Prep Time Not Showing Correct Pickup Time

[PizzaLovers]

When I am Setting up the prep time for the different items that I have for pick up the time is not showing correctly at checkout. I will have 4 different items in the cart and the pickup time is 5 only minutes when it should be 20 minutes. In the general settings, I have the Default prep time set to "no prep time." Additionally, I have set a prep time for each of the different items. Am I doing something wrong here?

[Donnie-M]

@PizzaLovers I would always set a default prep time of 10 or 15 minutes.  With any online order, you need time for the order to actually come through and be ready even if it is a bottle drink.  That also covers if you ever forget to set a prep time.  It should default to the longest prep time for an item, but I use the global setting as a much more reliable time.  I would clear the cart and then re-add items and get a new time or load an incognito browser and do it that way.  Sometimes a customer will load items in the cart and delay the checkout process and get an artificial prep time that will change when they actually check out.

The easiest thing to do is set up a 100% coupon in your online dashboard for the website and then go in and do a test order, input the code, (remove any tip if you are using auto tip), and then complete the order to see the time, when the order gets to the kitchen, and experience the process exactly like a customer.  This is a best practice that I recommend to everyone to understand and tweak your online ordering experience for your guests.

[PizzaLovers]

Thanks for the advice. When additional items are placed in the cart should the pick-up time increase? Ex. if i have one item in the cart and the current pick-up time is 9:30, then I add an additional item that takes 5 minutes to make, should the time change to 9:35? That's what I would hope to happen. 

[Donnie-M]

@PizzaLovers No, the times do not add up, the system looks at the longest prep time and assigns that to the check.  That is one reason I use a little bit longer prep time for online orders to give me that buffer.  To limit the amount of work you have to do, you limit the number of orders per time frame.  Order Velocity is the setting you are looking for.