FAQ Preorders & Late Pledges: What to Expect

Placed a preorder or late pledge through BackerKit after a campaign ended? This guide covers everything preorder backers need to know — from what's included with your order to how charging, editing, and shipping work.

What is a preorder?

A preorder (also called a late pledge) lets backers join a campaign after it officially ends, but before rewards have shipped. You select items through the creator's preorder store and submit payment in the same step — there's no separate survey to fill out later. Preorders are not usually immediately charged.

💡 Already pledged through Kickstarter? If you backed the original campaign on Kickstarter, or a live BackerKit Crowdfunding campaign, you do not need to place a preorder. You'll receive a separate survey invite once the creator sets up their BackerKit pledge manager. Check the project's Updates Page for timing.

What's different about being a preorder backer?

Preorders are designed for late backers — not original campaign backers — so a few things work differently.

💡 Need a pledge or Backer number? Contact BackerKit Support and we can provide one to share with the creator.

» 1. Original pledge bundles and reward tiers are not always available. »

If you’re wondering why a certain item, or pledge level isn’t available – now that the campaign is over, original discounted bundled pledge levels are most often no longer offered. Items in the preorder store must be selected individually a la carte (one at a time), without the usual discounted bundled price. Everything currently available for purchase is listed there — anything not shown was exclusive to the original campaign or sold out.

» 2. Stretch goals and free digital rewards may not be included. »

Preorders aren't always eligible for stretch goals or free digital rewards. Check the campaign page, FAQ, product description or contact the project team directly to confirm what's included with your specific order.

» 3. Prices may be higher than the original campaign. »

Original campaign pricing is often exclusive to live backers. Preorder pricing is set by the creator and may be higher.

» 4. Can’t see Backer-Only updates, comment in the Community, or find your Backer ID/Pledge #? »

Preorders are not registered as an original backer. Because your order was placed after the campaign ended, you won't have a traditional Backer ID and you won't be able to post, comment in the Community section, or view Backer-Only exclusive updates — those are limited to original campaign backers only. We know that's disappointing, and we're sorry for the limitation.

» 5. Your pledged amount shows $0. »

The "Pledged Amount" field reflects funds collected during only the original live campaign. Since preorders are placed after the campaign ended, this field always shows $0 — even if you've paid. Your order is secure! You can view what you’ve purchased through your order confirmation.

How do I place a preorder?

If the preorder store is open, you'll usually find a link above the funding goal on the campaign page. Follow that link to select your items and submit payment.

Q: The preorder store button isn't working or I don’t see a link.

A: Not all creators decide to open a late pledge store, or the store may have closed. If the link appears active but doesn't lead anywhere, the creator may have forgotten to remove it after closing the store. Check the project's Updates Page for announcements, or contact the project team to ask if orders are still being accepted.

Q: Will there be a preorder store?

A: We don't have advance information about a creator's plans to open a preorder store. Follow the project's Updates Page for announcements — if one opens, it'll be shared there. Feel free to contact the project creator team directly to ask.

Q: The preorder store has already closed — can I still order?

A: Once a store closes, no further pledges are accepted. If any news about retail sales becomes available, it'll be posted by the creator on their Updates Page. You can follow the project to stay notified.

Q: Is Pay Over Time available for preorders?

A: No. Pay Over Time is only available during a live campaign and is not available in the preorder store or pledge manager after a campaign ends. Review our Pay Over Time help article for more details.

I don't want to submit my card before shipping costs are confirmed.

Q: Creators often use a "Charge Shipping Later" option. What this means:

A: This means shipping is not included in your preorder total — it's calculated and charged separately, closer to fulfillment. Learn more »

In the meantime, if you want to get your order in:
👉 If you'd prefer not to have a card on file until shipping is confirmed:
1. Place your order and submit a card (a card on file is required to complete the preorder).
2. Immediately contact BackerKit Backer Support to have your payment information removed until shipping is confirmed.

⚠️ You'll continue receiving automated survey reminder emails regardless — these can't be turned off, but you can safely ignore them once your payment has been removed.

How do I find my order?

Q: I placed my order but haven't received a confirmation email.

A: Confirmation emails can take a few minutes to arrive. Check your spam folder if you don't see it. You can also review your order directly from your BackerKit survey page in your account.

Q: Where does my preorder appear in my BackerKit account?

A: Preorders do not appear under Your Pledges — that section is reserved for pledges placed during live BackerKit Crowdfunding campaigns only. Instead, you can find it either in "Your Surveys" or "Past Surveys." Learn more »

Q: Do I need a BackerKit Crowdfunding account to place a preorder?

A: No. A BackerKit Crowdfunding account is not required to place or manage a preorder. If you can’t log in, you likely don’t have an account. Learn more »

Q: My preorder doesn't appear on Kickstarter.

