Give each product its own lead time and order dates
Custom cakes need a day's notice, croissants don't. Set preparation time, available dates and blockout dates by product tag or SKU, and the cart offers only dates that work for everything in it.
Available on the Growth plan and up. All paid plans include a 14-day free trial.
Add override
Override applicability
Main Street - Delivery
Product tags
custom-cake
Preparation time
Same preparation time for all days
1 Days
In the cart
Delivery date
The cake needs a day's notice, so today isn't offered.
What is product-specific scheduling in Bird?
In Bird Pickup & Delivery, the Shopify app by BirdChime, product overrides give chosen products their own preparation time, available dates, blockout dates and booking window, picked by product tag or SKU. When a cart mixes products, Bird uses the longest preparation time and offers only the dates every product shares.
- What you can set
- Preparation time, available dates, blockout dates and max available days
- Which products
- By product tag or SKU pattern, with * as a wildcard
- Mixed carts
- Longest preparation time wins; only shared dates are offered
- Where
- One override per location and method, for example Main Street - Delivery
- Plan
- Product overrides on Growth and up; product availability on every paid plan
- Price
- Paid plans from $19.99 a month, with a 14-day free trial
What can I change for one product?
Its preparation time and the dates it can be ordered for, without touching the rest of your store.
- Preparation timeGrowth & up
In days, hours or minutes, the same every day or different for each weekday.
- Only on certain datesGrowth & up
Exclusive dates make a product orderable only on the days you pick, such as a holiday menu.
- Blockout datesGrowth & up
Stop orders for that product on specific dates while the rest of the store stays open.
- Booking windowGrowth & up
Max available days caps how far ahead customers can book that product.
- Tags or SKUs
Target products by tag, or single variants by SKU. The pattern CAKE-* matches CAKE-001, CAKE-002 and so on.
What does this look like in a real bakery?
Examples from the help center, and what customers see.
- Same-day, except cakes
Most items deliver the same day. Cakes tagged next-day-delivery get a 1-day preparation time, so a cart with a cake only offers tomorrow or later.
- Three products, three lead times
Product A has no override (1 day), B has 2 days and C has 3 days. A cart with all three can only pick dates at least 3 days ahead.
- A promotion
Tag the promotional products and set Exclusive dates, so they can only be ordered for the days the promotion runs.
A Shopify Flow workflow tags products when stock hits zero, and an override gives that tag a longer preparation time.
What happens when a cart mixes products?
The whole order gets one date, and Bird picks dates that work for every product.
- Longest lead time wins
Bird uses the longest preparation time of any product in the cart.
- Shared dates only
With different overrides in one cart, the widget shows only the dates all the products have in common.
- One date per order
Each order gets a single pickup or delivery date. Products needing different dates go in separate orders.
- Most specific override
If a product matches several overrides, the one for its method or location applies, and the most restrictive setting wins on conflicts.
Can I make a product pickup only, or delivery only?
Yes. Product availability decides which methods a product can use, on every paid plan.
- Include or exclude
Allow a method only for products with a tag, or block it for products with a tag, such as pickup-only or fragile.
- Whole cart
If any product in the cart doesn't qualify, that method is unavailable for the entire order.
Each location can have its own rules, for example oversized items only from the warehouse.
- Shipping too
Shipping has its own product availability rules, for example excluding a Hazmat tag.
- Stock still counts
Shopify inventory comes first: a product with no stock at the location shows an error at checkout, whatever the rules.
Rewrite the message customers see when cart items aren't available for a method.
What can't product overrides do?
They work on top of your schedule, not instead of it.
- Your schedule still applies
A product override changes only what it sets. Leave its preparation time Disabled and the product keeps your location's default lead time.
- Closed days stay closed
A day switched off in your main availability can't be opened by a product override.
- Except festival dates
Additional dates on the current widget open a date that falls on a closed weekday, without changing your weekly hours.
- Tabs stay visible
Product availability blocks a method but doesn't hide its tab. To hide the whole widget, for example for gift cards, use Widget Visibility.
Does it work with my other tools?
Yes. Shopify Flow can tag products for you, and the same dates apply when customers reschedule.
Tag products automatically, for example when inventory reaches zero, and let an override pick up the tag.
