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Date & Time Settings: Cutoffs, Lead Time, & Blackout Dates

Set accurate delivery dates by configuring cutoff, lead, and blackout settings

Table of Contents

Overview

Using ShipperHQ's Delivery Date & Time Feature helps you display delivery dates, times in transit, or a shipping calendar for your customers. Ensure you set the correct Cutoff Times, Lead Times, and Blackout Dates to provide accurate information. First, make sure to enable the calendar-based features in ShipperHQ, then review the details below to set up your calendar-related information properly.

Review Global Account Settings

Review your timezone setting under Global Account Settings to ensure it matches your location. Here’s how:

  1. From the main dashboard, click the icon in the upper right corner to expand the menu and select Global Settings.

    Access menu for Global Account Settings in ShipperHQ

  2. In the Core System Settings section, set the timezone for your account. Ensure it is correct, then proceed with the setup instructions.

    Select timezone in ShipperHQ's global settings

Origin Settings

Once you've enabled ShipperHQ's Delivery Date & Time advanced feature, you'll see a Date & Time tab on your Origins. Here, set the base Cutoff Time for Same Day Shipping, as well as Lead Time and Blackout Dispatch Dates and Days for each origin. Verify that the settings on each origin reflect its specific information.

Delivery date and time tab for origin in ShipperHQ

Cutoff Times

Define the time you stop dispatching orders the same day. You can set Cutoff Times at the Origin, Carrier, or Shipping Group levels.

Lead Time

Lead Time specifies the number of days required to prepare an order for shipment. It can be set on the Origin, Carrier, or Shipping Group level:

  • Origin: Found under Origins > Date & Time tab
  • Carrier: Under Carriers > Date & Time tab (overrides Origin lead time)
  • Shipping Group: Under Shipping Groups > Advanced (overrides Carrier and Origin lead times)

If you ship the same day, set this to zero. Adjust it according to when you ship after an order is placed.

Lead Time Per Shipping Method Type

Lead Time Overrides Cutoff Time

Cutoff Times work with Lead Time if "Lead Time Overrides Cutoff Time" is set to "No." With this setting on "Yes," cutoff time is used only if lead time is zero. This setting is under the 'Features' tab in Delivery Date & Time settings.

Note: The time referenced here aligns with the timezone set in your Global Account Settings.

Blackout Production Days & Dates

Use Blackout Production Days for any day orders aren’t fulfilled, typically weekends. Blackout Dates block specific calendar days, like holidays, when orders will not be fulfilled. Blackout dates and days don't count against your lead time.

Blackout Dispatch Days and Dates

Define days when an origin doesn’t ship orders. Set this typically for weekends or holidays, affecting estimated delivery dates shown at checkout.

Carriers

Carriers supporting date and time functionality have a Date & Time tab. Supported carriers include UPS, FedEx, USPS, Canada Post, In-Store Pickup, and Custom Rate Carriers. Set options like shipping calendar, delivery date, or time in transit here.

Date and time settings on carrier in ShipperHQ

Lead Days

Specify days needed to prepare an order for shipment. This respects Blackout Production Days and Dates from Origins but can override origin Lead Days.

Maximum Days Goods can be in Transit

Set the maximum transit time for products. Shipping options exceeding this time won’t show to customers.

Blackout Delivery Days and Dates

Specify when a carrier shouldn’t be assumed to deliver, affecting delivery date calculations.

Delivery Date Message and Date Format

Adjust how delivery information shows during checkout. Change Delivery Date Message and Delivery Date Format for clarity.

Dispatch Date Message

Include a message showing the dispatch date with the delivery date.

Shipping Groups

Settings at the Shipping Group level allow for different Lead Times, Cutoff Times, or Max Time in Transit for product groups.

Advanced tab on Shipping Groups

Assign extra time needed for specific product preparation by setting up a Shipping Group with longer Lead Time.

Cutoff Time

Restrict same-day shipping based on a Shipping Group's cutoff time settings.

Max Time in Transit

Set shorter Max Time in Transit for perishable products within a Shipping Group, limiting delivery options shown.

Next Available Date for Products

ShipperHQ can account for product availability dates in calculating rates or delivery dates, supporting pre-order, backorders, or sold-out ordering.

Configuring in Magento 1/2

Set 'Availability Date' attribute (code shipperhqavailabilitydate) to indicate product availability.

Availability Date in Magento

Configuring in BigCommerce

Requirement: The ShipperHQ Plus app is required.

Add an attribute to each product using a new metafield created in BigCommerce Admin:

  1. Log in to BigCommerce Admin.
  2. Go to Settings on the left-hand menu.
  3. Click Metafields under Data Management.
  4. Click Create Metafield.

Create with:

  • Namespace: shippingcarrier286
  • Key: shipperhqavailabilitydate
  • Value: YYYY-MM-DD

Managing metafields is easier with a 3rd party app like Hypa’s Metafields Manager or Metafields Editor by Groove Commerce.