Schedule Publish

1、Function Background and Value: Why Use "Schedule Publish"?

Have you ever encountered these troubles?

• Moderation duration is difficult to estimate: After submitting a new product, moderation takes some time, leaving you uncertain whether the product can be launched on time before the start of a LIVE or event.
• Chaos before launch: When trying to release a product according to the scheduled time, last-minute operations are chaotic

The "Schedule Publish" feature was specifically designed to address these pain points. It can help you:

• Precise control of product launch time: Set a specific future time point in advance to automatically make the product available for sale, ensuring that new products meet consumers on time at the start of marketing activities (such as LIVE broadcasts and major promotions).
• Win sufficient preparation time: Before the product is officially launched, currently this productwill be in a"not visible on the front end"special state.
• Summary in one sentence: Through "Schedule Publish", you can lock in the release time of new products in advance and calmly prepare for all the necessary work, ensuring a smooth and punctual product launch.

2、Examples of applicable scenarios

• Align with the rhythm of the LIVE: At the moment the LIVE starts, synchronously launch the new product being introduced.
• Follow major promotion nodes: Coordinate with the platform's major promotions or brand activities, and launch new products promptly at midnight.
• Automatic Product Listing During Non-Working Hours: Even during late nights or holidays, the system can automatically assist you in completing the listing operation.
• The "Schedule Publish " feature can meet your needs.

3、Operation Steps: How to Set "Scheduled Release"?

3.1. Locate and open the function entry

In the " Other " section of the product publishing or editing page, you will find the switch for " Schedule Publish ". Click to turn on this switch, and the date and time picker will immediately appear below.

3.2. Set the release time

Important Notice: The time for timed sales is based on the system time zone of your merchant account's location, and currently, direct time zone switching on the page is not supported.

1. Select Date and Time: Click on the input box, and a date and time picker will pop up.

• Time Rule: The time you select must be later than the current time and cannot exceed the maximum range allowed by the system (currently within 90 days, subject to the display on the backend page). Past times will be grayed out and cannot be selected.
• Time Zone Reminder: The time picker will display the currently effective time zone, so please pay close attention.

2. Complete the settings: After selecting the exact year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, click OK.

Supports selecting a time point greater than the current time (for example, if the drop-down box shows 16:00:23, only 16:00:24 and later can be selected) and ≤ 90 days 24:00 (accurate to seconds, past time cannot be selected (directly grayed out)). If the current time has already exceeded the selected time when clicking submit, follow the normal release logic;

3. Submission and Status Changes

• If you turn on the "Schedule Listing" switch but do not select any time , the system will pop up an error message when you submit, and you need to set the time before you can continue.
• If you submit later than the time you set , the system will process your product according to the logic of “ Immediate Listing ” to ensure it passes moderation and is listed as soon as possible.
• Status of the product after submission:
  • Moderation approved, waiting for sale: Once your product has passed the platform's moderation after submission, it will be in the state of "invisible" until the set time arrives. In the merchant backend, you will see it marked as "scheduled for listing". At this time, consumers can view the product and make reservations on the front end, but cannot purchase it.
  • When the preset time is reached: The system will automatically change the product status from "Scheduled for Listing" to "Live (On Sale)", and consumers can then make purchases normally.
  • If moderation fails : Please note that if the preset time has passed but your product has not passed moderation , it will not be automatically listed. The product will remain in the moderation failure or other corresponding status, and you need to modify it according to the moderation comments and resubmit.

4 Modify, Cancel, and Manage

4.1 How to modify or cancel scheduled sales?

You can adjust the plan at any time before the Schedule Publish time arrives.

• Modify or cancel: Simply return to the edit page of the product, and you can:
• Switch back to " Publish immediately (Publish immediately) " and submit, the product will be listed immediately after moderation.
• Re-select a new release time and submit it.
• Sync takes effect: Your changes will take effect immediately.
• On-sale Products: For products that are already in the "on-sale" state, this function will be grayed out and no longer available for scheduled settings.
• Delete or save as draft: Timed-release products, like regular products, can be deleted or saved as draft at any time.

