Baker and Tailor Backorders requirements and rules
Baker and Tailor Backorders are needed when you not have the stock you need for an order immediately available. If stock is not available it will be ordered as needed at your request. You can always allow exceptions to these Baker and Tailor Backorders options on a per-line or per-order basis.
FTC rules for Baker and Tailor Backorders
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) governs direct mail and mail order operations. The FTC defines the 30-day rule allowing you to backorder a product automatically for 30 days. If after 30 days the product remains on backorder, the FTC also requires that you notify the consumer that the product remains on backorder. To continue the backorder, you must obtain the consumer’s consent.
- If the consumer does not respond, you can take that as consent and allow the backorder to remain in the system.
- If the consumer wants the order canceled, you must cancel it.
At 60 days, any outstanding backorder must be canceled. If the consumer still wants the product, they must place a new order for it. B&T will not always have the stock you need for an order immediately available. If stock is not available it will be ordered as needed at your request.
Note: You can always allow exceptions to these Baker and Tailor Backorders options on a per-line or per-order basis.
Cancelling Baker and Tailor Backorders automatically
If you decide to allow backorders, you must then determine when you want B&T to cancel outstanding backorders. B&T’s system will not allow backorders to remain open-ended indefinitely. B&T’s system cancels backorders according to how long the order has been in the system. What you choose is how many weeks a backorder will remain in B&T’s system before being canceled.
For example, the consumer J. Doe places an order for a title that is temporarily out of stock. B&T receives a shipment of the title six weeks after the initial date of J. Doe’s order.
- If you specified a four-week life span for backorders (about 30 days), B&T’s system cancelled the order two weeks ago. J. Doe’s order is no longer in the system and does not ship.
- If you specified that backorders will expire after eight weeks (about 60 days), J. Doe’s order ships from the new stock.