A store owner is preparing a collection launch and wants customers to view product details (specs, descriptions) without being able to purchase until the official launch date and time. Other products on the site need to remain available for purchase during this period.
Recommended Solutions:
App-Based Options:
Coming Soon Products by Gravity Software - Displays products as “coming soon” with countdown timer, blocks add-to-cart until specified launch time
PreProduct Next - Shows upcoming collections without enabling purchases until manually/automatically activated
Product Scheduler by Aperitive - Schedules product visibility and purchase availability with specific launch times
Manual Customization:
Tag products as “coming-soon” and modify theme code to disable the add-to-cart button for tagged items
Optional countdown timer integration available through apps like Ultimate Sales Boost or Countdown Timer by POWR
The recommended approach is using Coming Soon Products by Gravity Software for its ease of use and alignment with the launch requirements, especially for users uncomfortable with coding.
Summarized with AI on November 2.
AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
Hello, I’m planning a collection launch on my Shopify store soon, similar to a “merch drop.” I want my customers to be able to view the products online—see the specs and descriptions—but I don’t want them to be able to add them to their cart or check out until the official launch day and time. I also have other products on my site that I want to remain active and available for checkout through this process.
Are there any apps that can block customers from adding products to their cart before the launch date?
Yes, there are apps and methods in Shopify that can help you control how your upcoming collection is displayed while restricting customers from adding items to their cart until the official launch. Here’s how you can manage this effectively:
Option 1: Use a Shopify App
Several apps are designed for situations like yours, allowing you to set up “view-only” product pages. Here are some reliable options:
Coming Soon Products by Gravity Software
This app lets you display products as “coming soon” with a countdown timer and blocks the add-to-cart button until your specified launch date and time. It’s easy to configure and perfect for collection launches.
PreProduct Next
While primarily used for pre-orders, this app allows you to showcase your upcoming collection without enabling purchases until you manually or automatically activate them.
Product Scheduler by Aperitive
This app helps schedule product visibility and purchase availability. You can set specific launch times when the “add to cart” button becomes active.
Option 2: Manual Customization
If you prefer not to use an app, you can achieve this with some basic theme code adjustments:
1-Create a Product Tag for “Coming Soon” Items
Go to Products in your Shopify admin and add a tag like coming-soon to the relevant products.
Modify the Theme Code Add a condition to your product page’s liquid code to hide or disable the “add to cart” button for tagged products. Here’s an example code snippet:
{% if product.tags contains ‘coming-soon’ %}
Coming Soon
{% else %}
Add to Cart
{% endif %}
2-This ensures that “coming soon” items are visible but cannot be purchased until you remove the tag.
3-Add a Countdown Timer (Optional)
You can integrate a countdown timer for extra excitement. Apps like Ultimate Sales Boost or Countdown Timer by POWR make this simple to set up.
My Recommendation
If you’re not comfortable with coding or don’t want to risk breaking your theme, I suggest going with Coming Soon Products by Gravity Software. It’s straightforward, beginner-friendly, and aligns perfectly with what you need for your launch.
Let me know if you’d like step-by-step instructions for any of these methods!
If you need any other assistance, feel free to reply and I will try my best to respond.
Best regards,
Daisy