Remember a time before one-click checkouts and digital wallets? A mythical era when buying something online involved a real-life, human interaction and a wad of crumpled bills? In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into the history of Cash on Delivery (COD), the payment method that was the unsung hero of early e-commerce and mail-order catalogs.

Join us as we explore what Cash on Delivery actually was—that slightly awkward, suspenseful doorstep dance where you handed physical money to a delivery driver in exchange for your much-anticipated package. We unpack why this system was once the king of remote shopping. In a world before widespread credit card use and when online security was a digital Wild West, COD was the ultimate trust-builder. You didn't pay until you could literally touch the box. It eliminated the fear of sending your money into the internet void, never to be seen again. We reminisce about the logistical genius and the sheer consumer confidence that the COD payment method provided for decades.

So, where did it all go? We chart the inevitable decline of Cash on Delivery. Discover how the rise of secure online payments, the ubiquity of credit and debit cards, and the arrival of digital giants like PayPal and Apple Pay made the COD model seem charmingly ancient. We discuss the logistical nightmare it became for retailers—managing floats for drivers, the high rate of refused packages, and the security risks of carrying cash.

From its peak as the most trusted way to shop from home to its current status as a retail fossil in many parts of the world, we cover it all. If you’ve ever wondered about the history of online shopping or want a nostalgic laugh about the way things used to be, this episode is for you. Tune in to learn why the simple, effective system of Cash on Delivery was both a brilliant solution and a logistical headache destined for the history books. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

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