Is cash on delivery (COD) safer than paying first?
COD is safer than sending GCash to a stranger, because you do not pay until a package arrives. But it does not protect you from a box with the wrong item, a fake product or a brick, since most riders do not allow you to open the parcel before paying.
Sellers also get scammed with COD: buyers who order and refuse to receive, so the seller pays the return shipping. For buyers, the safest option is still paying inside a platform that holds the money until you confirm the item, when that option exists.
How to use COD well
- Buy from sellers with a real history on the platform, not from a profile that only exists in a Facebook group.
- Ask for a video of the exact item, with your name on a paper, before ordering.
- Record a video while you open the package, from the sealed box to the item, in case you need to complain.
- Do not pay any "shipping fee" or "reservation" by GCash before a COD order. COD means you pay nothing in advance.
- If the item is wrong, report the seller to the platform right away with your unboxing video.
Frequently asked questions
- The seller asks for a small GCash deposit before sending COD. Is that normal?
- No. A deposit before COD defeats the purpose and is a common trick. Pay on delivery or not at all.
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