A: Preorders are placed entirely through BackerKit — they are separate platforms. Your preorder will never appear in your Kickstarter account.

Q: I keep getting survey deadline notifications — where is my survey?

A: If you placed a preorder, your survey is already complete. Preorders are filled out and locked at the time of purchase — there's no separate survey step afterward. No further action is needed on your end unless your shipping payment has failed. You can review your order anytime from your BackerKit survey page. If you’re still concerned, make sure you didn’t place a duplicate order! Learn more »

Charging & payment

Q: When will I be charged / Why haven’t I been?

A: Preorders are typically not charged immediately. Your card is stored when you place the order, but payment is processed later by the creator — usually in batches, often after original campaign backers have been charged.

BackerKit does not control or set charge dates. For a specific timeline, contact the project team directly or check the project's Updates Page. If you've been waiting a long time and are concerned, contact BackerKit Support and we can follow up with the project team.

💡 If you'd prefer to be charged sooner (for example, to unlock digital rewards), contact BackerKit Support and we can manually process your card if applicable.

Q: I need to authorize a payment with my bank (SCA verification).

A: Some transactions require additional verification under Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) regulations. If this applies to your order, you'll receive a verification email. Use the "Please confirm your payment with the bank here" link in that email to complete authorization through your bank's portal.

If you haven't received the verification email or need it resent, contact BackerKit Support. Learn more »

Q: How do I update my card?

A: 👉 Review our How to Update Your Payment Method help article » for step-by-step instructions.

⚠️ If your order has already been charged, card updates can no longer be made on your end. Contact BackerKit Backer Support directly with your campaign name and account email if your link isn’t working, or you don’t see an "update card" module, and we'll assist.

How do I edit or cancel my order?

Q: Preorders are locked immediately upon placement.

A: ⚠️ Preorders are locked immediately upon placement. Unlike traditional pledge manager surveys, you cannot edit a preorder on your own after submitting it. Please contact Backer Support to make changes to your existing order to prevent a second charge for shipping. Learn more »

Q: How do I edit my order?

A: Contact BackerKit Support with the specific items you'd like added or removed, please send exact names, and we can make adjustments from our end as long as you haven’t been charged.

Alternatively, if you haven't been charged yet, there is a 20 minute window where you can cancel your current preorder and place a new one with the correct items. If you go this route, cancel before placing the new order to avoid duplicate shipping charges. Be aware that this will over-write your original order.

Q: I accidentally placed two orders.

A: Do not place a second order to try to modify the first — this results in two separate surveys and two separate shipping charges. Contact BackerKit Support and we can merge or cancel the duplicate as long as you haven’t been charged. If you’ve been charged, please contact the project creator team directly, as BackerKit Crowdfunding is not in control of refunds.

⚠️ Overwrite risk: If two preorders are placed in rapid succession, BackerKit may treat the second as a replacement for the first and overwrite your original order. If this happens, contact BackerKit Support immediately — we can restore your original items if deadlines haven’t passed.

Q: How do I cancel my order?

A: If you haven't been charged yet: You can cancel your order at any point up until your card is charged!

If you've already been charged: BackerKit does not handle refunds. Please contact the project creator team directly to request a cancellation or refund.

Shipping & Updates

Q: When will my order ship?

A: BackerKit does not control shipping timelines — those are managed entirely by the project creator. Preorders are typically processed in batches, often separately from original backers.

When your order ships, you'll receive an email with tracking information. In the meantime, check the project's Updates Page for the latest from the creator. If there isn’t a recent update, please contact the project team directly.

Q: The original estimated shipping date has passed — is the project still fulfilling?

A: Shipping timelines shown on the campaign page reflect original estimates and may not account for preorders placed after the campaign. BackerKit is separate from the project creator and doesn't have visibility into current production or fulfillment status. Reach out to Support, or the creator directly.

Q: When will my order be locked and charged?

A: After original backers are charged, creators typically process preorders in batches. BackerKit does not control lock or charge dates. For a specific timeline, contact the project team directly.

Q: I'm not receiving project updates / where can I check updates?

A: Whether preorder backers receive update emails is up to the project creator. You can check the campaign's Updates Page directly at any time, or the "Updates" page on preorder stores.

Q: I ordered months ago and I haven’t been locked, charged, or shipped. Other backers have already received items.

A: Preorders are usually processed in a separate batch after original backers. In some cases, the creator may not have reviewed recent preorders yet, especially if their store has been open for a long time. Contact BackerKit Support or the creator team directly if you're concerned, and we can flag your order with the project team.

👉 Still need help?

Please contact BackerKit Backer Support. If you do, please include:

The campaign name and the email address associated with your order
A description of what you're seeing (and a screenshot if relevant)