Reservics processes every deposit through Shopify Checkout, so card details are entered and stored only on Shopify’s PCI-compliant systems. Reservics never sees or stores card numbers. Each booking gets a unique 32-character token that secures its cancel and manage link, and refunds are issued back through Shopify to the diner’s original payment method.
Why Reservics is secure #
Reservics is built as a Shopify app, so it inherits Shopify’s payment security rather than handling cards itself. Three things keep your diners’ money and data safe:
- Deposits run on Shopify Checkout. When a deposit is required, the diner is sent to Shopify’s own checkout to pay. Card data never touches Reservics servers.
- Cancel links are token-protected. Each booking email contains a private 32-character link. Only someone with that link can manage or cancel the booking. No diner login or password is needed.
- Refunds return through Shopify. When an eligible booking is cancelled, the refund is issued through Shopify back to the original payment method.
How a deposit is processed #
Deposits are a Pro and Advance feature. The Free plan cannot charge deposits.
- A diner picks a location, party size, date, and time in your storefront booking widget.
- They fill in name, email, phone, and any custom fields you added.
- If you require a deposit for that location, Reservics creates a Shopify draft order and sends the diner to Shopify Checkout.
- The diner enters payment details on Shopify’s secure checkout page. Reservics is not part of this step and receives no card data.
- When payment succeeds, the booking moves from Pending to Confirmed and the seat is held.
- The diner gets a confirmation email with a private “Manage your booking” link.
The deposit amount is set per location under the Payments & Cancellation tab on the Location detail page. You can charge a flat fee or use the “Deposit per guest” toggle to multiply the amount by party size. The currency comes from your Shopify shop setting and is read-only in Reservics.
How the cancel link stays private #
Reservics does not ask diners to create accounts. Instead, every booking is tied to a unique 32-character token that is embedded in the “Manage your booking” link sent in transactional emails.
- The token is the sole proof of ownership for that booking.
- It is long and random, so it cannot be guessed.
- Only the person who has the email (and therefore the link) can view, manage, or cancel the booking.
How refunds work #
When a booking is cancelled, whether a refund is issued depends on your refund window for that location, set under Payments & Cancellation.
| Refund window setting | What it means |
|---|---|
| Blank / default | Always refundable |
| 0 | Never refundable (“no refunds”) |
| N minutes (N greater than 0) | Refundable only if cancelled at least N minutes before the start time |
- Diners can self-cancel and get a refund only inside the refund window.
- Staff can always cancel and refund an eligible booking from the Booking detail page in the admin.
- A no-show fee can also be configured per location.
- Every refund is processed through Shopify, back to the diner’s original payment method.
Frequently asked questions #
Is Reservics secure for taking restaurant deposits? #
Yes. Reservics never collects or stores card numbers. All deposit payments are handled by Shopify Checkout, which is PCI-compliant, and refunds are issued back through Shopify. Reservics only stores booking details such as name, email, party size, and reservation status.
Does Reservics store my customers’ card details? #
No. Card details are entered on Shopify’s secure checkout and stored only by Shopify. Reservics creates a draft order and reads the booking’s payment status, but it never sees or saves card numbers.
How are deposit refunds processed? #
Refunds are issued through Shopify back to the diner’s original payment method. Whether a cancellation qualifies for a refund depends on the refund window you set per location. Staff can always refund an eligible booking from the admin, while diners can self-cancel for a refund only inside that window.
Do diners need an account to manage their booking? #
No. Each confirmation email includes a private “Manage your booking” link with a unique 32-character token. That token secures the booking, so no diner login or password is required.
Are deposits available on every plan? #
No. Deposits, refund policies, and no-show fees are available on the Pro ($9.99/mo) and Advance ($19.99/mo) plans. The Free plan cannot charge deposits.
