All new preorder rules use Purchase Options for better checkout integration and order management.
Legacy Rules
Legacy rules function by adding a Line item property to the order line item to denote a preorder.
They do not support adding a fulfillment date and they do not automatically separate in-stock items and preorder items into separate shipments at the checkout or on the order page in the Shopify admin.
Purchase Options
Purchase Options rules function by using native Shopify Purchase Options / Selling plans to denote preorder items.
They allow merchants to:
Set an expected fulfillment date for preorder items.
Reschedule the expected fulfillment date of individual customer preorders and automatically notify customers of delay.
They allow customers to:
Select and pay for different shipping options for in-stock items vs. preorder items in the same order.
Cancel their preorders (this is required by Shopify).
Upgrading to Purchase Options
Open your existing rule.
Scroll to the Fulfillment section of the edit rule page.
Click Upgrade rule.
Select a Fulfillment timing option.
Click Save.
Questions?
Will upgrading affect existing preorders for the rule?
No. Preorders already placed for legacy preorder rules before they were updated will not be affected.
Do I have to upgrade my existing rules?
No. Existing Legacy rules will continue to function as-is.
Can I create a new Legacy rule?
No. New rules can only be created using Purchase Options as required by Shopify.