Yup - provide an option at checkout time, and if I'm willing to wait for backordered items, keep me updated about the status. Sometimes I'm willing to wait for backordered items, other times I'm not. As long as I get the choice, that's fine by me.

I do want the option though, of cancelling the entire order if any part of it is back-ordered - sometimes I can't wait for a company to re-stock and so I will want to try to locate the parts form another vendor ; if I end up getting one of the 2 items I want from vendor A and paying shipping for that, then ordering the other itemsfrom vendor B and paying separate shipping for that, then it's more expensive than if I just cancel my order with vendor A and re-order everything from vendor B.

Gordon