Pro-level Pre-ordering: How Major Retailers Fulfill Pre-orders
This article contains affiliate links and we may earn a commission from these links. This does not affect your purchases or the price you may pay. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We dug into all the major U.S. retailers’ policies to produce this comprehensive pre-order guide. Of course, your experience may differ greatly depending on many factors such as regional availability, geographic restrictions, weather interruptions, and/or visits from Godzilla.
Last updated: January 2024
Purchase Authorization Charges
When a pre-order is placed, all major U.S. retailers perform authorization charges. The number and frequency of these charges vary from retailer to retailer. Some banks refer to these as pending or processing charges.
Amazon
When does Amazon charge for pre-orders?
Amazon does not charge until your item ships. Pre-order items may ship a few days before the release date so that they may arrive on time.
Once an order has been placed Amazon will contact your bank for a purchase authorization. Note: orders from Marketplace sellers may be charged at the time of purchase. More information about Amazon authorization charges.
What do we like about Amazon pre-orders?
You’re all but guaranteed release-day delivery from Amazon so long as you’re in a well-populated city or live near a delivery hub.
Amazon rarely sells out of pre-orders (at least on video games).
Amazon’s pre-order price guarantee is great! It means “the price [Amazon charges] when [they] ship it to you will be the lowest price offered by Amazon.com between the time you placed your order and the end of the day of the release date.” More information about Amazon’s pre-order price guarantee.
Thanks to Amazon’s pre-order price guarantee, they rarely cancel a pre-order that was priced incorrectly.
What should you be aware of about Amazon pre-orders?
Many complaints online focus on Amazon missing release-day delivery. If you’re outside of a major city, or not near a delivery hub, Amazon may not be able to deliver your game on release day. According to Amazon, “Release-Date Delivery isn't available to Amazon Hub Lockers, Alaska, Hawaii, international destinations, P.O. Boxes, or APO/FPO addresses.”
Unlike other retailers with brick-and-mortar stores, you’re not able to order in-store pickup with Amazon.
Best Buy
When does Best Buy charge for pre-orders?
For credit card payments, Best Buy makes authorization checks throughout the pre-order period, but a full charge is not made until the item ships or is picked up in-store. Purchases made with debit or PayPal are charged the full amount immediately. More information about Best Buy’s authorization process.
What do we like about Best Buy pre-orders?
Ordering for in-store pickup means avoiding potential damage or theft during the shipping process.
Best Buy often features pre-order bonuses including SteelBook cases, Best Buy e-Gift Cards, and other extras. These pre-order bonuses ship with or around the same time as the item, unlike GameStop or Target. Find out more about Best Buy’s featured pre-orders.
What do we dislike about Best Buy pre-orders?
The wording in Best Buy’s FAQ is a bit confusing. Best Buy does place an authorization check when the order is made, which is released a few days later. Many people online indicate that additional authorization checks are made sporadically until the item ships, at which time the final charge is made.
GameStop
When does GameStop charge for pre-orders?
GameStop’s official FAQ has no information regarding pre-order charges. When we reached out for comment, GameStop support told us “Pre-orders and regular orders get charged once they ship, before that, you'll only see a pre-pending authorization that will help process the payment.”
What do we like about GameStop pre-orders?
GameStop offers both delivery and in-store pickup.
Pre-ordering in-store at GameStop is great for those who live near one or may live in an unreliable delivery area. GameStop allows you to reserve a copy with $5 down and pay the remainder when picking it up.
What don’t we like about GameStop pre-orders?
If you use PayPal Pay in 4, and the pre-order is more than 30 days away, GameStop may cancel your pre-order.
GameStop has a history of overselling Collector’s Editions and not being able to fulfill the orders.
Pre-orders made online for games that include exclusive pre-order bonuses often require you to bring proof of purchase to a local GameStop location to receive the pre-order bonus, and there is no guarantee that the bonus will still be available.
Target
When does Target charge for pre-orders?
Target makes an authorization check when the order is placed, as well as throughout the pre-order period, but a full charge is not made until the item ships. If authorization fails, Target will email to ask for the payment method to be updated. Find out more about Target’s pre-order policies.
What do we like about Target pre-orders?
Release day delivery is reliable according to the Nintendeal community.
What don’t we like about Target pre-orders?
Target regularly offers some pretty cool pre-order bonuses, but unlike places such as Best Buy and Amazon (who ship the pre-order bonus to you) or GameStop (who will let you bring an online order receipt in-store to receive a pre-order bonus), Target’s bonuses are almost always in-store only.
Walmart
When does Walmart charge for pre-orders?
Walmart charges for pre-orders when the item is shipped. Prior to that, they will place periodic authorization checks. Purchases made with gift cards, PayPal, and debit cards will be charged immediately. For full information, read Walmart’s FAQ.
What do we like about Walmart pre-orders?
When Walmart offers them, the pre-order bonuses ship with the item (unlike Target and GameStop).
What don’t we like about Walmart pre-orders?
While we appreciate them shipping the pre-order bonuses, they list these items as different SKUs, meaning you’d need to cancel and repurchase if you want to get the pre-order bonus. Best Buy in particular will update your order to include the pre-order bonus if you made the purchase prior to the bonus being revealed.Walmart’s availability isn’t the best. Not all games are available prior to release.
Play-Asia
Play-Asia has become a reliable source for importing games and merch from Asia. Many of the digital-only titles in NA have seen physical releases with English language support in Japan and SE Asia.
When does Play-Asia charge for pre-orders?
According to Play-Asia, credit cards are not charged until the item is ready to ship. Orders made with PayPal are charged immediately. Keep in mind that there are exceptions which will be charged immediately. Check the individual item page to confirm.
What do we like about Play-Asia pre-orders?
You can save 5% on orders of $20+ when you use promo code DEKU5 at checkout.
Shipping is free on airmail eligible orders of $99.99 or more (currently products with an individual weight over 650g will not be eligible for free shipping. Total order weight must also be under 2,000g).
What don’t we like about Play-Asia pre-orders?
Many non-game items available for pre-order (collectibles, figures, etc) must be paid immediately and the order cannot be canceled once completed.
Video Games Plus
Video Games Plus, commonly known as VGP, is a Canadian video game retailer that has become a reliable source of imported video games. They sell physical releases from North America, Europe, and Asia. Shipping to the U.S. is often very reasonable.
When does Video Games Plus charge for pre-orders?
Video Game Plus charges for pre-orders immediately.
What do we like about Video Games Plus pre-orders?
Video Game Plus almost always lists games for pre-order before even the major retailers do. They offer pre-orders for rare games, reprints, and imported collector’s editions.
Video Games Plus does offer refunds before and order ships.
What don’t we like about Video Games Plus pre-orders?
Their website can sometimes be difficult to navigate.