Cash on delivery in Pakistan: how it works and how to stay safe
5 min read · Updated 20 September 2026
Cash on delivery is how most of Pakistan shops online, for a good reason: you do not have to trust a stranger with your money before you have seen what they sent. It also carries its own risks, on both sides of the parcel. Here is how it actually works and what prevents the common problems.
How the money moves
You place an order and pay nothing. The seller hands the parcel to a courier, the courier delivers it and collects the cash from you at the door, and the courier remits that cash to the seller afterwards, minus the delivery charge.
That delay is why sellers care about refused deliveries: an order that comes back has cost them packing, the outbound leg and often the return leg too, for no sale.
What buyers should check before ordering
Look at the shop, not only the item. A storefront with several listings, a filled-in profile and reviews from real orders is a different proposition from an account with one photo and no history.
Read the condition grade and the measurements rather than judging from the photo, and ask a question if anything is unclear. Most disputes trace back to something that was never asked.
- Check the seller's other listings and reviews
- Read the condition grade, not just the pictures
- Check measurements against something you already own
- Ask about flaws before ordering, not after delivery
- Keep the order confirmation until the parcel arrives
Opening the parcel at the door
Whether a courier will let you open a parcel before paying depends on the courier and the seller's arrangement, so treat it as something to confirm rather than assume. If it matters to you, ask before ordering.
Either way, record opening the parcel on your phone if the item is expensive. It costs nothing and settles an argument about what was in the box.
What sellers should do
Confirm the order and the address by phone before dispatching anything valuable. A wrong or half-written address is the single most common cause of a failed delivery in Pakistan.
Photograph the item packed, keep the courier receipt, and dispatch quickly. If a buyer changes their mind before dispatch, cancelling costs you nothing — arguing with them after dispatch costs you both legs of the delivery.
Warning signs on either side
For buyers: a seller who insists on advance payment to a personal account for a cash-on-delivery listing, refuses to send an extra photo, or pushes you to move the conversation off the platform.
For sellers: an order to an incomplete address, a buyer who will not confirm by phone, or a bulk order from a brand-new account with no history. None of these is proof of anything, but each is worth a phone call before you pack.
Common questions
- Can I open the parcel before paying?
- It depends on the courier and the seller. Ask before you order if it matters to you, and record the unboxing on your phone for anything expensive.
- Who pays for the return if I refuse a delivery?
- The seller generally absorbs the return leg, which is why refused deliveries matter so much to small sellers. If the item is not as described, refusing it is reasonable; if you simply changed your mind, cancelling before dispatch is the fair way to do it.