
Ada is EZ Preorder's AI support assistant. Open it with Ask Ada on the Support page; it can check your store's setup and answer questions. See How to get help and contact EZ Preorder support.
Shopify Sidekick
Shopify Sidekick is Shopify's AI assistant in the admin. It can read your EZ Preorder products, settings and results and prepare setting changes for you to save. See How to use EZ Preorder with Shopify Sidekick.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a preorder and a backorder?
A preorder is taken before a product is released or in stock; a backorder is taken while a product that normally sells is temporarily out of stock. EZ Preorder handles both: use Always for unreleased products and Sold out for backorders.
Is a restock alert the same as a back in stock alert?
Yes. Restock alerts, back in stock alerts and Notify Me alerts are the same EZ Preorder feature: an email sent to shoppers who signed up on a sold-out product.
What does Continue selling when out of stock do?
Continue selling when out of stock is the Shopify setting that lets checkout accept orders for a variant with no stock. Preorders need it on (EZ Preorder sets it for the Always and Sold out rules), and you should check it is off once a preorder ends.
Related articles
- What is EZ Preorder & Back In Stock?: an overview of the app.
- How preorders work in EZ Preorder: the full preorder lifecycle.
- What the preorder rules do: Always, Sold out and Specific inventory level in detail.
- Preorder vs backorder vs back in stock: which one to use.
- EZ Preorder FAQ: short answers to common questions.