Hi LINAM5,
have you found a better way to charge security deposits?
Topic summary
Goal: Set up rental payments that cover duration-based fees, damage charges, and non-return fees.
Current guidance (Shopify Support):
- Use third‑party booking/rental apps so customers choose dates and pay by duration (BookThatApp; Rentals & Reservations was suggested but later noted as no longer available).
- Common workaround: collect a refundable deposit outside Shopify at pickup; if damaged/not returned, keep deposit or invoice via draft orders.
- Alternative: create a deposit as a product (pre‑order style customization); advanced coding, not theme‑supported—hire a developer if needed.
Apps mentioned:
- Canteen: adds a separate refundable deposit item (not a credit card hold/authorization).
- Hypehound: partial payments with a second authorization and selective capture; seeking real‑world use cases.
Pain points and requests:
- Merchants want true credit card authorization holds for security bonds. BookThatApp allows customers to remove bonds; manual refunds add accounting friction and delays. Using external gateways to support holds incurs an extra 2% fee from Shopify.
Open questions (unresolved):
- Best solution for security deposits (especially without calendars).
- Selectively charging deposits only for in‑store pickup.
Status: No definitive built‑in solution; thread remains open with third‑party and custom options.