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Cash on delivery in Colombia: a guide for Shopify stores

By the COD Confirmation teamUpdated 2 min read

Cash on delivery, known in Colombia as pago contra entrega or contraentrega, is one of the most popular ways to buy online, especially from stores selling through social media ads and dropshipping. To keep returns low, confirm every order on WhatsApp in Spanish before shipping, collect a complete address with neighbourhood and references, and ship quickly with a carrier that covers your customers’ cities.

Key takeaways

  • Pago contra entrega is a mainstream way to buy online in Colombia.
  • Confirm every order on WhatsApp, in Spanish, before shipping.
  • Collect the barrio and address references to avoid failed deliveries.
  • Track returns by city and carrier, and adjust where they’re high.

How cash on delivery works in Colombia

Colombian shoppers often prefer to pay when the parcel arrives, especially when buying from a store or brand they found through Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. The carrier collects the amount in pesos (COP) and transfers it to the store after deducting its fees. Contraentrega is particularly common in dropshipping, where many orders are placed on impulse.

Why contraentrega orders get returned

  • Impulse purchases from social media ads.
  • Customers who aren’t home or don’t answer the carrier’s call.
  • Incomplete addresses: missing barrio, apartment number or references.
  • Long delivery times to smaller towns and rural areas.
  • Fake or duplicate orders.

Carriers and delivery

Colombian stores commonly use Servientrega, Interrapidísimo, Coordinadora, Envía and TCC, among others, often through logistics or dropshipping platforms that compare rates. Compare coverage by department, delivery times, return costs and how quickly collected money is paid out.

Confirming COD orders in Colombia

WhatsApp is the everyday messaging app in Colombia, so a Spanish confirmation feels natural:

Spanish (Colombia)
Hola {{1}} 👋 ¡Gracias por tu pedido en {{2}}! Pedido: {{3}} Total a pagar contra entrega: {{4}} Dirección: {{5}} Por favor confirma tu pedido para enviarlo hoy.
✅ Confirmar pedido
❌ Cancelar pedido

Tips for Colombian stores:

  • Ask for the barrio and references (“frente al parque”, “casa esquinera”) if the address looks incomplete.
  • Confirm the exact total, shipping included, so there are no surprises when the carrier arrives.
  • Ship confirmed orders quickly to keep the customer’s interest.
  • Call high-value orders that don’t reply, using a short call script.

More Spanish messages: WhatsApp COD confirmation templates. Also selling in Mexico? See cash on delivery in Mexico.

Checklist for contraentrega stores in Colombia

  • Confirm every order on WhatsApp before shipping.
  • Require a valid Colombian mobile number.
  • Collect city, barrio, full address and references.
  • Track returns by city, product, campaign and carrier.
  • Review repeat refusers before shipping their next order.

Questions merchants ask

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Email info@usewhapi.com.

What does pago contra entrega mean?
Pago contra entrega (or contraentrega) is the Spanish term for cash on delivery: the customer pays the carrier when the order arrives, instead of paying online at checkout.
Which carriers handle cash on delivery in Colombia?
Commonly used carriers include Servientrega, Interrapidísimo, Coordinadora, Envía and TCC, among others, often through logistics platforms that compare them. Check coverage, delivery times, return costs and how quickly they transfer the collected money.
Why do so many contraentrega orders get returned?
The usual reasons are impulse purchases from ads, customers who aren’t home or don’t answer, incomplete addresses and long delivery times. Confirming the order before shipping catches many of these cases.

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