How to add appointment-based local pickup in WooCommerce
Let your customers choose a preferred date and time for order pickup. Appointment-based local pickup gives store owners full control over scheduling and helps avoid rush hours or missed pickups.
💰 Real revenue impact: what you lose without this rule
Allowing customers to select pickup appointments improves customer experience and store efficiency.
| 🚫 Without rules | ✅ With rules |
|---|---|
| Unorganized pickups cause staff overload | Appointment scheduling reduced peak-hour congestion by 40% |
| Missed pickups and confusion during busy hours | Pickup completion rate improved by 25% |
In The Article
How to use appointment-based local pickup
Use appointment-based pickup to let customers choose from available date and time slots during checkout. Ideal for bakeries, restaurants, furniture stores, or any business that handles daily pickup volume.
Benefits of appointment-based local pickup
- Automate time slot booking for pickups
- Reduce crowding during high-demand hours
- Ensure better staff and order management
- Improve customer satisfaction with flexible scheduling
- Works perfectly with multi-location stores
How to configure — step guide
- Go to Dashboard → Dotstore → pickup locations
- Navigate to Pickup Appointments Settings
- Enable the Appointment-Based Pickup option
- Set your business hours (e.g., 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
- Define your time slot intervals, such as 30 or 60 minutes
- Optionally set pickup lead time (e.g., customers can book 2 hours in advance)
Click Save changes
Customers will now see an appointment calendar and available time slots when choosing the local pickup option during checkout.
Ready to See All Features in Actions?
Access our complete advanced features instance, allowing you to configure every feature with real checkout scenarios.
Real examples
Example 1
A bakery lets customers book pickups every 30 minutes between 9 AM–5 PM.
Result: streamlined daily pickups and avoided overcrowding at peak hours.
Example 2
A home décor store uses appointment-based pickup to manage bulky orders.
Result: improved staff efficiency and reduced waiting times.
Expected outcome
Customers can choose specific dates and times for pickup at checkout, ensuring smooth order handling and predictable store operations — even during busy hours.
FAQs
1. Can I set different time slots for each store location?
Yes, define custom hours and slots per location.
2. What happens if a time slot becomes full?
That slot automatically becomes unavailable to new customers.
3. Can I set a lead time or cutoff time before pickup?
Yes, configure pickup lead and deadline under appointment settings.
4. Will customers receive the appointment details?
Yes, the selected date and time appear in order emails and customer accounts.