Most small stores sell in two places at once: their own city, and the rest of India. The best delivery method is different for each. Here is a simple way to decide between local delivery and courier.
When local delivery works best
- Fresh food — sweets, cakes, vegetables, milk products.
- Heavy or bulky items — furniture, big utensils, water cans.
- Fragile items — glass, pottery, terracotta.
- Same-day needs — gifts, medicines, festival items.
You (or a delivery person) take the order by bike or auto. It is fast and personal, and the buyer meets a real person from your shop.
When a courier works best
- Orders from other cities and states.
- Small, light, sturdy items — clothes, books, cosmetics, dry snacks.
- When you have many orders and no one to deliver.
A courier aggregator lets you compare rates, book pickups from your shop and share tracking links with buyers.
Set delivery charges by zone
Make it simple:
- Your area: low charge, or free above a certain order value.
- Rest of your city: a slightly higher charge.
- Rest of India: courier rate, with free delivery above a higher order value.
Write these clearly on your site so buyers are not surprised at checkout.
Cash on delivery
For local delivery, COD is easy — your own person collects the cash. For courier orders, COD returns cost you both ways. Prefer prepaid for far-away buyers, or ask for a small advance.
Keep buyers informed
- Local: send a message when the order leaves — "Ravi is on the way, reaching in 30 minutes."
- Courier: share the tracking link the day it ships.
Most "where is my order?" calls stop when buyers get one clear update.
Packing for each
Local orders need clean, neat packing. Courier parcels need strong boxes, filler and tape, because they pass through many hands.
A mix is normal
Most successful small stores do both: their own delivery for the city, and a courier for everything else. Start simple, track which orders cost you most, and adjust.
On our online stores, you set your own delivery charges and free-delivery amount. On Pro and Elite, Shiprocket books courier pickups and buyers get tracking on WhatsApp; partial COD reduces costly returns. See online store plans or read how to set shipping charges.
FAQs
When should a small store deliver orders itself?
For fresh food, heavy, bulky or fragile items, and same-day orders within the city.
When is a courier better?
For orders from other cities and for small, light, sturdy items.
Should I offer COD for courier orders?
Prefer prepaid for far-away buyers, because COD returns cost you both ways. Ask for a small advance if you offer COD.
How should I set delivery charges?
By zone: low or free for your area, a bit more for the rest of the city, and courier rates with a free-delivery amount for the rest of India.
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