As a savvy online shopper, you‘ve likely come across the option to pre-order popular items on Amazon before their official release date. Pre-ordering can be a great way to ensure you get your hands on highly anticipated products like the latest gaming console, Apple device, or bestselling book. But how exactly do Amazon pre-orders work, and most importantly – when does Amazon charge you for them? Let‘s dive into the details of the Amazon pre-order policy.
How Do Amazon Pre-Orders Work?
Pre-ordering on Amazon is a simple process. When you come across an item that is available for pre-order, such as an upcoming video game or tech gadget, you can place an order for it even though it has not been released yet. You‘ll see a note on the product page indicating when the item will be released and shipped.
To place a pre-order, you add the item to your Amazon shopping cart and proceed through the checkout process as normal, selecting your shipping speed and entering your payment information. The key difference is that you will not be charged for the pre-order immediately.
When Does Amazon Charge for Pre-Orders?
One of the most common questions about Amazon pre-orders is: when does the charge actually occur? The good news is that Amazon does not charge you right away when you place a pre-order. Instead, you will see a line item for the pre-ordered product in your order history with a status of "Not Yet Shipped."
Amazon typically charges for pre-ordered items a few days before the product is released and shipped. At that point, they will send you an email confirming that your card has been charged and that your order is preparing for shipment. If you check your order status, it will update to "Shipping Soon."
So while you provide your credit card info when initially placing the pre-order, you won‘t actually be charged until close to the item‘s release date. This is a nice perk, as it means you can order in advance without fronting the money right away. Just be sure you still have adequate funds on the card when the charge does come through around the release date.
The Amazon Pre-Order Price Guarantee
Another great feature of Amazon‘s pre-order policy is their pre-order price guarantee. Many items that are available for pre-order, especially books, video games and DVDs, come with a guarantee that you will get the lowest price offered by Amazon between the time you place your pre-order and the end of the day of the release date.
Here‘s how it works: let‘s say you pre-order a video game for $60. Then a few weeks before it comes out, Amazon lowers the price to $50. You will automatically get that lower price. And if the price fluctuates multiple times before release, you‘ll always get the lowest price. If you‘ve already been charged full price and the price drops, Amazon will automatically refund you the difference within a few days.
This generous price guarantee offers peace of mind when pre-ordering. You don‘t have to worry about paying more than you have to or missing out on a deal, since you‘ll always get the best price in the end. It encourages customers to lock in their orders early.
Release Date Delivery for Pre-Orders
One of the main reasons shoppers love to pre-order from Amazon is to receive their item by the official release date. For many pre-orders, Amazon offers release date delivery, which means your package will arrive on the exact day the product launches to the public.
Release date delivery is especially common for entertainment products like video games, movies, music and books. It means that if you pre-order the latest Call of Duty game or Star Wars movie, it will likely show up at your door the same day it hits store shelves, even if you ordered weeks or months in advance! Getting it on day 1 is a big draw for eager fans.
Release date delivery is typically available for items that are fulfilled by Amazon (rather than third-party sellers). You‘ll see the release date delivery option specified on the product page and during checkout. Note that to receive your pre-order by the release date, you need to complete your order in time, based on the availability countdown shown when ordering.
For Amazon Prime members, release date delivery is usually free above a minimum order threshold. Non-Prime customers can sometimes get release date delivery by paying an extra shipping fee. Either way, it‘s a nice option to have your pre-ordered item arrive right away without having to wait longer or go to the store.
What Items Are Eligible for Pre-Order?
Amazon allows pre-orders across most of its product categories. Some of the most common pre-order items include:
- Video games and gaming consoles
- Movies and TV shows on DVD/Blu-Ray
- Books (print and Kindle editions)
- Music (CDs and vinyl records)
- Electronics like phones, tablets, headphones, etc.
- Toys and baby products
- Sports and outdoor equipment
- Tools and home improvement items
Essentially, if a product has a definitive public release date, there‘s a good chance Amazon will make it available for pre-order. Pre-orders are especially prevalent for items with high anticipation or cult followings. You‘ll often see pre-orders become available a few months before the official launch date.
Pre-Order Quantity Limits
In some cases, Amazon may put limitations on how many units of an item can be pre-ordered, either by a single customer or in total. This is most common with new gaming consoles or other products expected to have very high demand that may exceed supply at launch.
By limiting pre-orders, Amazon aims to discourage resellers from scooping up all the inventory, and to ensure a more equitable distribution to individual customers who want to purchase for their own use. It‘s their way of mitigating a single buyer cleaning them out of a hot item.
Quantity limits, if applicable, will typically be noted on the pre-order product page. It may say something like "Limit 2 per customer" or indicate that the pre-orders are sold out due to high demand. If you‘re trying to order a highly anticipated item, it‘s best to pre-order as early as possible for the best chance of securing it before any quantity restrictions kick in.
