Thank you! Man, it would have been nice to be notified of this update!
Topic summary
Goal: show a 2–5+ day processing time before shipping and have it reflected in checkout delivery estimates and order communications.
Early workarounds:
- Add messaging on cart, product descriptions, shipping policy, and order confirmation notifications (via Settings > Notifications and theme language editor).
- Use third‑party apps for status updates or per‑product estimates (e.g., Custom Order Status, Order Delivery Date Manager, Order Tracking Page, Delivery Estimation Widget, “Processing Time” app).
Shopify updates:
- Introduced Estimated Delivery Dates and Processing Time in Settings > Shipping and Delivery.
- Initially limited to 2 business days; later changelog indicates “longer options” and users confirm a Custom Processing Time under Expected Delivery Dates that updates checkout estimates.
Limitations and feedback:
- Processing time appears to be a global setting (not per product or per shipping profile). Merchants request per‑product/per‑profile handling times, order cutoff rules, and vacation/downtime toggles. USPS carrier estimates can mislead. One‑page checkout minimizes shipping method text, reducing visibility of custom messaging.
Status:
- Partial resolution. Storewide custom processing time now possible; per‑product granularity and more rules are still requested. A question about penalties for exceeding stated processing times remains unanswered.
Action now:
- Set Custom Processing Time under Expected Delivery Dates; reinforce expectations via product pages/banners/policies; consider apps for per‑product lead times. Images in thread illustrate admin steps but aren’t essential to the outcome.