Cash on Delivery (COD) as an Alternative Payment Method for E-Commerce Transactions: Analysis and Implications

Since the emergence of the World Wide Web, various payment methods for e-commerce transactions have evolved rapidly over time, including credit cards, debit cards, smart cards, e-cash, e-checks, and e-wallets. In recent years, however, the use of cash-on-delivery (COD) has increased. This differs from all other methods of payment in terms of processing, time and place of payment, and parties involved, as well as security and privacy assurance. The aim of this article was to compare COD to other e-payment methods and to consider the implications of COD for both customers and e-vendors. The article also discusses implications for e-commerce practice and highlights areas for future research.