This recipe is perfect for displaying seasonal products or one-day-only offers without the hassle of correcting product status manually. A function set up in your catalog area will automatically check for expiring products and adjust status in a similar way to that in which Specials or banners are checked for expiry in the default osCommerce version. This is a wonderful example of how code from one area can be used for a different section of the site with only minor adjustments.

Presentation

Your Administration | Catalog | Categories/Products page will look like this with the DVD Movie Speed having been on display for four days only (Date Added of July 20, Expiry Date of July 24). On July 24, it was set automatically to inactive.

You will be able to see the expiry date set for each product as applicable. Here Speed 2 will be available till September 30, and then will automatically expire:

Let's slap on those cold-cuts before their due date!