Hogwarts Ordering Guide – What You Need to Know About Magical Items Marked "External Warehouse – Available for Pre-Order"
Products marked "External Warehouse – Available for Pre-Order" are not stored in Potterheadsshop.com's own warehouse. Instead, they are held in the warehouses of our trusted domestic or international partners (our fellow wizarding shops). These magical items are not immediately available for dispatch, but we will source them for you when you place an order.
It's important to understand that these products are classified as pre-order items, meaning the sourcing process begins after you place your order. They typically arrive at our warehouse within 3–9 working days, although delivery from certain partners, particularly international suppliers, may take longer. The estimated delivery time is always displayed on the product page, so please check this information carefully before placing your order.
What Happens If You Order Both "External Warehouse" and "In Stock" Products?
If your order contains both:
- immediately available (in-stock) magical items
- and "External Warehouse – Available for Pre-Order" products
we will ship your entire order in one parcel, once the items from our external warehouse partners have arrived at our warehouse.
Why do we do this?
Because we don't want you to have to pay two separate shipping fees. After all, even at Hogwarts, you wouldn't expect to pay tuition twice for the same school year!
If you'd prefer to receive your in-stock products separately and sooner, we may be able to arrange this upon individual request. Please note that additional shipping charges may apply in this case.
What Happens If an External Warehouse Product Becomes Unavailable?
In rare cases, a magical item you've selected may sell out at our partner's warehouse or become unavailable to source.
If this happens, we will:
- send you an owl immediately (in other words, contact you directly),
- discuss the available options with you, such as an alternative product or waiting for new stock,
- and, if necessary, promptly issue a full refund.
If your order also includes products held in our own warehouse, we'll contact you separately to arrange their delivery. The good news is that, based on our experience, the vast majority of external warehouse products are available from our partners, so it's rare for the magic to be interrupted.
The Golden Rule of Sourcing Magical Items
(Or When Your Hogwarts Supply Order Can Begin)
For magical items marked "External Warehouse – Available for Pre-Order", please note that we can only begin sourcing your products once your order has been paid for in full.
Why is this necessary?
Because we don't want to unnecessarily reserve a rare magical artefact or prevent another witch or wizard from purchasing it from one of our partner shops. Even at Hogwarts, supplies are only ordered once a young witch or wizard is certain they need them for their magical education.
For this reason, these products:
- must be paid for in advance,
- and cannot be ordered using cash on delivery (payment upon receipt).
Which Payment Methods Can You Use for Pre-Orders?
For products marked "External Warehouse – Available for Pre-Order", you can choose from the following payment methods:
- Online card payment (via Barion or SimplePay)
- Bank transfer
As soon as we receive your payment, we immediately begin sourcing your magical items. We'll do everything we can to get them to our warehouse and then on their way to you as quickly as possible.
What Happens If Your Order Contains Both In-Stock and Pre-Order Products?
If your shopping cart contains:
- "External Warehouse – Available for Pre-Order" products
- AND
- immediately available, in-stock products
then the entire order must be paid for in advance, even if the in-stock products would normally be eligible for cash on delivery.
This is because our system automatically disables cash-on-delivery payments whenever an order contains any product marked "External Warehouse – Available for Pre-Order".
This ensures that the sourcing process can begin smoothly, without delays or misunderstandings.
In Short – Just Like the Hogwarts School Rules
Products marked "External Warehouse – Available for Pre-Order" require a little patience and commitment, but in return, they give you the opportunity to discover rarer, more extraordinary magical treasures that may not be readily available elsewhere. And while you wait, we'll be working to make sure your next Wizarding World discovery is well worth the anticipation.
