How cash on delivery works for an online store in Lebanon
Many customers in Lebanon prefer to pay when the parcel arrives. This guide explains how cash on delivery (COD) works from the store owner’s side, what to prepare for each order, and which questions to ask any delivery company before you start.
Published by MIK Express · Last updated: 7 November 2026
What cash on delivery means
With cash on delivery, the customer pays the courier at the door instead of paying online in advance. The delivery company collects the money on your behalf and then returns the collected amount to you.
For a small store this removes a barrier: customers who do not want to pay by card, or who want to see the parcel first, can still order.
The steps, from order to payment
Each delivery company runs the process a little differently, but the sequence is usually the same:
- The order records the amount the recipient must pay.
- The courier delivers the parcel and collects that amount from the recipient.
- The delivery company records the collection and returns the collected amount to the merchant.
- The merchant checks the order and payment records and reconciles them against their own sales.
What to prepare for every order
Most failed or disputed COD deliveries start with missing or wrong details, so check these before you hand a parcel over:
- The exact amount to collect, including any delivery charge you want the customer to pay.
- The recipient’s name and a phone number that will be answered.
- A delivery address with enough detail to find it: building, floor and a nearby landmark.
- A note about the preferred delivery time, if the customer has told you.
Questions to ask any delivery company
Before you sign up, get clear answers in writing to these questions. They matter more than any headline promise:
- When are collected amounts settled, and how often?
- Are there fees for collecting cash, and how are they deducted?
- In which currency is the amount collected and returned?
- How are collections reported to you, and how can you check a single order?
- What happens to the parcel and the money if the recipient is unavailable or refuses?
How MIK Express handles cash on delivery
At MIK Express the order records the amount to collect, the courier collects it on delivery, and the collected amount is returned to the merchant. Settlement timing and any fees depend on the merchant account, so ask the team what applies to your business.
Common mistakes to avoid
Entering the wrong total, using a phone number nobody answers, and giving a vague address are the three most common causes of a failed COD delivery. Confirm the order with the customer by message before dispatch, and keep a record of what you promised them.
Need help with your shipments? You sell. We deliver.
Tell us what you send and where. We will come back with a quote and set up your daily pickup.