Cash on delivery - what to know about it?

For most people, online shopping has become their daily bread. The low prices of products and their constant availability certainly speak in favour of this form of shopping. However, many people choose not to buy items online, fearing that the money paid will be lost and that the order will never arrive. In this case, it is worth using cash on delivery.

Cash on delivery involves the delivery of a parcel without paying for it in advance. This is a very advantageous solution both for those who do not use online banking and for those shopping in an online shop for the first time. The company delivering the parcel is responsible for collecting the amount due.

Possibility to use cash on delivery gives customers a sense of security. With this option, they can check that the e-commerce site they are ordering from will be a reliable and trustworthy source for their purchases. Downloaded by courier The delivery charge is then transferred by the courier company to the seller's bank account. The transfer of the money usually takes up to a few days.

Cash on delivery and verification of the contents

Many people misinterpret the rules regarding cash on delivery, claiming that by choosing this option, they can check the contents of the package with the courier and only then decide to accept it. It is clearly stated in the courier companies' terms and conditions that the customer can only open the parcel once it has been paid for. A courier who chooses to unpack a parcel beforehand does so at his own risk.

Cash on delivery - what should you know?

The cash-on-delivery option raises several important issues that the buyer should be aware of before deciding to use it.

• Faster shipping

Ordering goods without having to pay in advance often means that the seller can dispatch the goods more quickly. He or she does not have to wait for the money to be credited to his or her account, thus being able to proceed with the order as soon as it is received.

Although the difference in dispatch time is negligible for online transfers, a person who does not use e-banking has to complete their transfer in the traditional way, which takes more time.

• No prepayment necessary

A person who chooses to purchase goods by cash on delivery does not have to pay any prior fees. Not having to pay any money before the purchase also gives a sense of security. If we do not pay for the goods before receiving them, we are assured that our money will not go missing and the goods themselves will be delivered.

• Higher fee

It is worth remembering that the cash on delivery option is an additional service. It therefore involves the buyer incurring higher delivery costs than if they were to buy the same item by paying in advance. Usually, these are not big differences - the shipping price increases by about PLN 5-10. It is worth opting for this option when you are buying a valuable item.

• Calculated amount of payment

The biggest problem when collecting COD orders is the amount of payment deducted. Before the courier arrives, it is a good idea to make sure you have the amount you need to pay for the parcel with you. This will ensure that the collection of the parcel goes smoothly. Some courier companies allow customers to pay by card or blister when the goods are delivered.

• Only in Poland

Please note that the cash-on-delivery option is only available within Poland. Shipments to other countries cannot be made using this method.

How do I send a parcel by cash on delivery?

To send a parcel by cash on delivery using an InPost courier, there are five steps to follow:

• packing the parcel,
• addressed to the customer (the Parcel Manager, available on our website, will be used for this purpose),
• paying for the package,
• printing and affixing the label,
• sending a parcel on delivery (options include: sending by courier, at a Parcel Post Office or at a Parcel Post Office).

How do I collect a parcel on delivery?

At InPost, COD collection is available in three ways:

• Courier delivery - in which the customer pays for his or her order directly with the courier, who delivers the goods to his or her home,
• Parcel Machine delivery - the buyer pays for the goods at the machine. Nowadays, many Parcel Machines support payment not only by card but also by BLIK,
• Delivery to POP(selected POPs only) - the customer can order a COD parcel directly to a POP where they can pay by card

What if the parcel is not collected?

If the courier is not at home, he will make another delivery attempt the following day. If the attempt is unsuccessful, the courier will leave the customer a note informing them that they can collect the parcel at one of the branches. However, it is worth remembering that the parcel will be returned to the sender after two days.