This guide covers how to set up a pre-order product on your Storefront — for both physical and digital items — including scheduling a release date, writing a buyer note, and redirecting customers after purchase.
Before you begin
- Your store must already be created. See How to Create a Store on Packet Africa.
- Pre-orders work for both Physical and Digital products.
- Have your release date and time decided before starting — pre-orders require a date in the future.
Step 1: Start Adding a Product
- Log in to app.packetafrica.com.
- On the left sidebar, click Storefront and open your store.
- Click the Products tab, then click + Add Product.
- Fill in the product’s core details — title, description, category, base price, and stock — and choose Physical or Digital as the product type.
Step 2: Turn On Pre-Order
Directly below the Base Price and Stock fields, you’ll see the Pre-Order Settings card.
- Toggle Set as Pre-Order Product on.
- Set the Scheduled Release Date & Time using the date picker.
- Only future dates are selectable — past dates and previous months are disabled automatically.
- Set the exact release hour and minute, not just the date.
Step 3: Write Your Pre-Order Note
The pre-order note is shown to buyers on their receipt and confirmation screen. You can write it in three modes:
| Mode | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| Visual | A rich text editor — bold, italic, bullet or numbered lists, and clickable links. |
| Markdown / HTML | A code editor with quick-insert buttons for bold, italic, links, bullet lists, and a WhatsApp group shortcut. |
| Live Preview | Shows exactly how the note will appear in the buyer’s email and confirmation screen. |
To save time, use one of the built-in starter templates:
- Digital Launch & WhatsApp Invite
- Simple Priority Access
- Physical Fulfillment & Tracking
Step 4: Set Up Post-Purchase Redirect (Optional)
Below the Pre-Order card, use Post-Purchase Redirection to send buyers somewhere specific right after they complete payment — a private WhatsApp group, a Telegram channel, a Calendly booking page, or a custom thank-you page.
- Enter your destination URL. Packet automatically adds
https://if you leave it off. - Click Test Link to confirm it opens correctly before publishing.
Step 5: Publish
Click Add Product to publish. Your product now appears on your storefront marked as a pre-order.
How Pre-Orders Work After Purchase
Digital pre-orders
- Payment is captured immediately, but the digital file stays locked until the release date.
- The buyer receives a receipt with your custom note.
- Their Payer Portal shows “Pre-Order Reservation Confirmed.”
- On the release date, Packet automatically unlocks the file and emails the buyer a secure download link.
Physical pre-orders
- Payment is captured immediately, and the order is tagged Pre-Order in your Orders tab.
- You manufacture or allocate stock ahead of the release date.
- When ready, you package the item, ship it, and assign a tracking code from your dashboard.
- The buyer can track progress live at
packetafrica.com/orders/:orderId.
Managing and Finding Pre-Orders on Your Dashboard
- On the Products tab, use the Pre-Orders filter pill to view only pre-order items (alongside All, Physical, and Digital).
- Pre-order products display an amber Pre-Order badge with a clock icon, and show the scheduled release date on the product card.
What Customers See
- Order tracking page (
packetafrica.com/orders/:orderId) — a 4-stage progress tracker: Placed → Processing → Shipped/Released → Delivered. - Payer Portal (
packetafrica.com/payer?type=orders) — customers log in with an OTP to view their Payment Status and Order Status, and to access digital files once unlocked.