US Trends

when does target charge for pre orders

Target usually doesn’t actually charge you for a pre-order until it’s about to ship or is ready for pickup , but they often place temporary authorization holds on your payment method before that.

When does Target charge for pre-orders?

The basic rule

  • Target charges your card when the item ships (for delivery orders) or when it’s prepared/ready for store pickup.
  • When you place the pre-order, they typically do not take the money right away ; instead, they do a verification check on your card.

In practice, that means you might wait days, weeks, or even months without a real charge if the release date is far away, and then see the actual charge right before release when the order is being processed.

What’s with the “pending” charge?

  • Shortly after you pre-order, you may see a pending charge / authorization hold on your bank or card statement.
  • This is not the final payment ; it’s a temporary hold to confirm funds and keep the order valid.
  • The hold usually drops off automatically if enough time passes or the bank’s authorization window expires.
  • For long waits until release, Target may renew that authorization multiple times, so you can see it appear, vanish, and reappear before you’re ever actually charged.

Think of it like Target “asking permission” from your bank over and over until it’s time to ship, at which point they finally convert it into a real charge.

Special cases and FAQs

1. In-store pickup pre-orders

  • If you choose store pickup , you’re charged when the order is ready for pickup , not when you place the pre-order.

2. If the pre-order is delayed or split

  • If different items in the same pre-order ship at different times, Target typically charges each item as it ships , not all at once up front.

3. If the order is canceled

  • If Target cancels the pre-order (stock issues, etc.), you won’t be charged ; any authorization holds are released by your bank/card issuer.
  • If you cancel before it ships, the final charge never goes through, and any existing hold will fall off according to your bank’s timing.

4. Using Target GiftCards or RedCard

  • Target GiftCards can usually be used for pre-orders; the actual debit occurs when the item ships or is ready for pickup.
  • With a RedCard , the process is similar: an initial hold, then the real charge when the item is ready to ship; you just need enough funds in your account for both the hold and final charge on the debit version.

5. Price changes before release

  • Target often has a price guarantee on pre-orders:
    • If the price drops before shipping, you’re charged the lower price.
* If the price **increases** , you’re typically charged the **original pre-order price**.

What people on forums report

Pre-order discussions on gaming and collector forums echo the same pattern:

“They place a reserve on your account to authenticate it but they don’t actually charge you until the item is ready to be shipped.”

Others describe seeing a pending amount (sometimes for big-ticket consoles) that drops off and then comes back as Target renews the authorization leading up to release day.

Quick checklist before you pre-order

  • Expect no immediate final charge , just an authorization hold.
  • Watch your account for temporary pending holds , especially if your balance is tight.
  • For pre-orders months out, be ready for repeat holds until release.
  • Keep your payment method valid (card not expired, enough funds) near release so the real charge doesn’t fail and cancel your order.

Bottom line: Target’s pre-orders follow a “pay when it ships (or is ready for pickup) ” model, with temporary holds beforehand rather than an immediate full charge.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.