Auto-Recovery: Automatically recover orders with missing delivery dates
Auto-Recovery: Automatically recover orders with missing delivery dates
When a customer checks out without picking a delivery or pickup date, DingDoong can automatically email them a request to choose one — no manual follow-up needed.
Overview
Some orders slip through without a scheduled date — for example, when the date picker is optional, when customers use an express checkout button, or when they order from a page where the widget isn't displayed. Each of these "missing date" orders normally means a manual email or phone call from your team.
Auto-Recovery handles this for you: DingDoong detects orders that have no delivery/pickup date and automatically sends the customer an email asking them to pick one. The customer selects a date directly from their order status page, and the order is updated — fully self-serve.
Before you start
- DingDoong app is installed and the date picker widget is active on your store.
- At least one delivery method (Shipping, Local delivery, or Store pickup) is enabled.
- Your sender email address is verified in General settings → Email notifications (check your inbox for the verification email).
- To let customers pick a date from the order status page, add the DingDoong reschedule date picker block to your Thank you / Order status page — see Let customers reschedule their delivery date (Widget Appearance & Placement).
How to set up Auto-Recovery
Here's how to set it up, step by step:
Step 1: Open Email notifications and Turn on "Auto-request missing info"
In the DingDoong admin, go to General settings → Email notifications.
Step 2: Review the recovery email (optional)
Click the card to open the email editor. You can adjust the subject and content, send yourself a test email, or keep the ready-to-use default template. See Customize the missing-date recovery email for details.
Step 3: Save
Click Save. From now on, any new order placed without a delivery/pickup date triggers the recovery email automatically.
How it looks for the customer
The customer receives an email with the subject "⚠️ Required: Pick a delivery date for #{{ order_number }}" (customizable). The email summarizes their order and contains a button linking to their order status page, where they select a delivery or pickup date. Once selected, the order is updated in DingDoong and appears with its date in your Order report.
Common scenarios
Customers skip the optional date picker
You keep the date picker optional to avoid checkout friction, and let Auto-Recovery catch the orders that come in without a date.
Express checkout buttons bypass the widget
Orders placed via dynamic "Buy now" / express checkout can skip the cart page where your widget lives. Auto-Recovery emails those customers afterwards so no order goes unscheduled.
You want a mandatory date instead
If you'd rather block checkout until a date is chosen, use How to require date before checkout or add-to-cart — Auto-Recovery then acts as a safety net for any edge cases.
Configuration options
Option | Description | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Auto-request missing info | Master toggle for the recovery email | Off | Found under General settings → Email notifications → Customer notification |
Email subject | Subject line of the recovery email | ⚠️ Required: Pick a delivery date for #{{ order_number }} | Supports template variables |
Email body | Full HTML template | Ready-to-use default | Editable via visual editor or Edit code mode |
Send test email | Sends a preview to any address | — | Use this before going live |
Tips & Best practices
Troubleshooting
The recovery email is not being sent?
Check that (1) the Auto-request missing info toggle is on, (2) your sender email is verified, and (3) the order really has no date — orders with a date never trigger the email.
Customers click the email but can't pick a date?
Make sure the DingDoong date picker block is added to your Thank you / Order status page in the Shopify checkout editor.
FAQ
Does this email every customer?
No. Only customers whose order has no delivery/pickup date receive it. Orders with a scheduled date are never contacted.
How do I turn this off?
Go to General settings → Email notifications and switch off Auto-request missing info. No other settings are affected.
Related articles
- Customize the missing-date recovery email — Edit the subject, content, and branding of the recovery email (Auto-Recovery)
- How to require date before checkout or add-to-cart — Make the date picker mandatory instead (General Settings)
- How to sync Shopify orders for report in DingDoong — Track recovered orders in the Order report (Order Management)
Updated on: 08/06/2026
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