Cash on delivery and nationwide shipping: buy from another city and pay on receipt

Until now, if you searched for a cell phone in Pereira, the search showed cell phones in Pereira. Period. But many people sell in Cali, Chía or Fusagasugá and ship the package with Interrapidísimo or Servientrega to anywhere in the country. Starting this week, those listings 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. On /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. Cards show 📦 "Ships nationwide" or "Free nationwide shipping," 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: in addition to the freight, carriers charge a collection fee, which varies by company, destination and amount. That's why some sellers add this cost to the price or charge it as part of shipping. Ask about it in chat before closing the deal.

For buyers: how to use it

1. Go to Search with shipping, 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 ships, 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 package 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 cash on delivery avoids.
• Confirm the total before dispatch. Agree in chat on how much you'll 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 and keep photos and conversations.
• Pay cash carefully. If you pay with large bills, also check the change you receive. Here's a guide to identifying counterfeit bills.
• Keep the conversation in the listing chat until the deal is closed. If something goes wrong, report the listing and, if it 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, turn on "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, check "I accept cash on delivery". Many buyers only buy from someone in another city if they can pay on receipt.

Before checking it, find out from your carrier the collection fee and how many days it takes 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 only appears 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 posted, 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 fee that, according to the websites of Servientrega, Coordinadora and Interrapidísimo, each company sets based on destination and amount. Agree in chat on who assumes each cost before dispatching.

Is it safe to buy with cash on delivery?

It is safer than transferring money 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 prior payments "for the guide," and keep the conversation and the tracking number.

Where and how do I post an item with shipping?

Create your sales listing and turn on "I ship nationwide." Then choose who pays for shipping and mark "I accept cash on delivery" if your carrier offers it. For listings you already have 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 according to 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 nationwide" 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.