The preference for pay on delivery in Nigeria is deeply rooted in a history of unreliable product quality and the fear of losing money to faceless online entities. Personally, I have had instances where the item delivered looked nothing like the photos online, and having the leverage to reject it at the doorstep saved me from a stressful refund process. To gain my full trust for upfront payments, companies need to implement more transparent return policies and perhaps use escrow-style services where the payment is only released once the customer confirms receipt of the correct item. Until we see a more consistent standard of service and easier recourse for disputes, most shoppers will continue to treat upfront payment as an unnecessary risk. Building that level of consumer confidence will require stores to prioritize reputation and customer satisfaction over quick sales.