How Amazon‘s Pre-Order Policy Compares to Other Retailers
Amazon‘s pre-order price guarantee and release date delivery options make it an appealing choice over some other major retailers. Here‘s a quick comparison:
-
Walmart offers pre-orders but does not seem to have an official price guarantee policy. They charge you immediately when you place the pre-order rather than waiting until near the release date like Amazon.
-
Best Buy allows pre-orders for many electronics and entertainment products. They have a price guarantee, but will only match competitors‘ pre-order prices up until the day you place your order, while Amazon honors a lower price up until the release date. Best Buy also charges your card as soon as you pre-order.
-
GameStop is a popular choice for video game pre-orders. They require you to put down a minimum $5 deposit when pre-ordering a game, which is a notable difference from Amazon allowing you to lock in your order without any upfront charge. The rest isn‘t due until you pick up the game on release day.
-
Target‘s pre-order policy is fairly similar to Amazon‘s. They don‘t charge you until a few days before the item ships, and they offer a price guarantee if the list price drops between order and shipment.
Overall, Amazon has one of the most customer-friendly pre-order policies around. The delayed charge, price guarantee window up until release, and release date delivery give it an edge, especially for Prime members. Of course, it‘s still wise to comparison shop, as some retailers may have unique pre-order bonuses like exclusive content or collectibles.
The Psychology of Pre-Ordering
So what drives consumers to pre-order from Amazon and other retailers? There are a few key psychological factors at play:
-
Anticipation and excitement: Pre-ordering an item you‘re eagerly awaiting can give you a sense of excitement and something to look forward to. It builds anticipation as you count down to the release date delivery.
-
Fear of missing out (FOMO): For highly popular or scarce products, some shoppers worry if they don‘t lock in a pre-order, they‘ll miss their chance and have to wait a long time for a restock after launch. Pre-ordering alleviates this anxiety.
-
Desire to be an early adopter: Some consumers take pride or satisfaction in being among the first to own a cutting-edge product. Pre-ordering increases the odds they‘ll have the latest gadget or game on day 1.
-
Securing the best price: With Amazon‘s pre-order price guarantee, shoppers can feel confident they‘re getting the lowest price by ordering ahead, with no downside if the price drops later. It reduces the chances of buyer‘s remorse.
-
Convenience: Rather than having to remember to go out and buy something when it launches, pre-ordering allows shoppers to set it and forget it, knowing their purchase will simply show up at their door on release day without additional effort.
For these reasons, pre-ordering has become an increasingly popular way to shop, turning purchasing into an extended experience rather than a one-time transaction. Amazon has leaned into pre-orders as a way to gauge demand for products in advance and build buzz.
How Pre-Orders Help Amazon Manage Supply and Demand
From Amazon‘s perspective, offering pre-orders is not just a perk for customers – it also provides immense value to the company‘s logistics and inventory management. By encouraging pre-orders, Amazon gets better visibility into how many people want an item and can allocate the appropriate stock to each of its fulfillment centers.
This advance demand information helps Amazon avoid under-ordering hot products and risking stockouts and disappointed customers. But it also helps prevent them from over-ordering and having too much unsold inventory taking up costly warehouse space. Pre-orders help them more accurately predict required stock and smooth out their supply chain.
Pre-orders also allow Amazon to get a jump on shipping items before the official release date. They can sort and package pre-ordered items in advance and then send them out for delivery as soon as the release date rolls around, rather than waiting for orders to come in and scrambling to fulfill them same-day. The pre-order process allows for a steadier flow of orders and more efficient fulfillment.
The Pros and Cons of Pre-Ordering on Amazon
As we‘ve covered, there are numerous potential benefits to pre-ordering from Amazon:
Pros:
- Ensuring you can get popular items that may sell out on release day
- Getting the best price with pre-order price guarantee
- Receiving your item by the release date
- Building anticipation for a fun delivery
- Spreading out cost by ordering in advance but not being charged until closer to release
- Easy and convenient, no need to keep checking back for an in-stock item
But there are a few potential downsides to keep in mind as well:
Cons:
- Tying up funds on your credit card, even if not charged right away
- Not getting hands-on time with an item before purchasing
- Occasional risk of delays due to stock or shipping issues
- Potential for buyer‘s remorse if early reviews are poor
- Ineligible for some coupons or promotions that may come out post-launch
For many shoppers, the pros of Amazon pre-orders outweigh the cons, especially for items they are fairly certain they want to purchase anyways. But it‘s wise to assess if you‘re really committed to the item and won‘t need those earmarked funds for something else in the meantime.
Conclusion
Overall, the Amazon pre-order process offers a lot of upside to shoppers looking to secure the hottest products at the best prices in a timely manner. While not something you need for everyday purchases, pre-orders can make sense for those highly anticipated items you really want to have on day one.
Amazon‘s customer-friendly policy – like not charging until close to release, offering the pre-order price guarantee, and providing release date delivery – make it a go-to destination for eager shoppers. Understanding how Amazon pre-orders work can help you take full advantage of these perks and shop smart. Happy pre-ordering!
