thread Re: Time-Based Categories to any time I want? in Online Store

How to get Time-Based Categories to any time I want?

hscva — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:28:18 GMT

[The title of this thread has been edited from the original: Time-Based Categories to any time I want?]

I want to shut down my online store 10 minutes or so prior to closing time so that we're not waiting for long periods of time for people to come pick up their orders after we close. Sometimes people order right at the last minute, then we have to make the order and wait up to half an hour sometimes for the person to come pick it up. When I try to make it 1:50 for closing time it makes me choose either 1:45 or 2:00. Why can't I set it to any time I want?

Re: Time-Based Categories to any time I want?

TheRealChipA — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 22:17:44 GMT

Hey there @hscva. I can’t answer that specific question. But I do have an alternative that is better than using time-based categories. Leave those alone.

It sounds like you want your online store to quit accepting orders at a certain time before your actual store closing. I do this, setting mine to 30 minutes before the physical store closes.

From your online dashboard main menu, go to Account & Settings > Fulfillment > Pickup & Delivery. Click Edit beside the location, then click Pickup. Scroll down to the times and you can change the online store times to absolutely anything you desire, even 1:51pm if you want. Change your online store closing times and then save.

Re: Time-Based Categories to any time I want?

ryanwanner — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 22:21:05 GMT

Hello @hscva !

Yes, the timed categories are limited to 15 minute increments. Your best bet to get that changed is to submit a feature request on the Ideate board here on the community.

One workaround that may work for your business is to set prep times. You can set an overall prep time on your fulfillment settings page at Dashboard -> Account & Settings -> Fulfillment -> Pickup & Delivery. Edit your location and scroll down to the "How much time do you need to prepare an order for pickup or delivery? " and set that to whatever time you like. By doing that the online store will stop accepting orders between that fulfillment time and the end of your day. Any order placed in that time frame will default to the next time your business is open.

If there are items that can be picked up with no wait at all, you can always override the default on each item's detail page.

Hope this helps!

Re: Time-Based Categories to any time I want?

hscva — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 22:33:31 GMT

Thank you! I tried doing that but it’s set to immediate/no prep time which has been our default ever since we added the online store in 2020. I don’t see any way to edit that anymore. I’m sure it’s just been moved like so many things! I definitely thought that would be the easiest thing.

Re: Time-Based Categories to any time I want?

ryanwanner — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 22:35:15 GMT

@hscva Yeah, a lot has changed on the seller side since 2020. You should be able to adjust pickup times at the link @TheRealChipA and I gave you. If not, let us know! There may be some more troubleshooting we can recommend

Re: Time-Based Categories to any time I want?

hscva — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 22:35:32 GMT

I’ll try this. Thank you! I have the delivery one stopped 15 minutes early but I guess I’ll change the pick up one too. Don’t know why I didn’t just think of that first. I just figured the categories would be the over-ruling stop mechanism, but this will work!

Re: Time-Based Categories to any time I want?

Sammie_C — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:24:27 GMT

Hi @hscva! Thank you so much for your question!

Thank you to @TheRealChipA and @ryanwanner for helping resolve your inquiry!