Draft orders

Draft orders are created by marketplace operators to create an order on the backend without a buyer performing a checkout on the storefront. For example, if you take orders over the phone, you can create a draft order and confirm the details with the buyer before converting the draft to a finalized order.

When preparing a draft order, you have the option to override shipping costs and product prices.

Products added to draft orders may update inventory levels, marking the selected products as allocated for purchase. This depends on your marketplace stock allocation settings.

PERMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Marketplace operators must be assigned the following permissions through their permission group to prepare draft orders:

• Manage draft orders
• Manage orders
• Manage marketplace

• Manage payments
• Manage products
• Manage customers

Draft order flow

The draft order process typically works in the following stages:

1. The buyer contacts the marketplace operator expressing interest in purchasing an item.
2. The marketplace operator creates a draft order on the backend.
3. The marketplace operator confirms the details of the draft order with the buyer.
4. The marketplace operator converts the draft order to a finalized order.

Create a draft order

1. In the dashboard, navigate to Orders -> Drafts.
2. Select Create order. The draft order is assigned a number and is generated in an empty state.

Next steps

To complete the order, you must add products, a customer, shipping, and then finalize the order.

Add products

You can add products manually as described below, or in bulk using a CSV upload.

1. In the dashboard, navigate to Orders -> Drafts.
2. Select a draft order.
3. Select Add products.
4. Select one or more product variants to add to the order. You can use the search bar to narrow down the list of products.
5. Select Add.

Add customer

Draft orders are not available for guests. To create a draft order, you must choose a customer account.

1. Ensure the customer has an active account. If not, set up the customer account.
2. Open the draft order.
3. In the Customer section, select the customer from the dropdown list. You can start typing for instant search.

Edit customer addresses

The shipping address and billing address sections display after you select a customer.

If the customer has default addresses saved to their profile, these addresses will automatically populate the shipping and billing addresses.

To modify the shipping or billing address, click Edit in the respective address section.

Select shipping methods

You must select a shipping method for each seller order with physical products.

note

Before you can select shipping, a customer with a valid shipping address must be added to the draft order. The customer address is required to determine the available shipping methods for each seller.

1. In the dashboard, navigate to Orders -> Drafts.
2. Select the draft order you want to add shipping for.
3. In the Subtotal section, select Add shipping carrier for seller.
4. Select a shipping method. You have the option to edit the shipping price.
5. Select Confirm.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 for each seller.

Result

The order total is updated with the shipping fees.

Adjust product prices

When you add products to a draft order, their price is automatically set based on the configured product price.

If the product template allows price overrides, you can enter a new price for the product line items. Otherwise, you cannot modify product prices.

Add a discount code

1. In the dashboard, navigate to Orders -> Drafts.
2. Select the draft order you want to add a discount to.
3. In the subtotal section, select Apply Voucher.
4. Input your voucher code and select Apply.

Result

The system validates the voucher and applies it to the order, if valid.

Request payment for a draft order

You can request payment for a draft order by generating a payment link that's emailed to the customer.

1. In the dashboard, navigate to Orders -> Drafts.
2. Select the draft order you want to request payment for.
3. Select Request Payment.
4. Select Send to Customer.

Complete a draft order

Once you finalize the order, it becomes a regular marketplace order with one or more seller orders.

1. In the dashboard, navigate to Orders -> Drafts.
2. Select the draft order you want to finalize.
3. Select the payment dropdown, then select Confirm Order.
4. Select Finalize.

Cancel a draft order

Cancel the draft order to delete the order and release any allocated stock.

1. In the dashboard, navigate to Orders -> Drafts.
2. Select the draft order you want to cancel.
3. Select Cancel Order.
4. Select Cancel Order when the confirmation pop-up appears.

Add a purchase order number

You can add a purchase order number to each product on a draft order. This improves your reference, accounting, and reconciliation processes.

1. In the dashboard, navigate to Orders -> Drafts.
2. Select the draft order you want to add a purchase order number to.
3. In the Purchase Order # section, select Add.
4. Input a purchase order. You can add as many purchase order numbers as needed for the order.
5. Select Save.

Refresh taxes

Taxed are calculated once you add the customer address. If you've added the customer address and the tax is still not correct, you can refresh taxes manually. This action initiates a tax recalculation from integrated systems like Avalara.

1. In the dashboard, navigate to Orders -> Drafts.
2. Select the draft order you want to refresh.
3. Select the payment dropdown, then select Refresh Taxes.
4. Select Refresh Taxes when the confirmation pop-up appears.