Understanding pre-orders on Qogita

Pre-orders give you access to more stock, larger quantities, and often better pricing, but they work differently from standard orders. This article explains how pre-ordering works at Qogita, why fulfillment rates differ from on-floor stock, what delivery estimates actually mean, and what to expect throughout the process.

How pre-ordering works

A pre-order is an offer for stock that isn't yet on the supplier's warehouse floor. Unlike standard orders, where good are physically available and ready to be shipped, pre-order stock either still needs to be sourced, or is on its way to the supplier.

This opens up stock that wouldn't otherwise be available:

Better availability; access to products that may be out of stock elsewhere
Larger quantities; often up to 10000 units per product
Competitive pricing
Full product ranges; access to entire brand catalogues

⚠️ The trade-off is that pre-orders carry more uncertainty than standard orders. Suppliers source stock from upstream brands; Hence, delays can happen, and occasionally stock sells out before it ships.

Setting fulfillment and delivery expectations

Fulfillment rates for pre-orders are lower than for in-stock orders, typically around 80-95%. Delivery estimates are exactly that, estimates. We do our best to make them as accurate as possible, but they should not be treated as guaranteed dates.

💡 This is not a platform failure. It reflects how wholesale pre-ordering works: suppliers place orders with upstream brands after your order is confirmed, and those brands sometimes ship less than expected, or later.

What this means in practice;

You may receive fewer units than ordered; partial fulfillment is common. You will only be charged for what is actually shipped.
Delivery may be later than estimated; treat the delivery date as a guide, not a guarantee. Build buffer into your purchasing plans.
- International logistics; goods arriving from outside the EU may experience delays in transit or customs clearance.
- Global supply chain events; shipping routes and transit times can be affected by international events.
- Manufacturing schedules; some suppliers place orders with manufacturers on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, which may extend waiting times.

In some cases, orders are cancelled late; In some cases, cancellations or shortfalls are only communicated close to the expected delivery date. This is because it only becomes clear whether the stock is available when the upstream supplier has confirmed the shipment, which happens at the end of the sourcing process.

How to identify a pre-order on Qogita

Pre-order offers are clearly labelled throughout the platform so you know always what you're ordering before you commit.

On the supplier inventory page; When browsing a pre-order supplier's inventory, you'll see a notification at the top of the page flagging that this supplier has extended delivery times and that fulfillment rates may differ from standard in-stock suppliers. This appears before you've invested time building up to the minimum order value.

On product pages; Pre-orders are clearly marked with an estimated delivery label (e.g. "Estimated delivery: 4 weeks"). Click the underlined delivery badge to see a tooltip with more detail on what to expect.

Pre-orders and Down payments

To protect your cash flow, most pre-orders on Qogita use a two-stage payment structure rather than requiring full payment upfront.

⚠️ Pre-orders cannot be cancelled once placed. You must pay the remaining balance when contacted. If you do not pay the second installment, the goods will not be shipped and your down payment will not be refunded.

How it works;

Pay 30% upfront when you place your order, via bank transfer (currently the only payment method for down payments)
Supplier sources and receives the stock, hence you are not paying for stock that is still in production
Supplier confirms final quantities; you can see the confirmed units and any units that won't be fulfilled on the order page before paying
You will receive an email to notify you when the remaining balance is due, with payment details included. You can also complete payment directly from the order page
Pay the remaining 70%; the order page will show an "awaiting payment" status so it's clear there is an outstanding action
Your order ships; only after the remaining balance is received; details will be available as usual

💡 A small number of pre-order offers require full payment upfront because the specific supplier requires it. You will see this clearly ("Full payment upfront") when selecting your supplier.

How to check out a pre-order

Pre-order and in-stock suppliers are checked out separately. This means you receive invoices, can submit claims, and get refunds faster, without having to wait for pre-orders to be delivered first.

In stock suppliers can be checked out together as a single combined order. Use the "Checkout X suppliers" button in the In stock tab of the cart summary, or use the "Checkout this supplier" button on any individual supplier cart.

Pre-order suppliers must be checked out one at a time. Use the "Checkout" button next to each supplier in the Pre-order tab of the cart summary, or use the " Checkout this supplier" button on the individual supplier card in your cart.