Setting Processing Times and Ship- By Dates in Finnalby
How to Set Processing Times and “Ship-By” Dates
Setting accurate processing times and "ship-by" dates helps buyers know when to expect their items. The "ship-by" date is visible on the Orders and Shipping page for each order, and buyers can also see it on their receipt after purchasing an item.
What is Processing Time for an Item?
Processing time is the amount of time you need to prepare an order for shipping. It’s crucial for setting buyer expectations and ensuring timely shipments. For custom orders, processing time includes the time needed to create the item. For pre-made items, it’s the time required to package and send the item to the shipping service.
The processing time also influences when a buyer can open a case or leave a review for their order.
What is the “Ship-By” Date?
The "ship-by" date is the date by which you commit to shipping an order to the buyer. It’s based on the longest processing time you've indicated for the order.
Example: If your processing time for an item is 3-5 days and a buyer orders on February 1, the "ship-by" date would be February 6.
What Happens If You Don’t Set a Processing Time?
Setting a processing time is important for managing buyer expectations. If you don’t specify a processing time for an item, the buyer won’t see a "ship-by" date during checkout. If a buyer orders multiple items and one lacks a processing time, the entire order won’t show a "ship-by" date, even if other items do have processing times.
How to Set Processing Times for Your Market
To set processing times for a shipping profile, edit the information in the "About" section of your market.
Key Points:
Processing times start the day after a buyer purchases an item.
Example: If a buyer purchases an item on Thursday with a 5-day processing time and your processing schedule is Monday through Friday, the ship-by date would be the following Thursday.
If your processing schedule includes weekends, the ship-by date would be Tuesday instead.
How to Set Your Order Processing Schedule
You can update your order processing schedule at any time. Here's how to do it:
Add information about your processing schedule in the "About" section of your market. Specify whether you process orders Monday through Friday or if you also include Saturdays and Sundays.
Indicate which holidays you’ll process orders on. You can choose to process orders on all holidays or select specific ones where you’ll be available to package or prepare orders.
Save your profile.