Story 29.2. Live Drop System & Private Links (Updated)

General Info

Each day (28–30 November 2025) features one Dark Archive drop with two access phases:

• VIP Access: 17:00 – 19:00 CET

• Subscriber Access: 18:00 – 19:00 CET

Both groups share the same drop link and product selection. Access time determines visibility.

Links

Live Drop Link: /dark-archive-2025/drop

• Hidden before 17:00 CET (countdown → redirect to /bags)

• Active 17:00 – 19:00 CET

• Sent to VIPs at 17:00 CET and Subscribers at 18:00 CET

• Uses standard product feed layout (filter bar + sorting)

• Page headline: “The Dark Archive Drop”

Admin Preview: /dark-archive-2025/admin-preview

• Always accessible to admins

• Displays today’s drop feed

• Identical layout to drop page

Product Feed & Data Sync

• Drop products come from Airtable → WooCommerce using internal tag Dark Archive and a defined First Drop Date.

• Products can be new/unpublished or existing in-stock.

• When a new product (publish date on drop date) is tagged Dark Archive and assigned a First Drop Date, it is automatically hidden from /bags, search, and its PDP during the drop window (only during the 2 hours each day).

• Each day’s drop includes products with First Drop Date ≤ today and any unsold items from previous drops.

• Sold-out products are automatically excluded.

• Product order follows WooCommerce drag-and-drop list or the order defined in Drop Overview (if present, the overview order takes precedence).

• After 19:00 CET, all products become publicly visible on /bags and PDPs.

  • Newly published items get published

Reservation Behavior

• During 17:00 – 19:00 CET, reservation buttons on drop products (new or existing) are disabled (greyed out).

• Non-drop products remain reservable.

• After 19:00 CET, all buttons return to normal.

Redirect Behavior

After 19:00 CET:

• Drop page shows “Drop Ended” message.

• Auto-redirects to /bags after 2 seconds.

• Admin Preview remains active.

User Story

As an admin, I need a single drop link with time-based VIP + Subscriber access that shows products synced via the Dark Archive tag, supports inclusion of existing in-stock items, respects daily stacking of unsold products, disables reservations during the drop, and redirects afterward.

Acceptance Criteria

Drop Control Dashboard (Extension)

Location: WP Admin → Black Friday → Drop Overview

Purpose: Manage timings, banners & synced products.

Functions

• View/edit drop times

• View assigned banners (Before/Live)

• Assign products by either source:

  • Airtable-synced: Tag “Dark Archive” + First Drop Date

  • Manual Woo add: Product picker + First Drop Date

• See linked products, source (Airtable/Woo), assigned First Drop Date

• Copy public links (Drop/Admin Preview)

Acceptance Criteria

Notes

• One shared link and banner for all users.

• “Ended” state handled by fixed message.

• Airtable sync ensures accurate stacking logic.

• Dashboard mirrors Airtable + Woo data for faster edits.