Special order
Reviewed by Dasha ShakovVP Marketing, Proton
Updated
What is special order?
A special order is an order for an item the distributor doesn’t keep in stock, bought from the supplier specifically for one customer. Special orders take longer than stock orders, need a firm commitment from the customer, and are frequently non-returnable.
How it works
The item itself is a non-stock item. A special order may come in through the distributor’s warehouse or be drop shipped straight from the manufacturer, and it can end up on backorder if the manufacturer is out.
Special order example
A customer wants a pump in an unusual voltage. The CSR quotes it as a special order with a three-week lead time and notes on the order that it can’t be returned.
Related terms
- Non-stock itemA non-stock item is a product the distributor sells but doesn’t keep on its shelves, ordering it from the supplier only when a customer asks for it.
- Drop shipmentA drop shipment is an order the distributor sells but has the manufacturer ship straight to the customer, so the goods never pass through its warehouse.
- BackorderA backorder is the quantity on a customer’s order that a distributor has agreed to supply but can’t ship yet, kept open until stock arrives.
- Lead timeLead time is the time between placing an order and receiving the goods.
- Return merchandise authorization (RMA)A return merchandise authorization (RMA) is the approval and tracking number a distributor issues before a customer sends a product back.
