Preorder Overview

Preorder overview

A preorder lets a buyer order an item before its release or while it is temporarily out of stock. On Indiegogo, preorders use a Store-style purchase flow and follow Store terms.

This matters for creators because they act as sellers for preorder purchases. Creators must define the refund policy that applies to buyers, including EU consumer refund rules when they apply. For more information, see Terms of Service.

This article is for creators who offer preorders and buyers who place them.

What a preorder is

A preorder is a sale of goods that are not yet available or temporarily out of stock, awaiting a new print run.

On Indiegogo, the creator offers the preorder as the seller. The buyer places an order through a Store-style flow.

Preorder vs crowdfunding

Preorders and crowdfunding can look similar, but they follow different rules.

Area	Crowdfunding	Preorder
Purchase model	Backers support a project during a funding campaign.	Buyers place an order through a Store-style flow.
Funding goal	A funding goal may determine whether the project succeeds.	There is no funding goal.
Creator commitment	The project moves forward if the campaign succeeds.	The creator commits to delivering the product regardless of the number of orders.
Delivery date	Delivery timing may depend on the campaign and fulfillment stages.	The creator must state the expected delivery date in the offer.

Start a preorder as a creator

To offer preorders on Indiegogo, contact Indiegogo Support through the Indiegogo contact form.

The Support team explains the setup requirements and next steps.

Shipping, delivery, taxes, and issues

The creator, as a seller, handles shipping, delivery, returns, and product complaints. Tax handling follows the same rules as in crowdfunding.

Indiegogo is not a party to the sales contract between the seller and the buyer. For more information, see Terms of Service.

Buyers contact the seller first about shipping, delivery, returns, and product complaints. Creators handle buyer issues according to their preorder terms and refund policy.

If the seller and buyer cannot resolve an issue, the buyer or creator can contact Indiegogo Support and include the order details.

Payments

Buyers choose a payment method at Checkout. Available payment methods and currencies depend on the buyer’s country and selected currency.

Payments go through Adyen, Indiegogo’s payment processor.

Creators can review preorder orders in their project’s order management section.

Cancellations and refunds

Creators must define the refund policy for preorder purchases.

If a buyer purchases as a consumer in the EU, they may have the right to withdraw from a distance contract within 14 days. The Terms of Service explain the rules, timelines, and exceptions.

For refunds and complaints, buyers contact the seller first because the seller manages the sales process.

Find or manage preorder orders

Buyers can find preorder orders in Your dashboard > Pledges & orders.

Creators can manage preorder orders together with other orders for the project.