Backorder – Adding Backorder Message to Order Email

To add it to the Email:

app/design/frontend/default/<your_template>/template/email/order/items/order/default.phtml

and find this ~line 31:

<strong style="font-size:11px;"><?php echo $this->htmlEscape($_item->getName()) ?></strong>

Add the following line right after that:

    <?php if ($_item->getQtyBackordered()): ?>

        <p style="font-size: 10px;color: #CCC">
   * This product is not available  in the requested quantity. <?php echo  
   $_item->getQtyBackordered()*1 ?> of the items will be backordered.</p>

    <?php endif; ?>

Yes it does.

Check this out.

Magento has in-built setting for turning on "Backordering". It is located at System >> Configuration >> Catalog >> Inventory but this will work only on new products.

For all existing products you still have to turn it on in admin products grid(Catalog >> Manage Products) by selecting products and then choosing "Update Attributes" from the "Action" dropdown menu and then submitting it. In the next screen choose "Allow Backorders..." checkbox and also keep the "Stock Availability" to "In Stock" and click on "Update"/"Save" button.

Hope this clarifies it.