Can customers pre-order or backorder out-of-stock items?

Absolutely! Pre-order and backorder capabilities maximise sales. Options include: allow backorders (customers can order despite zero stock), pre-order products (launch before stock arrives), estimated availability dates ("ships in 2 weeks"), waitlist signups (notify when back in stock), limited pre-orders (accept 50 pre-orders then stop), deposit collection (50% now, 50% on ship), and separate fulfil queues (ship backorders when stock arrives). You control messaging - "available for pre-order", "temporarily out of stock, shipping soon", or "currently unavailable". Pre-orders secure sales you'd otherwise lose. Customers appreciate knowing when products will be available rather than checking back repeatedly. The system tracks pre-order quantities separately from regular inventory. Automated emails notify customers when their backordered items ship. This feature is popular for seasonal products, limited editions, or small businesses without deep inventory.