5 Cash on Delivery Mistakes That Are Costing Your Shopify Store Sales (And How to Fix Them)
Cash on Delivery (COD) is a popular payment method in many countries where online payments are limited or less trusted. While it helps increase order volume, it also introduces specific risks and operational challenges.
In this article, we’ll cover 5 common mistakes merchants make when offering COD on Shopify, and how to correct them using practical steps.
1. Not Verifying COD Orders Before Fulfillment
Why it’s a problem:
COD orders are often placed without much intent. Some are fake, incomplete, or from customers who don’t intend to pay. Shipping these orders leads to unnecessary delivery costs and returned packages.
How to fix it:
Use SMS OTP (One-Time Password) verification before confirming COD orders. When a customer submits the form, they receive a code by SMS. The order is only accepted if they enter the correct code.
This process confirms the buyer's intent and reduces fake or low-quality orders.
Tool you can use: Releasit COD Form & Upsells offers built-in OTP verification for Shopify stores. It’s pay-as-you-go, and setup takes less than 10 minutes.
2. Not Offering Upsells or Quantity Discounts
Why it’s a problem:
Most COD stores focus only on the primary product. But many customers would buy more or spend more if given relevant options at checkout. Without any upsell or bulk discount, you’re limiting your average order value.
How to fix it:
Add optional product upsells (e.g. accessories, add-ons) and quantity-based discounts (e.g. “Buy 2, save 10%”) inside the order form.
These features work well with impulse buyers and can significantly increase total revenue per order, especially in COD, where buyers don’t pay upfront.
Tool you can use: Releasit allows you to show upsell offers and quantity discounts directly in the form, without requiring apps that complicate the checkout.
3. Using a Multi-Step or Default Checkout for COD
Why it’s a problem:
Standard Shopify checkout is optimized for prepaid online orders. It’s not designed for COD buyers, especially on mobile. Extra steps, account creation, or unnecessary fields increase drop-off rates.
How to fix it:
Use a single-step COD form that collects only essential information: name, phone number, address, and product selection. Avoid distractions or additional steps that slow down the process.
Result: Customers complete orders faster, with fewer errors and fewer abandoned checkouts.
4. Managing Orders Manually (Without Google Sheets or Automation)
Why it’s a problem:
If you’re copying order details into spreadsheets or sending messages to your fulfillment team manually, it’s easy to make mistakes. Orders may go unshipped, or information may be missing or inaccurate.
How to fix it:
Use a Google Sheets integration to automatically send each new order to a live spreadsheet. This keeps all order information in one place, accessible by delivery teams, VAs, or other tools.
What to include: Name, phone number, product, quantity, total, status, and UTM data if available.
Tool you can use: Releasit includes a native Google Sheets integration that connects in minutes.
5. No Post-Order Communication With the Customer
Why it’s a problem:
Many COD orders fail because the buyer forgets about the order or does not recognize the delivery. If you don’t send any confirmation or reminders, the chance of a failed delivery is higher.
How to fix it:
Set up automated SMS or WhatsApp notifications after the order is placed. At minimum, confirm the order and notify the customer when it’s being shipped. This improves delivery success and trust.
Result: Buyers are more likely to expect the delivery, answer calls from the courier, and complete the payment.
Summary Table
Conclusion
COD can be a valuable option for your Shopify store, but it comes with specific challenges that affect profitability and efficiency.
By identifying and correcting the issues listed above, you can reduce returns, improve delivery rates, and increase your average order value.
These changes do not require advanced technical skills and can be implemented within a day using the right tools.
To learn more about how to implement these improvements, check out:
- How to set up OTP verification for COD