- ReschedulingScale only
Customers moving their own order get the same lead time and blockout dates as at checkout.
- Bulk tags and SKUs
Add tags or SKUs to many products at once with Shopify's bulk editor before you build overrides.
- Order limitsGrowth & up
Cap how many orders each day or time slot takes, alongside product lead times.
Our date picker guide covers lead times, cut-offs and product rules together.
Product availability or product override: which do I need?
Availability decides which methods a product can use. Overrides decide when it can be ordered.
| Capability | Product availability | Product override |
|---|---|---|
| Controls | Product availabilityWhich methods are available | Product overridePreparation time, available and blockout dates, max available days |
| Applies to | Product availabilityAll products by default; optional tag filter | Product overrideProducts targeted by tag or SKU |
| Mixed carts | Product availabilityOne product failing blocks the method for the whole cart | Product overrideLongest preparation time applies |
| Plan | Product availabilityEvery paid plan | Product overrideGrowth and up |
How do I set up product rules?
Tag the products in Shopify, then add an override in Bird's Product overrides settings for each location and method. Product availability lives in each method's settings. The guides walk through both.
FAQ
What else do merchants ask about product rules?
How can I make custom cakes need a day's notice while other items deliver the same day?
Keep same-day delivery as your normal schedule, tag the cakes, and add a product override giving that tag a 1-day preparation time. When a cake is in the cart, the widget offers tomorrow or later for the whole order. Product overrides are on Growth and up.
Can products in one order have different delivery dates?
Each order gets one pickup or delivery date for all its products. Customers who need different dates place separate orders.
Can I sell a product only for one holiday or event?
Yes. Tag it and set its override to Exclusive dates with the days you want, so customers can only order it for those dates.
Can I stop a product from being delivered but still allow pickup?
Yes. Tag it, for example pickup-only, and exclude that tag in your local delivery product availability. Any cart containing it can't use delivery, so the customer picks pickup.
Can I have more than two lead times?
Yes. Create one override per lead time, each with its own tag, for example 1 day and 2 days. When a cart has products from several, the longest applies.
Does changing a product's lead time affect orders already placed?
No. New settings only change the dates the widget offers from then on. Staff can move an existing order's date from Bird.
Does it work for Shopify stores outside the US?
Rules follow your product tags, SKUs and each location's schedule. The message customers see when items aren't available for a method can be rewritten for each language you sell in.
Do I need a developer?
You set up overrides and product availability yourself in Bird's settings, and check the dates in the widget preview. Tags are added in Shopify, one product at a time or with the bulk editor.
Which plan do I need?
Product overrides for lead times and dates need Growth and up. Product availability, which limits products to certain methods, is on every paid plan.
How much does it cost?
Paid plans start at $19.99 a month, and product overrides are on Growth and up. Plans are priced in US dollars and billed through Shopify. All paid plans include a 14-day free trial, and annual billing is 10% off.
Terms on this page
- Product override
- A rule giving tagged products their own preparation time and order dates.
- Product availability
- Include or exclude rules that decide which methods tagged products can use.
- SKU pattern
- A SKU with * as a wildcard, such as CAKE-*, to match many products.
- Exclusive dates
- Override mode where products can only be ordered on the dates you pick.
- Max available days
- How many days ahead customers can book, counting today.
Related features
- Date & Time PickerCustomers choose a pickup or delivery date and time, and only see the ones you can actually fill.
- Blockout Dates & Preparation TimesClose off holidays and stock days, and set the prep time and cut-off each order needs.
- Order LimitsCap how many pickup, delivery and shipping orders you take in a day, so a busy week doesn't swamp the team.
- Delivery Time SlotsOffer delivery windows that fit your day, so customers know when to be home.
- Shopify Flow IntegrationStart Shopify Flow automations when an order is scheduled for pickup or delivery.
- Multi-location SupportRun every store or kitchen from one dashboard, each with its own hours, slots and rates.
Industry guides: bakeries, florists and catering services.
Comparing apps? Bird vs Zapiet, Pickeasy, Stellar and Flare, or the best Shopify pickup and delivery apps.
Promise only what you can make in time.
Try product overrides free for 14 days. Tag one product, give it a longer lead time and check the dates in the widget preview before you pay.