Cash on delivery, and what it means for a printed order
An explanation of cash on delivery when it is offered at checkout. Availability depends on the order and destination; it is not a promise that this payment method is currently enabled.
Cash on delivery means payment is collected on delivery, if that method is offered for your order at checkout. If it is absent or disabled, it cannot be selected. Placing a cash-on-delivery order does not mean funds have been collected or that printing has been approved.
What it is good for
- Buying from a shop you have not used before
- Not wanting card details on a new site
- Being certain the thing arrived before paying for it
What to have ready
If you select cash on delivery, review the amount, currency and collection instructions shown for your order. Confirm the accepted payment form and any change requirements rather than assuming a courier can accept every method.
Where it is the wrong choice
If nobody will be available to receive the parcel and make the required payment, cash on delivery may not suit the order. For an office, school or event venue, confirm who can receive it and follow the delivery instructions.
A printed item is made for one person and cannot be resold, so a refused delivery is a real loss rather than stock going back on a shelf. It is worth being sure somebody will be in.
Group orders
Agree who is paying before placing a group order. Several parcels or providers may be involved; use the actual checkout payment terms and order details rather than assuming one collection or one delivery.
Why some shops do not offer it
Cash on delivery puts the risk on the seller: the item is made, printed with somebody's name on it, and shipped before any money changes hands. For a printed to order product that risk is real, because a refused parcel cannot be sold to anybody else. Shops that offer it are choosing to carry that.
What happens if you are out
Delivery attempts, collection options and returns depend on the service used. Follow the carrier instructions when available. Contact support about an address problem as soon as you notice it; changes after submission or dispatch may not be possible.