Vacation Mode

Vacation mode lets you temporarily pause new orders while maintaining your vendor profile and account status.

What is Vacation Mode?

Vacation mode is a simple on/off toggle that:

Prevents buyers from placing new orders
Maintains your vendor profile visibility
Preserves your seller level
Allows optional vacation message to buyers
Continues to fulfill existing active orders

Use vacation mode when you need a temporary break but plan to return.

Vacation Mode Fields

The system stores two fields in wpssvendorprofiles table:

Field	Database Column	Type	Description
Vacation Mode	`vacation_mode`	tinyint(1)	On/off toggle (0 or 1)
Vacation Message	`vacation_message`	text	Optional message to buyers

Important: There are NO date fields. Vacation mode has:

NO start date
NO end date
NO automatic return functionality

It’s a manual toggle you must turn on and off yourself.

How to Enable Vacation Mode

Step-by-Step Activation

Log in to your vendor account
Navigate to Dashboard → Settings (or Profile)
Toggle Vacation Mode to ON
Enter optional vacation message (recommended)
Save changes

Vacation Message

Write a brief, professional message to buyers:

Example:

Thanks for visiting! I'm currently unavailable and not accepting
new orders. I'll return soon. Feel free to message me and I'll
respond when I'm back.

Keep it:

Brief (100-200 characters)
Professional
Informative about when you might return (optional)

What Happens When Active

For Buyers

When buyers visit your profile with vacation mode enabled:

Vacation Notice: Banner or message displayed
Order Buttons Disabled: Cannot purchase services
Vacation Message: Your custom message shown
Services Visible: Listings remain viewable
Messaging Available: Buyers can still send messages

For Your Services

Your service listings:

Remain published and searchable
Display “On Vacation” indicator
Cannot be ordered
Maintain SEO and search position
Continue to appear in favorites

For Existing Orders

Orders placed before vacation mode:

Continue Normally: You can still work on active orders
Full Dashboard Access: All vendor features available
Deliveries: Submit work as usual
Messages: Communicate with buyers
Deadlines: NOT automatically extended

Important: Existing order deadlines remain unchanged. Request extensions if needed.

How to Disable Vacation Mode

Returning from Vacation

When ready to accept orders again:

Navigate to Dashboard → Settings (or Profile)
Toggle Vacation Mode to OFF
Save changes
Services become available immediately

What Happens on Return

When vacation mode is disabled:

Order buttons re-enabled instantly
Vacation message removed
Services accept orders immediately
Profile returns to normal display
No notification sent (you manually control it)

Impact on Your Account

Seller Level

Vacation mode does NOT directly affect:

Your seller level (new, level1, level2, top_rated)
Existing statistics
Review history
Earnings records

However: Extended inactivity may indirectly impact seller level if you don’t complete orders or respond to messages.

Search Visibility

During vacation:

Services remain in search results
“On Vacation” filter may exclude you from some searches
SEO position maintained
Profile stays indexed

Activity Tracking

While vacation mode is a marker, the system may still track:

Response time (if you respond to messages)
Order completion (for active orders)
Review ratings (from completed orders)

Complete any active orders to maintain good standing.

Best Practices

Before Activating

Complete Active Orders: Deliver pending work when possible
Notify Buyers: Inform buyers of upcoming vacation
Request Extensions: Get approval for deadline changes
Set Clear Message: Write informative vacation message
Check Settings: Verify vacation mode toggle works

During Vacation

Monitor Active Orders: Don’t abandon existing commitments
Check Messages: Optionally review buyer inquiries
Fulfill Orders: Complete work accepted before vacation
Plan Return: Decide when to disable vacation mode

Upon Return

Disable Vacation Mode: Toggle off manually
Review Messages: Respond to inquiries
Check Orders: Address any pending issues
Update Services: Refresh delivery times if needed
Manage Capacity: Don’t overcommit immediately

Limitations

No Automation

Manual Control Only: You must toggle vacation mode yourself
No Scheduled Return: No automatic reactivation
No Date Tracking: System doesn’t track vacation duration
No Reminders: No alerts to turn it back on/off

Tip: Set a personal reminder to disable vacation mode when ready.

Existing Orders

Vacation mode does NOT:

Cancel active orders
Extend deadlines automatically
Excuse late deliveries
Prevent negative reviews
Pause order timers

You remain responsible for all accepted orders.

No Duration Limits

The system has:

No maximum vacation period
No frequency restrictions
No warnings for extended use

However, prolonged vacation may:

Reduce buyer confidence
Lower search ranking over time
Affect seller level progression
Decrease return traffic

Use vacation mode responsibly for temporary breaks only.

Alternatives to Vacation Mode

Pause Individual Services

Instead of full vacation mode:

Navigate to Dashboard → Services
Click Pause on specific services
Other services remain available

Use this for partial availability.

Extend Delivery Times

Temporarily increase delivery times:

Edit your services
Increase delivery days per package
Save changes

Buyers can still order with longer wait times.

Stop Accepting New Orders

Set service status to “Draft”
Services hidden from marketplace
Existing orders continue
Revert to “Published” when ready

Troubleshooting

Vacation Mode Not Saving

Check:

Vacation message field (if required)
Browser JavaScript enabled
No PHP/server errors
Proper permissions

Solution:

Clear browser cache
Try different browser
Check error logs
Contact support

Services Still Show Order Button

Possible Causes:

Cache not cleared
Vacation mode not actually enabled
Template override issue

Solution:

Wait 5 minutes for cache to clear
Hard refresh page (Ctrl+F5)
Verify vacation mode is ON
Check with incognito mode

Cannot Disable Vacation Mode

Verify:

You’re logged in as vendor
Correct user account
No JavaScript errors
Settings page loading properly

Solution:

Clear cookies and cache
Contact site administrator
Check browser console for errors

Database Reference

Vacation mode data stored in wpssvendorprofiles:

vacation_mode TINYINT(1) DEFAULT 0
vacation_message TEXT

Values:

vacation_mode: 0 (off) or 1 (on)
vacation_message: Optional text message

Updated via VendorService::setvacationmode($user_id, $enabled, $message) method.

Related Resources

Vendor Profile – Manage your settings
Vendor Dashboard – Access vacation mode toggle
Seller Levels – Impact on progression
Order Management – Handle active orders