E-commerce

Payments & shipping in Greece: what to watch

Gateways, cash-on-delivery, shipping pricing.

2 min read

In Greece, conversion is won (or lost) at payments & shipping

Most users don't abandon because of the product — they abandon because the payment and delivery flow doesn't feel clear or safe.


1) Payments: offer options without clutter

Best-performing options:

  • card (Stripe, Viva)
  • cash-on-delivery (still huge in Greece)
  • PayPal for tech/tourism
  • bank transfer only where necessary
"The easier it is to pay, the less the customer hesitates."

Make payment methods visible early — not only at checkout.


2) Cash-on-delivery: advantage or trap?

Pros:

  • boosts conversion
  • lowers trust barrier
  • ideal for B2C categories
Cons:
  • more returns
  • requires confirmations
  • not ideal for high-value products
Use with structure, not blindly.

3) Shipping pricing: clarity wins

What works:

  • flat rate
  • free shipping threshold
  • early visibility of cost
  • simple rules (no complex calculators)
Hidden shipping costs = abandoned carts.

4) Couriers: part of the user experience

Greek customers judge your shop by the courier's performance.

Improve with:

  • proper integrations
  • working tracking links
  • realistic delivery windows
  • SMS/email notifications

5) Returns: clarity builds trust

Explain:

  • how
  • when
  • cost
  • time
Simple return policies increase sales — not refunds.

Bottom Line:

Payments & shipping = half your conversion rate.
Make them predictable, simple and trustworthy — everything else builds on that.

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