What Is Cash on Delivery?
Cash on Delivery (COD) is a payment method where customers pay for their order at the time it is delivered to them, rather than paying online at checkout. This traditional payment option remains one of the most popular methods in many markets around the world, particularly in regions where online payment adoption is still growing or where customers prefer to inspect their goods before paying.
Key Features
- No Online Payment Required: Customers can place orders without entering any card details or using an online payment account. This removes a major barrier to purchase for customers who are hesitant about paying online.
- Builds Customer Trust: By allowing customers to pay only when they receive and inspect their order, Cash on Delivery builds confidence and trust, especially for first-time buyers or new online stores.
- Universal Availability: Cash on Delivery does not depend on any external payment gateway or banking infrastructure. It works in any market and with any currency, making it a truly universal payment option.
- Increased Conversions: Offering COD can significantly increase your conversion rate by capturing customers who would otherwise abandon their cart due to a lack of preferred online payment options.
- Simple Setup: There is no third-party account or API integration required. Merchants simply enable the option in their Trinavo settings and define any applicable COD fees.
- COD Fee Support: Merchants can optionally add a surcharge for Cash on Delivery orders to offset the additional handling costs associated with collecting payment at delivery.
Supported Regions and Currencies
Cash on Delivery is available in all regions and supports all currencies. Since payment is collected physically at the time of delivery, there are no geographic or currency restrictions. This makes COD an ideal payment option for merchants operating in emerging markets, rural areas, or any location where digital payment adoption is limited.
How Trinavo Handles Cash on Delivery
Cash on Delivery in Trinavo is a checkout-time manual payment option, not a wallet deposit. It is powered by Trinavo's Manual Payment method:
- The customer selects Cash on Delivery at checkout. No card or online account is required.
- The order is placed immediately with a pending payment status, applying any COD surcharge or order-value limit you configure.
- The courier collects payment on delivery. The customer pays the driver in cash when the order arrives.
- The merchant marks the order paid. Once the cash is collected, your team updates the order's payment status in the Trinavo admin panel to reflect the settled amount.
Unlike bank transfers, Western Union, or other offline deposit methods, Cash on Delivery never touches the store wallet - payment is collected physically at delivery and reconciled against the order.
Considerations
While Cash on Delivery offers many benefits, merchants should be aware of some considerations. COD orders may have a higher return or refusal rate compared to prepaid orders, as customers have not committed financially at the time of ordering. Setting a reasonable maximum order value for COD and charging a small COD fee can help mitigate these risks.
Getting Started
To enable Cash on Delivery on your Trinavo store, go to the payment settings in your dashboard and activate the COD option. You can optionally set a delivery fee for COD orders. No external accounts or credentials are needed, and the option will be available to your customers immediately.
