When does Entertainment Earth charge for preorders?
By Britton Jewell · Last updated
Short answer: when the item arrives at Entertainment Earth's warehouse. You'll see a small authorization when you order, not the full price. If the card declines when stock arrives, Entertainment Earth retries three times over two weeks. Two rules to know: the shipping for a whole order is charged when the first item ships, and cancelling after an item goes into processing costs a 15% restocking fee.
Who wrote this: Britton Jewell, a collectibles reseller who runs BuyHoldCollect. Everything below comes from Entertainment Earth's own help center, which we link at each point (checked ). Your order confirmation is the final word for your order. More about us.
What happens to your card, step by step
| When | What you'll see |
|---|---|
| The day you preorder | A small authorization to check the card. It's usually removed right away, sometimes after a few business days. |
| While you wait | No charge. The estimated month on the listing can move; check Your Account for updates. |
| It arrives at the warehouse | The charge for the item. Once it's approved, picking, packing and shipping usually take one to four business days. |
| If the card declines | Three more attempts over two weeks, with an email within 24 hours of each failure. |
Sources: Entertainment Earth says it won't charge "until items are in stock" and never charges cards in advance, "but we may authorize them for security purposes" (charge-later page). The authorization page explains the small hold, and the declined card page describes the three attempts over two weeks. The preorder shipping page says your card "will NOT be charged until these items arrive at our warehouse."
That two-week retry window is much longer than Big Bad Toy Store's 4 days (see when BBTS charges for preorders). Update the card on any open preorder when yours is replaced: open Order History, pick the order, and choose Edit under Payment (payment update page).
Shipping is charged with the first box
When an order needs more than one shipment, "the full amount of shipping and processing will be charged when the first item on an order ships." Order one in-stock figure and two preorders, and you pay shipping for all three when the in-stock figure ships. The preorders ship later with no added shipping charge (multiple shipments page).
Free shipping helps here. Orders over $79 before tax get free Super Saver shipping, and then there's no shipping charge at all, however many boxes it takes. If a cancellation drops the order below $79, Entertainment Earth says the free shipping may be removed. Oversized items are excluded (free shipping page).
Will you pay the price you saw when you ordered?
Entertainment Earth doesn't publish a preorder price guarantee, as far as we can find. Its help center says prices and ship dates "are subject to change and availability without notice" (accuracy page). Check the price in your order before the item arrives. If you want a written guarantee, Hasbro Pulse locks your price at order and Big Bad Toy Store lowers it if the price drops (see when Hasbro Pulse charges for preorders).
Cancelling an Entertainment Earth preorder
In Your Account, open Your Items or Your Orders and use the Cancel Items link next to an eligible item. Items can be cancelled "at any time before they are sent to our warehouse for processing." Once processing starts, a cancellation costs a 15% restocking fee (cancel page). Processing starts when the item is in stock and your card is charged and approved, so the free-cancel window closes around the same time as the charge (processing page).
First come, first served, and Pre-Sold Out
Entertainment Earth fills retail orders "on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED basis (some exceptions apply)." If you ordered when an item was first posted, you're more likely to get one. When customers have ordered every unit it expects from the maker, the item shows as Pre-Sold Out and can't be preordered anymore (stock status page, why preorder page).
A completed order still isn't a promise. Entertainment Earth says the maker can cancel an item or reduce the store's share, and it emails affected customers if that happens. Adding an item to your cart doesn't hold it; you have to finish checkout (cart page). Release months are estimates from the maker, and the store doesn't guarantee an item by its listed date (availability page). For why preorders get cut, see why was my preorder cancelled?
Payment limits
- PayPal, and PayPal's Buy Now Pay Later, only work when the whole order is in stock and you order 10 units or fewer of each item (PayPal page). Preorders go on a card.
- A preorder can't be split across two cards; splitting payment needs in-stock items and a phone call (split payment page).
- Checkout is limited to 12 units per item; for more, you call (limit page).
Box condition, cases and chases
In-stock action figures, Pop!s and statues are covered by Entertainment Earth's Mint Condition Guarantee. Preorders are different: if stock arrives below what the store calls collector grade, it posts that condition on the site and still ships, choosing "the best pieces from our inventory" (preorder condition page). For what to do if a box arrives damaged, see my toy arrived with a damaged box.
On popular waves, a shortpack figure is usually sold only in sets or full cases, not on its own. Entertainment Earth says other dealers raise the price on those figures and it doesn't (individual figures page). For how chases work in its cases, see how to get a chase action figure.
Quick answers
Does Entertainment Earth charge for preorders right away?
No. Entertainment Earth charges your card when the item arrives at its warehouse. When you order or add a card, it authorizes a small amount to check the card; that usually disappears right away but can take a few business days.
What happens if my Entertainment Earth payment declines?
Entertainment Earth tries to charge an in-stock item three times over two weeks and emails you within 24 hours of each failed attempt. Update the card on the order in Your Account, or by phone.
Why did Entertainment Earth charge shipping before my preorder shipped?
Entertainment Earth charges the full shipping for an order when the first item ships. If you ordered an in-stock item with two preorders, you pay shipping for all three when the in-stock item ships, and the preorders ship later with no extra shipping charge.
Can I cancel an Entertainment Earth preorder?
Yes, from Your Account, any time before the item is sent to the warehouse for processing. Items cancelled during processing are charged a 15% restocking fee.
What does Pre-Sold Out mean at Entertainment Earth?
It means customers have already ordered every unit Entertainment Earth expects to receive from the manufacturer, so the item can't be preordered anymore. Orders are filled first come, first served.
Can I use PayPal for an Entertainment Earth preorder?
No. Entertainment Earth offers PayPal, including Buy Now Pay Later, only when the whole order is in stock and you order 10 units or fewer of each item. Preorders use a card, and you can't split a preorder across two cards.
New to terms like preorder, MSRP or exclusive? See our collector and reseller glossary.
Related: When do preorders get charged? Store-by-store · When does BBTS charge for preorders? · When does Hasbro Pulse charge for preorders? · Why was my preorder cancelled?
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Store policies change. This page is general information, not financial advice, and BuyHoldCollect isn't affiliated with Entertainment Earth. Quotes are from Entertainment Earth's help center as of October 20, 2026.