Pre-ordering items on amazon can be pretty convenient. Many products and services come packaged with nice juicy bonuses if you pre-order, and even if you don’t, it’s nice to be able to enjoy your product the moment it becomes available.
That being said, if you’re reserving a product ahead of time, when does the payment go through?
Does Amazon charge for pre-orders right away? The answer depends on the seller, but in general you can count on the charges coming through once your order is being prepared to ship.
When Does Amazon Charge For Pre-Order?
Pre-orders are not charged to your card immediately but a few days ahead of the release date. Typically, when the product ships or is about to leave the warehouse. Amazon only charges customers once the shipping process has started.
Once you’ve entered in your credentials for a pre-ordered purchase on Amazon, it can be a bit confusing as to when your payment will actually be charged for the transaction. In order to get your goods on time and ready-to-go, it’s always a good idea to have sufficient funds available for any pre-orders.
Reserving a copy of that new game for yourself is all well and good, but if you don’t have sufficient funds when the transaction processes, then you’re in for a bad time.
So when does Amazon charge for pre-orders? As we mentioned before, this can vary depending on the seller and the product. However, for most pre-orders, you can expect your payment to be processed as soon as the product is ready to start shipping.
For example; if you order a copy of a new board game before the product is released, you can expect your payment to be processed after the release date, once the item is being processed for shipping.
In some cases, items that are in high demand can go through a couple rounds of shipping new orders in order to catch up with their pre-orders. So it’s good to be prepared for a wait if your item is in high demand.
If there are any issues with processing your payment, Amazon will usually email you to resolve the issue rather than cancel your order.
To learn more about pre-orders and when Amazon charges you, keep reading…
What Is A Preorder On Amazon And How Does It Work?
A pre-order is an order that is placed for an item that is not yet shipping. Manufacturers and sellers offer pre-orders for items in order to generate hype and start making money before an item is ready to be shipped out.
Sometimes companies will offer special promotions or package deals available only through pre-order in order to incentivize ordering the product ahead of time.
So how do pre-orders work on Amazon? The process is fairly straightforward. Simply find an item that is available for pre-order and click on the “Pre-order Now” Button, where the “Add to Cart” button would normally be for a regular item. The process should be almost identical to a regular order; you fill out your shipping and payment information and Amazon will reserve your order to be shipped when the product is ready.
You won’t be charged for the order right away; Amazon will process the payment once the item is ready to be shipped. Make sure to keep your confirmation email and any relevant order information such as your order number in case you need to contact customer service about your pre-order.
One convenient aspect of Amazon pre-orders is that Amazon features a “Pre-order Price Guarantee”. This means that if the price of a product changes prior to shipping, you will be guaranteed the lowest price available.
This way, customers don’t end up paying more if the price of an item drops before shipping. If there is any problem with processing your payment, Amazon will email you to get the issue resolved before the item ships.
Does Amazon Take Payment Straight Away On Pre-Orders?
So, if I make a pre-order on amazon, is my payment method charged immediately? Does amazon take payment straight away for pre-orders?
No, Amazon will not charge for your item right away. Since many things about a pre-order product can change before it is ready to ship, Amazon will not process your payment until the item actually ships.
This way they can ensure consistency of price and quality for each customer. As mentioned earlier, Amazon will contact you if there is any issue processing your payment. You will be able to manage or cancel your order if this happens.
If you want to avoid delays with your order, make sure that there are funds available so that your payment can be processed on the day of release.
Does Amazon Charge You For Preorders?
Amazon won’t charge you anything more than the standard price of the product. There isn’t a ‘pre-order fee’ or anything of that sort.
It will just lock in the price and charge you the amount once the item starts the shipping process.
This makes it easy to set-and-forget purchase.
Do Amazon Pre-Orders Arrive On Day Of Release?
Pre-orders become available for shipping once the items are released. Sometimes, however, you can end up waiting a while before the item actually makes it to you.
For things like video games or movies, this can be disappointing, since you miss out on the experience of getting the item before anybody else. So how can you make sure that the item is delivered on the day of release?
Although it isn’t always an option, some items are eligible for Release-Date Delivery. Your address also has to be eligible, so people living close to an Amazon fulfillment center will have an easier time getting these items delivered on time. The Release-Date Delivery service delivers to any ZIP code in the continental US.
Orders to Hawaii, Alaska, or international destinations are not eligible. If the item and your address are eligible, you will see “Release-Date Delivery” as an option for shipping when you go to check out. If you don’t see this option when selecting your shipping method, then the item is not eligible.
The shipping cost for release-date delivery will be different for each item. For Amazon Prime members, release-date delivery is free if you select Two-day shipping. Luckily, if the item is not delivered on time, you will be refunded the shipping cost for your package.
This does not count if a delivery was attempted, but you were not there to receive the package. Not all pre-order items are available with tracking, but you will see the order on the “Track Your Package” page if tracking is available. Release-date delivery is not available outside the continental US.
Want to learn more about Amazon? Check out these related posts like how to get a receipt from Amazon and does Amazon check returns?
Conclusion..
Amazon only charges customers when the order has begun the shipping process. For pre-orders, that typically means a day or two before the release date of the product.
Some items at Amazon are available for Release Date delivery which is a great added bonus if you want to get your product ASAP.