Why take a deposit for turkey orders instead of full payment upfront?

Every bird weighs something different, so you don't know the exact final price until it's dressed and weighed — usually only days before collection. A deposit lets the buyer commit and pay something now, with the precise remaining balance worked out and collected once you know the real weight, rather than guessing a price that's likely to be wrong in one direction or the other.

How much deposit should I charge for a turkey?

There's no fixed rule — many farms and butchers charge somewhere between a quarter and a third of the estimated price, enough to secure a genuine commitment without asking for the full amount on an estimate. You set this as a flat amount per listing, so you can adjust it for different sizes or species (turkey, goose, capon) however suits your business.

What if the bird's actual weight is different from my estimate?

That's exactly what the deposit model is for. You take the deposit against an estimated weight up front, then once the bird's actually weighed, you type the real figure in and the system works out the precise balance from your per-kg rate — so the buyer always pays for what they actually got, not a guess made months earlier.

Do I need any special hardware to take turkey deposits online?

No — it works the same way as any other card payment on The Farm Stall. Buyers pay the deposit online with a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the balance later via a payment link sent by email, text or WhatsApp. No card machine or extra equipment needed.

When should I open turkey pre-orders?

Most farms and smallholders open Christmas turkey pre-orders from early October, giving buyers plenty of notice and giving you a clear picture of demand well before processing. There's no reason you can't open it even earlier if you already know roughly how many birds you'll have.

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How to Take Christmas Turkey Pre-Orders Online (With a Deposit)

22 June 2026

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How to Take Christmas Turkey Pre-Orders Online (With a Deposit)

If you've ever sold Christmas turkeys, you'll know the problem: you can't know the exact price until the bird's dressed and on the scales, but buyers want to order — and pay something — months in advance. Farms and butchers have solved this with a paper order book and a deposit for decades. You can do the same thing online, without the paper, the spreadsheet, or chasing people for the balance in December.

Not set up yet?

This uses click & collect with deposits, available on the Lite plan and above.

Step 1: List your turkey priced per kg

Add it as a normal listing, priced per kg (or per lb if you prefer), and set an average weight — your best estimate based on previous years or this season's birds. This gives buyers a realistic estimated price on your storefront, even before anything's been weighed for real.

Step 2: Turn on click & collect and set a deposit

Switch on click & collect for the listing, then set a flat deposit amount instead of letting it charge the full estimate. Buyers pay this deposit at checkout — not the full estimated price — to secure their order.

Step 3: Buyers order and pay their deposit

From your storefront, buyers click through to order for click & collect, see the deposit amount clearly (not the full price), and pay online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The order lands in your dashboard as a deposit order, ready to track through to Christmas.

Step 4: Weigh, type in the real figure, send the balance

Once birds are dressed and weighed — typically the week of collection — open each order, type in the actual weight, and the remaining balance is worked out automatically from your per-kg rate, minus the deposit already paid. Adjust it if you need to, then send a payment link for the exact amount by email, text or WhatsApp.

Worked example

You price your bronze turkeys at £13.50/kg, average weight 6kg — an estimated £81.00. You set a £25 deposit.

A buyer orders in November and pays the £25 deposit — not the £81 estimate.
Your dashboard shows "Deposit paid: £25.00 — estimated balance: £56.00".
In December, the bird's dressed and weighed at 6.3kg. You type that in and the balance recalculates: 6.3kg × £13.50 = £85.05, minus the £25 deposit = £60.05.
You send a payment link for £60.05. The buyer pays it from their phone.
They collect their turkey on the day, fully paid, no awkward conversation about money at the counter.

Step 5: Collection day

Mark the order ready once it's prepared — this emails the buyer to let them know — and they bring their collection code with them. Scan it at the counter to find the order and mark it collected in one tap; no need to dig through a paper list on your busiest week of the year.

A few practical tips

Open orders early — most farms start taking turkey pre-orders from early October, which spreads the admin out and gives you a clear headcount well before processing.
Set a sensible deposit — a quarter to a third of the estimated price is common; enough to be a real commitment without asking for the full guess upfront.
Weigh and chase balances in one batch — do it for all your orders the same week, rather than one at a time, so it doesn't eat into your last few days before Christmas.
This isn't just for turkeys — geese, capons, and any other Christmas bird sold by weight work exactly the same way.

Ready to open turkey pre-orders?

Get started free → Read the full click & collect guide →