Automate Pre-Orders in Chat
Take pre-orders in the chat, with the ship date and the terms stated up front. AeroChat tells the customer when the item is expected to ship, takes full payment or a deposit by payment link, and creates the order in your store tagged as a pre-order. Later, when the customer asks, it answers from the order and your latest ship date. It works on WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, web chat and every other channel.
What the customer asks
Launches and restocks bring a wave of the same questions before the item is even in stock.
- “Can I pre-order the new color?”
- “When will it ship?”
- “Do I pay now or when it arrives?”
- “Can I cancel my pre-order?”
- “Is my pre-order still on time?”
What AeroChat does, step by step
- The customer asks about an item that is not in stock yet. AeroChat reads the product and the expected ship date you set.
- It explains the terms: the expected ship date, whether they pay in full or a deposit, and your cancellation rule.
- If they want it, it confirms the variant and address, and sends a payment link for the full amount or the deposit.
- When the payment is confirmed, it creates the order in your store tagged “pre-order” with the expected date.
- When the customer asks later, it reads the order and your current ship date and tells them.
- If the date has moved, it says so plainly. Cancellations follow your rule, and anything outside it goes to your team.
The systems it uses
- Your store platform. Built in. Shopify, WooCommerce and Wix connect in the AeroChat dashboard. AeroChat reads the product and ship date and creates the tagged order.
- Payment. Airwallex is built in. AeroChat sends the payment link in the chat and Airwallex confirms the payment to AeroChat, so the customer never has to tell you they paid. No Airwallex account yet? Open one here. Other gateways with a public API, such as Stripe or PayPal, connect through their API.
- Your pre-order or restock app, if you use one. Notify Me and STOQ connect through their APIs for pre-order status and restock lists.
Using a different system? If it has a public API, it connects to AeroChat the same way: describe what you want, paste in its key, and it runs.
Can’t find your tool? Message us in the chat on this page and we’ll tell you how it connects.
What it looks like on WhatsApp
Customer: Can I pre-order the sage green kettle? (example)
AeroChat: Yes. The sage green kettle is expected to ship from March 20 (example). You pay the full US$65 now and can cancel for a full refund until it ships. Would you like one?
Customer: Yes, to my usual address.
AeroChat: Here is your payment link: [link]
AeroChat: Paid, thanks. Your pre-order #5581 is confirmed and expected to ship from March 20.
In your store: order #5581 is created as paid, tagged “pre-order”, with the expected ship date in a note.
The recipe
Copy this into AeroChat
When a customer asks about an item that is not in stock yet, follow these steps.
- Check whether the item is open for pre-order and read its expected ship date.
- Tell them the expected ship date, that they pay in full now, and that they can cancel for a full refund until it ships (example).
- If they want it, confirm the variant and the address, and send a payment link.
- When it is paid, create the order tagged “pre-order” with the expected ship date in a note.
- If they ask about the pre-order later, read the order and the current ship date and tell them.
- If they want to cancel before it ships, cancel the order and refund it. Otherwise hand the conversation to our team.
Always say the ship date is expected, never guaranteed. Reply in the customer’s language.
Change the payment terms if you take a deposit instead of full payment.
Where it runs
This workflow runs the same way on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, TikTok Shop buyer chat, Shopee and Lazada chat, Telegram, your web chat and email. It uses the same store connection and the same rules on every channel, so a customer gets the same answer wherever they ask.
For your store platform: Shopify, WooCommerce, and the app pages Notify Me pre-order status and STOQ pre-order status.
Related: pre-order ship date updates and customers asking for sold-out products.
Questions
Can customers pay a deposit for a pre-order?
Yes. Write the deposit in the recipe. AeroChat sends a link for the deposit and notes the balance on the order.
What if the ship date moves?
Update the date on the product or in AeroChat’s knowledge. AeroChat gives the new date to anyone who asks.
Can it tell customers when a pre-order ships?
Customers who opted in can get a WhatsApp update with an approved template when the order ships, triggered by the shipment in your store.
Which plan do I need?
Workflows via Skills are on every plan, with a 7-day free trial. Plans differ by AI response volume and seats. Payment links and WhatsApp broadcasts are on Growth and above. See plans.
Take pre-orders while interest is high
Start the trial, connect your store and paste the pre-order recipe. Then pre-order a test product in chat.
Start your 7-day free trial. No credit card needed.
Sign up for an annual plan on Growth or above and we’ll set up your workflows and connect your store for you, free. See plans.
On Shopify? Install AeroChat from the Shopify App Store.