Cash on delivery and nationwide shipping: buy from another city and pay when you receive it

Until now, if you searched for a cell phone in Pereira, the search showed you cell phones in Pereira. Period. But many people sell in Cali, Chía or Fusagasugá and send the package via Interrapidísimo or Servientrega to anywhere in the country. Starting this week, those listings can also show up for you, and sellers can say something that carries more weight in Colombia than any photo: I accept cash on delivery.

We'll tell you what changed, how to use it as a buyer, how to activate it as a seller, and what precautions to take before paying.

What's new

• "I ship nationwide". Anyone selling items (clothing, cell phones, tools, small furniture, spare parts, bicycles…) can mark that they ship to any city and specify who pays for shipping: the buyer, the seller (free shipping), or to be agreed.
• "I accept cash on delivery". One more step: the carrier collects payment when it delivers the package and transfers the money to the seller. You don't transfer anything in advance.
• "With shipping" filter. In /buscar con envío you only see listings that can be shipped. If you also choose your city, that city becomes the destination, not the place where the product is: you see what can be sent to you from anywhere.
• "With shipping to your city" shelf. When you search for items in a city, after the local results a row appears with products from other cities that can be shipped there.
• Clear badges. The cards show 📦 "Ships nationwide" or "Free shipping nationwide", and in green 💵 "Cash on delivery" when the seller accepts it.

We don't charge a commission, we don't hold money, and we don't buy shipping guides. The seller ships with their carrier, and the deal remains between the two of you, as always.

How cash on delivery works

Cash on delivery (or "contra entrega") is a carrier service. Interrapidísimo, Servientrega, Coordinadora and Envía, among others, offer it to individuals and small businesses. The seller takes the package to a branch, pays the freight, and tells the carrier how much to collect at the destination. When the courier delivers the package, you pay that amount in cash or, depending on the carrier, by card reader or bank transfer. The carrier then deposits the collected amount to the seller.

For the seller it has a cost: besides the freight, carriers charge a collection commission, which varies by company, destination and amount. That's why some sellers add this cost to the price or charge it within the shipping. Ask about it via chat before closing the deal.

For buyers: how to use it

1. Go to Buscar con envío, type what you're looking for and choose your city as the destination.
2. Look for the green 💵 badge Cash on delivery if you don't want to pay in advance.
3. In the listing, tap "Ask about shipping" (or "Ask about shipping cost"). The message is already written: ask which carrier they ship with, how much shipping costs to your city and, if applicable, confirm cash on delivery.
4. Ask the seller for the tracking number when they dispatch, and track the shipment on the carrier's website, not through links sent to you in chat.

Precautions before paying

Cash on delivery reduces the most common risk, which is transferring money and never receiving anything. But it doesn't eliminate everything:

• Don't accept "advance the shipping to me". If the listing says cash on delivery and the seller asks you for a prior transfer "for the guide" or "to hold the product", be suspicious. That is exactly the payment that cash on delivery avoids.
• Confirm the total before dispatch. Agree via chat on how much you will pay at the door: product, shipping and commission if they pass it on to you. That way there are no surprises with the courier.
• Be clear about what happens if something different arrives. The conditions for inspecting the package before paying depend on the carrier. Ask about it and keep photos and conversations.
• Pay cash carefully. If you pay with large bills, also check the change you receive. We leave you a guide to identifying fake bills.
• Keep the conversation in the listing's chat until the deal is closed. If something goes wrong, report the listing and, if there was a scam, follow these steps to report an online scam.

For sellers: how to activate it

If you already ship through a carrier, activating it takes ten seconds and your listing starts reaching buyers across the country:

1. When publishing or editing a sales listing, activate "I ship nationwide".
2. Choose who pays for shipping: the buyer, you (it appears as "Free shipping"), or to be agreed.
3. If you work with your carrier's cash on delivery service, mark "I accept cash on delivery". Many buyers only buy from someone in another city if they can pay on receipt.

Before marking it, check with your carrier the collection commission and how many days they take to deposit the money, so you can price the product in a way that works for you. And keep in mind that the buyer can refuse the package at the door: confirm address, name and phone number before dispatching.

What can't be shipped

The shipping option appears only for items that fit in a package. It is not available for real estate, cars and motorcycles (spare parts and bicycles are allowed), live animals, perishable food, or free items, which are picked up in person. Prohibited products cannot be published, with or without shipping.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to sell or buy with shipping and cash on delivery?

We don't charge a commission for the sale or for shipping (September 2026). What is paid is the carrier's freight and, with cash on delivery, a collection commission which, according to the websites of Servientrega, Coordinadora and Interrapidísimo, each company sets based on destination and amount. Agree via chat on who bears each cost before dispatch.

Is it safe to buy with cash on delivery?

It is safer than transferring in advance, because you only pay when the package is in your hands, as Coordinadora and Servientrega describe in their service guides (consulted in September 2026). Even so, confirm the total before dispatch, don't make advance payments "for the guide", and keep the conversation and the tracking number.

Where and how do I publish an item with shipping?

Create your sales listing and activate "I ship nationwide". Then choose who pays for shipping and mark "I accept cash on delivery" if your carrier offers it to you. For listings you have already published, go to My listings and edit them.

What happens if the buyer doesn't receive the package?

The carrier returns it to the sender under its terms. Coordinadora notes in its cash on delivery guide (September 2026) that refusal at the door is the main risk for the seller, and the return may have a cost. That's why it's advisable to confirm the buyer's address, name and phone number before dispatching.

Can I use my AI assistant for this?

Yes. If you connected ChatGPT, Claude or Grok to your account, your assistant can search only listings with shipping and mark "I ship" and "cash on delivery" on your listings. We explain how in this guide.

What if I prefer to see the product in person?

Nothing changes: results from your city still appear first. Listings with shipping from other cities appear afterward, in their own row.