Articles on: Pickup Settings

Store Pickup: Blockout Dates

Block specific dates (or date ranges) with optional time restrictions from the pickup calendar for each location. Prevent customers from selecting holidays, closed days, or unavailable date-time slots for pickup.



Table of Contents




What Blockout Dates Do


What this feature does:

  • Prevents customers from selecting holidays or closed days
  • Blocks entire days or specific time periods on selected dates per location
  • Sets maximum advance booking window for each location
  • Can block single dates or date ranges
  • Can add time restrictions to selected dates (optional)


What this feature does NOT do:

  • Affect existing orders (only prevents new bookings)
  • Set preparation time
  • Set operating hours



Prerequisites


Before configuring blockout dates, ensure:


  1. Pickup is enabled for the location in Bird Settings
  2. Availability schedule is configured (operating hours and time slots)



Step-by-Step Configuration


Step 1: Access Blockout Date Settings


  1. Go to Bird Settings > Configure Locations (if you see "Pickup & Delivery" you're in legacy mode)
  2. Click on the location where you want to configure blockout dates
  3. Scroll down and find Edit Settings button for Store Pickup
  4. Click Edit Settings
  5. Scroll to Blockout Dates section




Step 2: Choose Blocking Method


Select how you want to block dates:


Option A: Single Date


  1. Click Single Date tab
  2. Block one specific date
  3. Best for holidays or one-off closures



Option B: Date Range


  1. Click Date Range tab
  2. Block a range of consecutive dates
  3. Best for extended closures or maintenance periods




Step 3: Select Date(s)


For Single Date:


  1. Click on the desired date in the calendar
  2. Selected date will be highlighted
  3. Use left/right arrows buttons to navigate between months


For Date Range:


  1. Click the start date in the calendar
  2. Click the end date in the calendar
  3. All dates between start and end will be selected
  4. Use left/right arrows buttons to navigate between months



Step 4: Set Time Restrictions (Optional)


For the date(s) you selected, choose to block the entire day or only a specific time period:


Block Entire Day:


  1. Leave Start Time and End Time empty
  2. Entire day will be blocked
  3. No pickup available on that date


Block Specific Time Period on Selected Date(s):


  1. Set Start Time (e.g., 2:00 PM)
  2. Set End Time (e.g., 4:00 PM)
  3. Only that time period will be blocked on the selected date(s)
  4. Other times on that date remain available


Example: Block December 25th entirely, or block December 25th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM only.




Step 5: Add Blocked Date


  1. Review your selected date(s) and time restrictions
  2. Important: Click Add to confirm the block
  3. Blocked date(s) will appear in a list beside the calendar
  4. Repeat for additional dates you want to block



Step 6: Set Maximum Available Days


Limit how far in advance customers can book pickup orders:


  1. In the Blockout Dates section, find Max Available Days
  2. Enter the number of days customers can book in advance
  • Example: 30 = customers can book from the current date up to 30 days ahead (current date counts as day 1)
  • Example: 7 = customers can book for the next 7 days (current date + 6 more days)
  • Leave blank for unlimited (default)
  1. Click Save


Important: The current date (when the customer views the calendar) counts as day 1 in this calculation. Blocked dates count toward this total. If you set 30 days and block 5 days, customers see 25 available days.


Example calculation: Max Available Days: 30 (current date + 29 more days), Blocked dates: 5 days = Customers see 25 selectable dates.




Step 7: Save and Preview


  1. Review all your blocked dates
  2. Click Save to apply changes
  3. Go to Bird Settings > Widget Design > (Widget Preview) to see how blocked dates appear to customers
  4. Test selecting dates to verify blocks work correctly




Common Questions


Can I block different dates for different locations?


Yes. Each location can have its own blockout dates. Configure them separately in Bird Settings > Configure Locations > [Select Location] > Edit Settings > Blockout Dates.



Can I unblock a date after blocking it?


Yes. Go to Blockout Dates section, find the blocked date in the list, and remove it. The date will become available again.



Can I block weekends automatically?


No. Blockout dates are for specific dates, not recurring patterns. To disable weekends, use "Customize Availability by Day" in Pickup Availability settings to disable Saturday and Sunday.



What if I block all available dates?


If all dates within the maximum available days window are blocked, customers won't see any available dates. Make sure you leave some dates unblocked.



Troubleshooting


Issue: Blocked dates still appear available


Problem: Blockout dates may not be saved or configured correctly.


Solution:

  1. Verify you clicked Add after selecting the date
  2. Check that the date appears in the blocked dates list
  3. Ensure you clicked Save to apply changes
  4. Use Widget Preview to verify blocks work
  5. Clear browser cache and test again



Issue: Can't select dates far in advance


Problem: Maximum Available Days may be set too low.


Solution:

  1. Check Max Available Days setting
  2. Increase the number if you want longer booking window
  3. Remember: blocked dates count toward this tota
  4. Save and test with Widget Preview



Quick Reference


Blocking Methods:

  • Single Date: Block one specific date
  • Date Range: Block consecutive dates


Time Restrictions (applied to selected dates):

  • Entire Day: Leave times empty
  • Specific Time Period: Set start and end times on the selected date(s)


Max Available Days:

  • Sets total booking window
  • Blocked dates count toward total
  • Current date counts as day 1


Navigation: Bird Settings > Configure Locations > [Select Location] > Edit Settings > Blockout Dates

Updated on: 01/13/2026

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