4.2 How to view and filter in the backend?

You can easily track your timed products on the Manage Products page.

• Check Status and Time: Timed products will have a special status indicator, and the list will directly display the Schedule Publish time you set, rather than the last edited time.
• Quick Filter: Under the Product Management tab, you can find products in the Timed status through the filter, facilitating your centralized management.

5 Relationship with other functions

When "Timed Sale" meets other product settings (such as pre-sale, combined products), please follow the following simple rules.

5.1 Used in conjunction with the "Pre-order" feature

If you have set both "Schedule Publish" and "Pre-sale" for the product, please be sure to note:

• Time Sequence: Schedule Publish Time must be earlier than Pre-sale Start Time. System Prompt: If the time you set does not meet the above requirements, the system will pop up a red prompt box to remind you to make adjustments.
• Consequences of non-adjustment: If you still haven't made the adjustment by the time point, the system will execute according to its respective logic: the Schedule Publish will take effect first, making the product "visible but not for sale"; subsequently, pre-sale will commence according to its existing rules.

5.2 Compatibility with different product types/combinations

• Gift (Gift) : Non-sale item (gift) does not support the "Schedule Publish" feature. On the gift editing page, you will not see the switch for this feature.
• Same Product Virtual Bundle (Virtual Bundle) : Supported. You can set a Schedule Publish for it when editing the same product bundle.
• Virtual Bundle of different products: Not supported
• Combined Listing Products (Combine Listing): Supported. Since combined listing products are essentially independent, you can select a product in the "Scheduled for Listing" status as a combined listing product.

6 How to publish scheduled products via API

New field:

1. Added fields "scheduled_time" and status "to_be_listed" to set up products for scheduled listing, where "scheduled_time" represents the listing time and "to_be_listed" represents the status of a product that has passed moderation but has not yet reached the scheduled time. (ISVs that have made modifications can call this)

Edit:

1. Stockwithout modification of ISV normally passes in product information. For products with a scheduled time set on the PC, when modified at the ISV, the scheduled listing time and product status of the product will not change.
2. ISVs that have undergone incremental transformation or have a scheduled listing function will have their release time set to scheduled_time, and the status after passing moderation but before the scheduled time will be to be listed

7 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We have compiled some frequently asked questions and key reminders to help you use this feature more smoothly.

1. Question: What is the time zone for timed sales calculated based on? Can it be modified?
   1. Answer: The time zone is automatically matched according to the time zone of the location set in your merchant account, and currently manual modification within the timed component is not supported. Please make sure to confirm the time zone when setting the time.
2. Q: How far in advance can I set the release time?
   1. A: The time range you can set is from the current moment to within 90 days in the future. Please refer to the prompts on your backend page for the specific maximum number of days that can be set.
3. Can I modify the Schedule Publish time on the mobile app or via an Excel spreadsheet?
   1. A: No, you cannot . Currently, the setting and modification of the Schedule Publish function are only supported on the merchant backend of the PC client . When editing scheduled products in the app or Excel, you will not see the relevant options, and the original scheduled settings will remain unchanged.
4. Q: If the scheduled time is modified, will the already booked buyers receive a notification?
   1. A:Yes. If you modify the Schedule Publish time of a product that has already generated consumer bookings, the system will automatically send a notification to these consumers informing them that the time has changed.
5. Question: Will timed products occupy inventory during the "visible but not for sale" period?
   1. Answer: Product salability and inventory are two different concepts. For timed products, their salable status is only associated with your inventory after they become available for sale. During the "visible but not for sale" stage, they mainly serve as a "link anchor" for your pre-listing operational activities.
6. Q: Why can't I see the entry for the "Scheduled Listing" feature in the backend?
   1. A: This feature may be gradually rolled out to all merchants via the allowlist. If you can't see this feature for the time being, please don't worry, as the platform is in the process of gradually covering it.