This article explains how to set up the Shopify app "Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder" and points to be aware of. Setting up this app lets you easily add restock notification and pre-order features for out-of-stock products. However, there are also a few points to be aware of when using it, so we recommend understanding these before considering adopting the app.
What is Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder?
Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder is a Shopify app that lets you add two features: restock notifications and pre-order sales. It's available starting from a free plan, and can automatically accept restock notification sign-ups or switch to pre-order sales when a product goes out of stock. The admin screen supports Japanese, but some of the default Japanese text has minor issues, so you'll need to edit the text data for the Japanese version.
Main features of Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder
Restock notification feature
You can accept restock notification sign-ups from customers when a product goes out of stock. On the free plan, you can send up to 10 restock notifications.
The blog post below introduces restock notification apps other than Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder.
Please use it as a reference.
Pre-order sales feature
When a product goes out of stock, you can automatically switch it to pre-order sales. On the free plan, you can accept up to 5 pre-orders.
The blog post below introduces pre-order apps other than Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder.
Please use it as a reference.
Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder pricing plans
| Plan name | Lite | Essentials | Pro | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $19.90/month | $39.90/month | $69.90/month |
| Fee | - | 3% of pre-order sales | 2% of pre-order sales | 1% of pre-order sales |
| Restock notifications sent | 10 notifications | 100 notifications/month | 1,000 notifications/month | 5,000 notifications/month |
| Number of pre-orders | 5 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Features | - All notification types - Theme-matching styling - Inline/floating button - 1:1 online onboarding |
- Partial payment - Pre-order confirmation email/SMS - Pre-order discounts - Remove branding - Widget customization |
- Minimum stock level - Collection pages - Email domain settings - Regular analytics reports - Advanced templates - Priority support |
- Reminders/resend - Thank-you message - GDPR compliance - Shipping policy - Homepage integration - Pre-order limits - Additional in-app features |
How to set up Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder
Outcome
Completing the setup in this section will automatically switch a product to pre-order sales or restock notifications under the following conditions.
- If a product is "out of stock" and set to "continue selling when out of stock", it switches to pre-order sales
- If a product is "out of stock" and set to "not continue selling when out of stock", it switches to restock notifications
Setup steps
This setup assumes that you have already installed the Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder app. If you haven't installed it yet, please install it via the link below.
Install Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder here
Onboarding starts immediately after installation. Click "Get Started" to proceed through the onboarding.
Check the features you want to use, then click "Continue".
Click "Enable app embed".
Enable the embedded app named "Restock Alerts", then click "Save" in the top right of the screen.
That completes the setup.
Points to be aware of with Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder
The default Japanese text has issues
There are several places where the default Japanese text has issues, such as the wording of the restock notification button (default: "Notify me"). Beyond the setup described above, it's a good idea to also revise the wording on the restock notification and pre-order custom pages.
You can't configure pre-order conditions
Pre-order sales with Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder can only be used when a product is out of stock. If you want to run a time-limited pre-order sale, you need to first set the inventory count to 0 to enter pre-order status, and then restore the inventory count after the pre-order period ends. Similarly, for pre-orders ahead of a new product launch, you need to set the inventory count to 0 to accept pre-orders, then change the inventory count on the launch date. This kind of operation takes effort and is prone to mistakes, and the inability to configure pre-order conditions can make operations more cumbersome.
No bundling control
Since pre-order products and regular products ship at different times, there are cases where you don't want them purchased together. Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder has no bundling control feature, so you cannot prevent a pre-order product and a regular product from being ordered together.
No translation support
The text data in Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder supports only one language and cannot be translated. So if you're running a cross-border store on Shopify, this is something to be aware of.
Conclusion
Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder is a Shopify app that provides restock notifications and pre-order features for out-of-stock products. The setup process is relatively simple, but there are points to be aware of, such as unnatural default Japanese text and the inability to configure pre-order conditions. In particular, running pre-order sales can require extra effort, so it's important to consider this carefully before adopting the app. If you're running a cross-border e-commerce store, you should also keep in mind that it lacks a translation feature.
With the above points in mind, consider whether Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder fits your store's operations and needs. Used appropriately, it can help streamline inventory management and improve customer satisfaction.
The blog post below introduces recommended apps in various other categories besides Shopify apps for restock notifications and pre-order sales, including "customer acquisition," "sales growth," and "blog article enhancement." Please use it as a reference.
