“Backordered” is one of those words that can make a shopper immediately start asking questions. Can I still buy it? How many are available? When will it ship? And perhaps most importantly, did the store actually mean to let me order this?
BigCommerce is giving merchants better ways to answer those questions. As of September 1, BigCommerce backorder messaging is generally available, giving stores more options for showing backorder availability, quantities, and shipping expectations throughout the shopping experience.
That might not sound like the flashiest eCommerce update of the year. But when inventory is temporarily unavailable, a little clarity can go a long way.
BigCommerce Is Bringing Backorder Information Into the Shopping Experience
The update allows backorder information to appear at several important points in the customer journey. That includes the product detail page, cart, checkout, and order confirmation.
Depending on how a store is configured, shoppers can see whether an item is available for backorder, how much of their order will be backordered, and what they should expect when it comes to shipping. BigCommerce has also added settings that let merchants control whether those messages appear.
That is a lot better than letting customers place an order and discover the inventory situation afterward.
Merchants Get More Control Over the Message
BigCommerce has added several new backorder display settings through its inventory tools. Merchants can control whether shoppers see quantities on backorder, backorder messages, availability prompts, quantities ready to ship, and shipping expectation messages.
Stores can also customize some of the language shoppers see. For example, BigCommerce provides settings for an availability prompt and a default shipping expectation message when a cart contains a backordered item.
That flexibility matters because “backordered” can mean very different things depending on the business. One merchant might expect new inventory next Tuesday. Another might be waiting several weeks.
Customers would probably like to know which situation they are signing up for.
Backorders Can Keep a Sale Alive
Running out of inventory does not always have to mean losing the order.
If a merchant knows more stock is coming, accepting backorders can give shoppers the option to buy now rather than leave and search somewhere else. The catch is that customers need to understand what they are buying and when they can expect it.
That is where this update gets interesting. BigCommerce can surface inventory and shipping information before checkout instead of leaving customers to wonder what “backordered” means for their particular purchase.
Clear expectations will not make inventory arrive any faster, unfortunately. They can make the wait much easier to understand.
The Timing Makes Sense for Holiday Inventory
Backorders become especially interesting when demand starts moving faster than expected.
Holiday promotions, marketplace sales, and sudden product spikes can quickly chew through available inventory. Merchants may still have purchase orders or replenishment inventory on the way, but the storefront has to decide what happens in the meantime.
A clearer backorder experience gives merchants another option between “in stock” and “sorry, come back later.”
It also puts more pressure on the inventory information behind the scenes. If a store promises that an item is available for backorder, the merchant needs confidence in what is already committed, what is coming in, and what customers have been promised.
This Is Really an Inventory Story
The customer-facing message is only one part of the equation.
Behind every “available for backorder” message is an inventory decision. Merchants need to know what is on hand, what has already sold, what has been backordered, and what inventory may be arriving from suppliers.
That gets even more complicated for multichannel sellers. A BigCommerce store may be accepting backorders while the same products are also selling on Amazon, eBay, Walmart, or another channel.
Ordoro helps multichannel merchants bring orders and inventory into one place, making it easier to keep track of what is selling across channels. Backorders may give merchants another way to capture demand, but accurate inventory still has to keep the whole operation grounded in reality.
FAQs About BigCommerce Backorder Messaging
What is BigCommerce backorder messaging?
BigCommerce backorder messaging lets merchants show shoppers information about products that are available to purchase even when some or all of the requested quantity is not currently ready to ship.
Where can shoppers see backorder information?
BigCommerce says backorder availability, quantities, and shipping-expectation information can appear across the product detail page, cart, checkout, and order confirmation.
Can BigCommerce show how many items are backordered?
Yes. BigCommerce includes settings for displaying the quantity on backorder, as well as inventory data that tracks backordered quantities.
Can merchants customize the backorder message?
BigCommerce provides controls for backorder messaging and customizable prompts, including an availability prompt and default shipping expectation message.
When did BigCommerce make backorder messaging generally available?
BigCommerce announced general availability on September 1, 2026. The feature had appeared in earlier platform updates before reaching general availability.
Nobody Likes an Inventory Surprise
Backorders can be useful. Surprising a customer with one is considerably less charming.
BigCommerce’s latest update gives merchants more ways to set expectations before an order is placed and keep those expectations visible as the shopper moves through checkout. For sellers heading into a busy holiday season, that extra clarity could be particularly useful.
And if BigCommerce is only one place your products are selling, the inventory behind those messages matters even more. Ordoro can help keep orders and inventory organized across BigCommerce and your other sales channels, so everyone is working from a clearer picture of what is actually available.
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