Ask any shop owner in Pakistan how customers pay for online orders and you will hear two answers. Cash on delivery, because people like to see the parcel before they part with their money. And bank transfer, because more and more customers are happy to pay from their banking app.
Both work well. Both also have their own headaches, from parcels that come back unopened to receipts that turn out to be fake. This guide explains how each method works on a Krobr store, when to offer which, and the small habits that keep your money safe.
How cash on delivery works
Cash on delivery, or COD, is the simplest flow for the customer.
- The customer adds products to the cart and chooses cash on delivery at checkout.
- They enter their name, phone number and delivery address.
- The order lands in your orders queue in Krobr Partner, and your Orders app sends a push notification.
- You pack and send the order. The rider or courier collects the cash on arrival.
- When you mark the order as delivered, it is recorded as paid.
The customer can follow progress on their private order status link the whole time, so they know when the parcel is packed and on its way.
COD is familiar and builds trust with first-time buyers, which is why most new shops start with it. The downside is that you carry the risk until the cash is in hand.
How bank transfer works
Bank transfer takes a little more setup, but it means you are paid before you ship. Here is the flow on Krobr.
What you set up as the owner
In Krobr Partner, open your fulfilment settings, find pay by bank, and add at least one complete bank account. That means the bank name, the account title and the account number. You can add an IBAN and short instructions if you want. Then switch pay by bank on and save.
Your account details are not printed on your public store page for anyone to copy. They are shown to the customer in the payment step after they place an order.
What the customer does
- They choose pay by bank at checkout and place the order with their delivery details.
- Their private order status page shows your bank details and the exact amount to pay.
- They transfer the money from their own banking app.
- They upload the transfer receipt on that same order page.
What you do next
Open the order in Krobr Partner and look at the receipt next to the order total. Then do the step that really matters: open your own bank app and confirm the money has actually arrived. Only then mark the payment as received and pack the order.
On a shop order, the main action stays "mark payment received" until you confirm, which is a helpful nudge not to pack before the money is there. If a receipt is unclear or wrong, use the correction option so the customer is asked to fix it, instead of accepting it on trust.
It helps to know that Krobr records the order and the payment proof, but it does not move money and it cannot check your bank for you. Transfers go straight into your account. The bank payment guide walks through every screen.
Which method should you offer?
For most shops the answer is both, with clear expectations.
| Cash on delivery | Bank transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Customer comfort | Very high, pay on arrival | Growing, needs a banking app |
| When you get paid | After delivery | Before you ship |
| Your main risk | Refused or fake orders | Fake or edited receipts |
| Extra work for you | Collecting and counting cash | Checking each transfer in your bank |
| Best for | First-time buyers, smaller orders | Repeat buyers, higher-value orders |
You can switch each method on or off whenever you like, so it is easy to adjust as you learn what your customers prefer. The fulfilment methods guide explains the settings, including pickup if customers can collect from your shop.
Cutting the risk of cash on delivery
The biggest COD problem is the parcel that comes back. A customer orders on a whim, then refuses at the door, and you have paid for delivery twice. A few habits reduce this a lot.
- Call or message to confirm larger orders. A quick "Assalam o Alaikum, confirming your order of two suits for delivery tomorrow" catches pranks and second thoughts early.
- Only deliver where you can. Krobr lets you limit delivery to specific cities or areas, so nobody can place a delivery order to a place you do not serve.
- Show every charge upfront. Surprise delivery charges at the door are a common reason for refusals. Make sure customers see the full total at checkout.
- Nudge big orders towards bank transfer. You can mention on your store that transfers are welcome for higher-value orders.
Here is a made-up example to show why this matters. Say you send 100 COD parcels a month, and 10 come back. If each failed delivery costs you Rs 300 in courier charges both ways, that is Rs 3,000 a month lost on parcels that earned nothing. Cutting returns from 10 to 5 with a simple confirmation call saves half of that. Use your own numbers, but the pattern holds.
Avoiding bank transfer mistakes
Fake receipts are the bank transfer version of the refused parcel. Edited screenshots can look very convincing. The rules to protect yourself are simple.
- Never ship on a screenshot alone. A receipt is a claim that money was sent. Your bank balance is the proof.
- Check the amount and the name. Match the amount on the order with what arrived, and look at the sender's name if your bank shows it.
- Check the time. A receipt from three days ago for today's order is worth a second look.
- Be polite when you ask for a fix. Honest customers sometimes upload the wrong screenshot. Asking them to correct it keeps the relationship friendly.
- Keep receipts you need. Order files are not kept forever, so download any receipt you want for your records.
Keep the customer in the loop
Whichever method they choose, customers worry most in the gap between paying and receiving. The private order status link handles much of that. Customers can see where their order stands without messaging you, and they can keep the link to check again later. The order tracking guide shows what customers see.
Since Krobr charges a package fee rather than a commission on each order, the full amount the customer pays comes to you, whether it arrives as cash or a transfer.
The short version
Offer cash on delivery so new customers feel safe, and offer bank transfer so you can be paid before you ship. Confirm larger COD orders, only deliver where you can, and show every charge upfront. For transfers, always check your own bank before marking an order paid. Do these things consistently and getting paid becomes the easy part of selling online.