Setting Up Payment Capture Method
Capture methods control when a customer's payment is actually collected, right away at checkout, or later once you fulfill their order. On SHOPLINE, you can set the capture method individually for each payment method.
This guide explains the three capture methods, which payment methods support each one, how to configure them, and how automatic capture at order fulfillment works.
Understanding the Three Capture Methods
Capture is the moment funds are collected from your customer's account. SHOPLINE offers three capture methods, which you set per payment method:
- Automatic at customer checkout: The payment is collected immediately when the customer completes checkout. This is the default for every newly connected payment provider.
- Automatic at order fulfillment: The payment is authorized at checkout but not collected until you fulfill the entire order. This is useful for payment methods where collecting funds before shipping can lead to disputes.
- Manual: The payment is authorized at checkout, and you collect it yourself later from the order's detail page before the authorization expires.
| Restricted Access: Automatic at order fulfillment is currently available to selected merchants only. Contact your SHOPLINE account manager to enable it for your store. Automatic at customer checkout and Manual are available to all merchants. |
Which Payment Methods Support Each Capture Method
Not every payment method supports every capture method. Keep the following in mind:
- Default setting: When you connect a new payment provider, every payment method starts on Automatic at customer checkout.
- Fixed methods: Some payment methods support only automatic capture. For these, the Capture method control is grayed out and can't be changed.
- Manual and order-fulfillment capture: Only payment methods that support manual capture can use Manual or Automatic at order fulfillment.
- Order-fulfillment eligibility: Automatic at order fulfillment is currently limited to these payment methods: SHOPLINE Payments (Klarna and AfterPay), Cybersource, and PayPal. We're continuously expanding support to more payment methods.
Configuring a Capture Method for a Payment Method
To set the capture method for a payment method:
- Go to Admin Panel > Settings > Payments.
- Find the payment provider you want to configure, and open its edit page (for example, Edit SHOPLINE Payments).
In the Supported payment type section, open the Capture method control for the payment method. Select Automatic at customer checkout, Automatic at order fulfillment, or Manual.
Note: If a payment method's dropdown is grayed out, that method supports only automatic capture and can't be changed.
Your capture method selection applies to that payment method going forward.
How Automatic Capture at Order Fulfillment Works
When a payment method is set to Automatic at order fulfillment, SHOPLINE collects the payment automatically once the order is fully fulfilled. Here's how it works:
- Prerequisite: The order's payment status must be Authorized.
- Trigger: Capture happens when the order's fulfillment status becomes Fulfilled (when every item in the order has been fulfilled). Fulfilling only part of an order does not capture payment.
- Amount captured: SHOPLINE captures the full authorized amount for the order.
You can fulfill an order from its details page in the admin, or through the fulfillment API.
Example: A customer places a $120 order and pays with Klarna. The payment is authorized at checkout, and the order's payment status shows Authorized. Once you fulfill all items in the order, SHOPLINE automatically captures the full $120, and the payment status changes to Paid.
Capturing Payments Manually from the Order Page
When a payment method uses Manual capture, you collect the payment yourself from the order. To capture a payment manually:
- Go to Admin Panel > Orders and open the order.
- Click Capture payment.
- Choose what to capture:
- One payment transaction: Enter or confirm the amount, then click Capture payments to capture the payment.
- Multiple payment transactions: Use the checkboxes to select the transactions you want to capture. Then click Capture payments to capture the payments
- One payment transaction: Enter or confirm the amount, then click Capture payments to capture the payment.
| Note: Each payment method can be captured only once. Make sure the amount is correct before you confirm. |
Important Notes for Capture Methods
- If you select Manual or Automatic at order fulfillment and an authorized payment hasn't been captured within 72 hours, SHOPLINE automatically sends a reminder to your store owner email address.
- Each payment method can be captured only once. If you manually capture part of an order's payment, the remaining authorized amount is voided automatically and cannot be captured later. Fulfilling the order afterward will not trigger another capture.
- Refunds and returns are supported after a payment is captured, including partial returns.
When a payment method uses Automatic at order fulfillment, the order's detail page shows a reminder about how the payment will be captured. If you change a payment method's capture setting after an order has already been fulfilled, the new setting won't apply to that order; its detail page will continue to show the original "automatic at order fulfillment" reminder.
Frequently Asked Questions About Capture Methods
Q1: What happens if I capture only part of an order's payment manually?
The remaining authorized amount is voided automatically. That order can't be captured again, and fulfilling it later won't trigger an automatic capture.
Q2: Does automatic capture happen if I fulfill only some of an order's items?
No. Automatic at order fulfillment captures payment only when the entire order is fulfilled. Partial fulfillment does not capture payment.
Q3: Can I refund an order after the payment is captured?
Yes. Refunds and returns are supported after capture, including partial returns.
Q4: Why is the Capture method dropdown grayed out for some payment methods?
Those payment methods support only automatic capture at customer checkout and can't be switched. Only payment methods that support manual capture can use Manual or Automatic at order fulfillment.
Q5: What happens if I don't capture an authorized payment in time?
Authorization holds expire. You'll receive a reminder email if a payment hasn't been captured within 72 hours. If the hold expires before you capture, the funds can no longer be collected for that authorization.