Back when I was just a customer, I always mixed these two up — Pre-order vs Backorder. Now that I’m on the other side of the counter, I can give you the real answer. You’re welcome!
What is “Pre-order”?
What it means: Buying a kit before it’s released. It’s still in production or on the way from the factory.
As a customer, I used to dislike “Pre-order.” Especially when the seller couldn’t give a reasonable answer on how long I’d have to wait. Big names like Bandai or Blokees can give an exact release date — but for most (if not all) plamo brands from China, that’s just not the case.
When I first started deltabase, I made it a point not to offer pre-orders, because I had zero control over the release dates. But a few months in — after talking to some veterans — I realised I couldn’t avoid it. If I didn’t offer pre-orders, by the time I placed my order after release, other shops would have already captured the customers who ordered early.
So, to stay in the game, I decided to do it… with conditions. I only offer pre-orders for products I’m confident will be released — after speaking directly with manufacturers, people connected to the brand, or for well-established brands with a good track record.
I don’t just put any kit up for pre-order. If you see one on deltabase, you can rest assured it’s coming.
What is “Backorder”?
What it means: Buying a kit after it’s released, but while I’m waiting for new stock to arrive.
A backorder means the product exists and is already in the market — but my current batch has sold out. The next shipment is either already on the way or being arranged.
Unlike pre-orders, backorders are for products that are already available, so the wait is usually shorter. How fast it arrives depends on my supplier and shipping time.
Pre-order vs Backorder—product availability
Just a few months into the business, I learned that many plamo producers in China love to announce upcoming products… then take forever to make them a reality.
Why? Because coming up with the design is the easy part — anyone who can do 3D modelling can design a kit in a day (ok, maybe I’m exaggerating, but you get the idea).
The real challenge is creating the mold and producing the kit. Mold-making is expensive, and some companies lose the courage (or funding) and stop there. Even if they push ahead, there’s still time needed for test builds and refinements.
This is why availability for pre-orders is never 100% guaranteed unless the brand is reputable and production is already in motion.
Pre-order vs Backorder—waiting time
As mentioned earlier, between ideation and actual production, very few companies can give an accurate ETA — that’s why pre-orders can take God-knows how long.
For backorders, if it’s just me running out of stock and my supplier still has some in their warehouse, the wait is short. But if the initial release is sold out everywhere and the factory needs to do another production run, it can take longer.
No matter what, backorders almost never take as long as pre-orders.
Pre-order vs Backorder—risk
For pre-orders, the biggest risk is that the release gets delayed — or in rare cases, cancelled — especially if the company decides not to proceed after prototyping. This is why I only open pre-orders for products I’m confident will be made, based on direct talks with the manufacturer or trusted contacts.
To thank you for trusting me, I price pre-orders at a good discount. If you don’t mind waiting, the pre-order phase is your best chance to save.
Backorders are generally lower risk since the product already exists. But delays can still happen if restock shipments take longer, or if the factory decides not to produce more after the first run.
Bonus tip: If you actually read until here — congratulations! Here’s a shocking truth about the plamo industry in China: not every brand produces their own products. In fact, only a handful currently have full production capability, from design to 3D, to mold making and manufacturing. And that’s my main criteria when choosing which products to offer for pre-order — because brands that own their factories are far more likely to see it through.
