Why Yoplanning doesn't offer manual payment validation after booking
Some software offers a feature where payment is "pending" after booking, in the form of a bank imprint, and only becomes effective once manually validated by the service provider. This logic may seem reassuring at first glance, especially for activities with specific criteria (e.g., fitness level, weather conditions, etc.).
👉 At Yoplanning, we made a different choice, and here's why.
🎯 The main thing: charge immediately... to be free later
On Yoplanning, payment is immediate upon booking. This offers many advantages:
The customer is engaged and motivated,
Registration is secured in your schedule,
You don't have to chase payment,
And above all: you remain free to cancel or modify afterwards.
In the event of a problem (unsuitable activity, bad weather, etc.), you have the option to refund or reschedule the session.
🧭 Don't let a potential reservation slip away
The goal in online sales is simple: facilitate customer engagement, even if they are alone at the time of booking (case of minimum number of participants in the booking, for example).
By accepting the reservation immediately:
You are making an initial commercial commitment,
You retain the option to contact the customer again if an adjustment is necessary.
Immediate payment does not lock you in, on the contrary: it gives you the means to decide later, with full knowledge of the facts.
✅ Refund easily… and without friction
Yoplanning supports one-click reimbursement directly from your interface.
Here's how it works depending on the payment gateways:
Stripe
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Payline
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Adyen
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Mollie
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In all cases:
You can repay at any time, even long after,
The customer is automatically notified,
The refund will appear in your bank account within a few days.
The only caveat: some service providers (excluding Stripe) do not reimburse bank transaction fees, which therefore remain your responsibility.
🚫 Why we don't do bank imprints or "pending payments"
We have deliberately excluded this operation for several reasons:
Unnecessary complexity: Requiring manual validation for each reservation increases the workload, increases the risk of forgetfulness, and slows down the customer journey.
Degraded user experience: As a customer, not knowing whether their reservation is confirmed is a source of concern. This can lead to calls, doubts, and even cancellations.
Business Risk: The most efficient platforms (Booking, Airbnb, etc.) collect payments immediately. Immediate payment is a standard of modern e-commerce. Failing to implement it risks losing bookings.
Flexibility already guaranteed: in the event of incompatibility with the customer, you retain total control via a refund or an alternative proposal.
🔍 Are you coming from a tool that worked differently?
It's normal to have to adapt. But rest assured: in 99% of cases, immediate payment + refund option is smoother, faster, and better accepted by customers... and service providers alike.
🧠 What to remember
Immediate payment is a good practice in online sales.
It does not prevent you from having control over sensitive reservations.
Reimbursement is simple, automated, and (often) free.
You gain serenity, speed and efficiency.
📣 Need advice?
We're here to help you configure your products or adjust your refund policy. Contact us at support@yoplanning.com.
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