TikTok Shop: backorders

About this article

This article explains how to enable and process backorders on TikTok Shop. 

Table of contents

Introduction

Setup

• On TikTok Shop Seller Center
• On ChannelEngine

Order lifecycle

FAQs

Introduction

You can import orders with the status In backorder from TikTok Shop US. That means if the product is out of stock but expected to be restocked soon, a buyer can still place an order. 

Once the stock becomes available again for the product that is on backorder, ChannelEngine updates the status of the order to New, and you can proceed to fulfill the order.

Processing backorders can be a good way to generate sales when the product is temporarily unavailable.

Setup

On TikTok Shop Seller Center

Backorders are only available to select sellers on TikTok Shop US. If you are eligible for backorders, enable backorders on the TikTok Shop Seller Center:

1. From the sidebar menu, go to Orders, Fulfillment performance.
2. Scroll down to the Fulfillment performance – backorder section and click Activate.

3. If you meet the eligibility criteria, click Enable now.

   

Once activated, enable backorders on each product individually.

1. From the sidebar menu, go to Manage products.
2. Click Add new product or choose an existing product to edit.

3. Under Sales information, select the Activate back order checkbox.

   

4. Configure the following settings:
   • Back order - the number of stock units that you place on backorder.
   • Handling time -  the number of business days you require to ship the order. Create the shipment within the handling time plus one day. Missing this deadline leads to late shipment penalties and automatic cancelation after seven days.

A product can have both regular and backorder stock at the same time. The backorder stock is used only after the regular stock is depleted.

To learn more about backorders on TikTok Shop, check out TikTok's article Backorder (BO).

On ChannelEngine

To receive orders with the status In backorder on TikTok Shop, contact your customer success manager or the ChannelEngine Support team to enable backorder processing on your tenant.

To learn more about the In backorder status on ChannelEngine, check out the article ChannelEngine: orders.

Order lifecycle

1. A buyer places an order for the product that is on backorder on TikTok Shop US.
2. The regular product stock is depleted, but the backorder stock is available.
3. ChannelEngine imports the order with the In backorder status.
4. You replenish the stock and send a stock update to ChannelEngine.
5. ChannelEngine updates the status of the order to New.
6. You acknowledge the order and create a shipment. 

FAQs

Can I disable backorders on a product?
Yes. To disable backorders on a product, clear the Activate backorder checkbox on TikTok Shop Seller Center. Once deactivated, the product is processed with regular stock. When the product is out of stock, buyers cannot place an order for it, and the product appears as out of stock.