When to Use #
High-demand launches (tech, fashion, collectibles) where you want reservations without charging full price on day one.
What You Can Achieve #
- Open pre-orders with a deposit (percentage or fixed).
- Collect the balance near the availability date and then ship.
- Set clear expectations on the PDP (PRE-ORDER badge, availability date, “deposit now, pay the balance later”).
How It Works (Customer Flow) #
1) Reserve with a deposit #
PDP shows PRE-ORDER, availability date, and a Deposit option (e.g., 20%). Customer pays only the deposit to secure a unit.
2) Clear reservation confirmation #
Order shows amount paid and remaining balance, plus the availability date.
3) Balance payment & fulfillment #
Near availability, customer pays the outstanding balance; order moves to Processing and you ship.
Setup (Admin) #
Deposits settings #
WooCommerce → Deposits → Settings → set Deposit type (Percentage 10–30% recommended, or Fixed), Value, and Mode (Mandatory or Optional). Save.
Product settings #
Products → Edit → Pre-Order: enable and set Availability date. Ensure Deposit is enabled for this product/variation.
Best Practices #
- Prefer percentage deposits (10–30%) for higher-priced items.
- Add a short PDP note: “Reserve today with a deposit. Pay the balance when available.”
- Optionally add a countdown to the availability date.
Turn pre-orders into guaranteed sales with deposits #
- Take a fixed amount or percentage upfront
- Show a clear availability date and reserve stock
- Capture the remaining balance when the product is ready
Email & Status Notes #
Orders often remain unpaid in pre-order flows until the balance is captured. Enable email templates for the post-checkout status (e.g., On-hold/Pending) and for Processing/Completed after the balance is paid.