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Contributor I
September 2, 2024
Solved

When A/B Testing emails, why can't we choose Recipient's Local Time?

  • September 2, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 529 views

When performing an A/B test for emails, I cannot choose Recipient’s Local Time. Why?!

I also can’t use Smart Send because with this sample segment, we have under 12,000 to send to. 

    Best answer by DavidV

    HI @heatherdc,

    Welcome to the Klaviyo Community and thank you for your question!

    While I can’t directly answer the question as to why this can’t be done, I thought I would highlight that it is possible to do this inside of a flow. You can switch the wait step out to be based on the local recipient’s time zone like the below:

    Hope that helps!

    Thanks
    David

    2 replies

    DavidV
    Partner - Platinum
    DavidVAnswer
    2025 Champion
    September 2, 2024

    HI @heatherdc,

    Welcome to the Klaviyo Community and thank you for your question!

    While I can’t directly answer the question as to why this can’t be done, I thought I would highlight that it is possible to do this inside of a flow. You can switch the wait step out to be based on the local recipient’s time zone like the below:

    Hope that helps!

    Thanks
    David

    Zyber is New Zealand's leading Shopify Premier & Klaviyo Master Platinum Partner passionate about helping merchants succeed. www.zyber.co.nz & www.unlocked.co.nz
    Contributor I
    September 5, 2025

    I was also looking for the option to send at recipient’s local timezone with an A/B test email. After racking my brain I noticed on the A/B test page under ‘Content test settings’ it says:

     


    Size distribution

    If you choose 100%, the campaign will send to everyone at the scheduled send time and you will have the ability to send in the recipient’s local timezone.


     

    So basically, it makes the A/B test completely useless. It will tell you which subject line worked better, but you can’t take advantage of that information because you had to choose 100% as your test size.

    • 50% will get A
    • 50% will get B

    When you change the test size to 100%, the “Percentage of recipients that will receive the highest performing variation” changes to  0% 

     

    So your choices are:

    • Send at recipient’s local timezone and lose valuable A/B test insights 
    • Lose the valuable ability to send at local time and gain A/B test insights

    Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.