What is a partial payment deposit?
A partial payment deposit charges a shopper a percentage of the price upfront and collects the balance later, usually when the product ships. It is common on pre-orders and high-ticket items: the deposit secures the order and the shopper's intent, while the full charge waits for fulfillment. Also called a split payment or a deposit-and-balance.
Example
Say you sell a $400 sofa on pre-order, shipping in six weeks. The full $400 upfront makes shoppers hesitate on a thing they cannot sit on yet. A 25% deposit asks for $100 now, with $300 charged at ship. The smaller first step is easier to take, so more commit. You hold a real order and a real $100, not an abandoned cart.
Where the payment setup supports it, the balance charges on the ship date instead of waiting on an invoice.
On Shopify stores
On a Shopify store, a deposit shows at the buy button as a smaller charge with the remainder spelled out: "$100 today, $300 when it ships." Whether it is available depends on the payment gateway and the region, because charging the card a second time later needs a gateway that supports a saved, re-chargeable payment. State the balance and its timing on the product page, so the second charge is never a surprise.
Related terms
Partial payment deposits with Sledge
Sledge Pre-order can take a deposit at checkout instead of the full price, holding the order and collecting the balance later, where the payment gateway and region support a second charge. It lowers the first step on a launch or high-ticket item, so more shoppers commit early. Proof, not promises.
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