Yes these are not very complicated actually :) Out of Stock: You do not have an item in your inventory. Your store does not have any available. You may have ordered more or you may not have ordered more. Back Order: You are out of stock and the people you get your inventory from are also out of stock. It clarifies that you have ordered the item and will have it in stock someday but the people you order from are out of inventory also.

check these sites . it might help you - http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/backorder.html http://www.teachmefinance.com/Financial_Terms/back_order.html http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/out-of-stock.html http://www.audioenglish.net/dictionary/out_of_stock.htm http://www.allwords.com/word-out+of+stock.html Good luck .

when you're "out of stock" for a specific merchandise (you don't have it in your inventory) and you ordered it but it hasn't been delivered yet, that's "back order" hope this helps ;-)