If you run a Shopify store in India, you know the feeling. An order comes in, you pack it, dispatch it — and the courier calls to say no one answered. Then they call again. Then the order comes back.
What is a fake COD order?
A fake COD order (also called a non-delivery or return-to-origin order) is placed with cash-on-delivery payment and intentionally rejected at the door. The customer wanted to browse, not buy.
Why your RTO rate is the most important number in your business
Every returned order costs you shipping both ways, packaging material, and the opportunity cost of stock that's out of circulation for 7–14 days. A 30% RTO rate on a store doing ₹10L/month means ₹3L/month in waste.
How to identify high-risk orders
- First-time buyers in high-RTO pincodes
- Orders over ₹2,000 with COD payment
- Customers who have returned before
- Incomplete or inconsistent addresses
Blocking COD at checkout for specific segments
The cleanest solution is to disable COD dynamically at checkout based on cart value, customer history, or delivery pincode — without removing COD for customers who have a good track record.