Is it possible to automatically split a Shopify order into two when a customer buys both in-stock and pre-order items?

You can automatically split in-stock and pre-order items into sub-orders (fulfillments) without a Shopify app. The Shopify Split Shipping at Checkout feature enables you to do so. They will still sit under the same order number though.

A screenshot of a Shopify order containing an in-stock item and a preorder item split into two sub orders (two fulfillments) automatically.
If you have Split Shipping at Checkout feature enabled, the in-stock and pre-order items are split into two sub-orders automatically.

Example:

  1. Your customer adds an in-stock item and a pre-order item to their cart.
  2. If you've enabled the Split Shipping at Checkout feature, Shopify will automatically split the items into two sub-orders.
  3. Shopify will ask your customers to choose and pay for the shipping options for both the in-stock and pre-order items.
  4. You will see these sub-orders as two fulfillments, but under one order number.
  5. If the customer contacts you and requests to wait for the in-stock item to be shipped with the pre-order item, you can choose to hold fulfillment for the in-stock item, then select release fulfillment when the in-stock item arrives and ship with the pre-order item together.
  6. Otherwise, once you've fulfilled the in-stock item sub-order, the order will turn to "Partially fulfilled" status (since there is another sub-order - the pre-order item yet to be fulfilled).

Additional Notes:

  1. If your in-stock item and pre-order item are fulfilled from the same location, your customer can choose when to ship them (e.g. in-stock item first, with express shipping; pre-order item later, with standard shipping).
  2. If your in-stock item and pre-order item are fulfilled from different locations, your customer won't be able to choose when to ship them whether you've enabled the Split Shipping at Checkout feature or not. Shopify enforces them to pay shipping for each of their fulfillments.
  3. Your customer might also choose to have both the in-stock item and pre-order item to be shipped together when your pre-order item is ready. If this is the case, simply "Hold fulfillment" on the in-stock item and "Release" it when the pre-order items have arrived and are ready to be shipped together.

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