If you're a growing seller looking to scale and want to take advantage of this feature, here's exactly what you need to know and do to qualify.
 

What Is the Lazada Pre-Order Feature

Lazada Pre-Order listings let sellers set a longer delivery time, between 7 and 30 business days, instead of the usual 1–3 days for in-stock items. This longer timeframe is helpful when:

• You don’t keep ready stock, but instead buy items after the customer places the order, such as from Taobao or 1688.

• You make custom products (like personalised gifts or handmade furniture).

• You receive new stock in batches and want to accept orders in advance.

Without this Pre-Order feature, sellers who source from overseas or need extra time would struggle to meet Lazada’s standard SLA (service level agreement). They might get penalised for delays or cancellations. But with Pre-Order:

• You get flexibility.

• Lazada monitors your reliability closely to ensure you don’t misuse it.

Buyers can see the expected delay upfront (before ordering), which helps them understand that it will take longer than usual. This builds trust and reduces complaints or bad reviews.
 

Who Is Eligible for the Lazada Pre-Order Feature

As of March 19, 2025, only top-performing Marketplace and LazMall sellers qualify for the Pre-Order feature. The eligibility tiers are determined based on seller performance:

• Seller Rating: Reflects your overall performance score on Lazada.

• Cancellation Rate: How often you cancel orders (should be low).

• Fast Fulfillment Rate: How quickly you process and ship orders (should be high).

So, if you consistently perform well (few cancellations, fast delivery), you qualify.

What Happens If You Miss These Metrics

Just because Lazada lets you use the Pre-Order feature now doesn’t mean you’ll always keep it. Lazada reviews seller performance every month. If you fail to meet the expected standards (e.g., too many canceled Pre-Orders, or frequent delays), penalties will apply such as:

1. Pre-Order feature removal

Lazada will disable the Pre-Order option in your account.

• You can’t create new Pre-Order listings.

• You lose the ability to extend your lead time for new orders.

2. Deactivation of underperforming SKUs

Any products (SKUs) that have high cancellation rates or late shipments will be deactivated from Pre-Order.

• The product remains active in your shop, but it goes back to standard SLA (fast fulfillment required).

• You can’t edit the Pre-Order settings for those SKUs unless you deactivate and re-enable the product again.

3. Restrictions on future Pre-Order listings

Even if you fix your performance later, Lazada may block you from setting new Pre-Orders for a set time:

• 1st offence: 1-month suspension

• 2nd offence: 3-month suspension

• 3rd offence or more: 6-month suspension

So, if you keep violating the rules, Lazada escalates the punishment.

How Many Lazada Pre-Order Products Can You Have?

Even eligible sellers have limits on how many pre-order items they can list, depending on their tier and seller type:

Even if you only enable one SKU (variation) of a product for pre-order, the entire product counts toward your limit. For example, if you have a shirt with 3 sizes (S, M, L) and only the L size is pre-order, it still counts as 1 full pre-order product.
 

Tips for New Lazada Sellers to Reach Pre-Order Eligibility

If you're a new Lazada seller or you're not yet eligible for the Pre-Order feature (Tier 1 or Tier 2), here’s practical steps to help you qualify faster:

1. Start with Ready Stock Listings

Only list items that you physically have on hand (i.e., you can ship them out quickly). Ready stock lets you prove to Lazada that you can:

• Ship fast

• Avoid cancellations

• Keep customers happy

This builds a strong performance record that Lazada looks at when deciding if you're trustworthy enough to use Pre-Order later.

2. Use Pre-Order Only When Necessary

Don’t activate Pre-Order on all your products—even if you get access. Pre-Order listings carry higher risk (longer wait = more buyer cancellations or complaints). Use it only for:

• Custom-made items

• Items you restock from China

This keeps your cancellation and fulfillment rates healthy, helping you stay eligible.

3. Track Performance in Lazada Seller Center

Check your key metrics every day in Lazada Seller Center (ratings, cancellations, fulfillment time). Lazada reviews your past 45 days of performance to decide:

• If you qualify for Pre-Order

• Or if you get penalised for misuse

Catching problems early helps you fix them before they affect your account health.
 

4. Appeal Smartly If Penalised

If Lazada penalises you (e.g., removes your Pre-Order access), you can submit an appeal within 14 days. Send strong, clear proof like:

• Screenshots of supplier issues

• Tracking records

• Shipping invoices

If your appeal is successful, Lazada may reverse the penalty and restore your Pre-Order access.

Lazada’s Pre-Order Success Starts with Seller Discipline

These tips are about building trust with Lazada. If you show that you’re serious, reliable, and customer-focused, you’ll gain access to powerful features like Pre-Order, which can help you scale your business even further.

If you're still working your way up to Pre-Order eligibility or finding it hard to keep track of key seller metrics, BigSeller can help smooth the process. From centralised order and inventory management to performance tracking across multiple platforms, BigSeller empowers sellers to stay organised, meet SLA targets, and scale confidently, all in one dashboard.

Whether you're fulfilling ready stock or managing pre-orders, BigSeller gives you the tools to stay compliant with Lazada’s policies while growing sustainably.

Create your free BigSeller account today!

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