Cash on delivery reminder on WhatsApp: 3 templates

A cash on delivery reminder tells the customer how much to pay the courier and to have the exact amount ready. It’s a small message meant to avoid failed deliveries, and customers read it: for the median brand on TextYess, 93.6% of recipients read it, the highest read rate of any message type we measured.

What works, from the messages brands send on TextYess

Only a few brands send this reminder, so there are no performance patterns yet. What their messages have in common:

• They state the amount. The clearest ones break it down: order total plus the cash on delivery fee.

• They say the courier gives no change. Every real reminder we found asks for the exact amount, in plain words.

• They go out at one of two moments: right after the customer confirms the order, or when the parcel ships.

Templates

1. Right after the customer confirms

Modelled on a beauty brand that sends this as soon as the customer taps Confirm. Thanks first, then the one thing to remember.

• Header: none

• Buttons: none

• Example values: {{order_number}} = 10482, {{total}} = 36.90, {{brand}} = your shop name

2. On its way, with the fee spelled out

The same brand’s second message, sent when the order ships. Splitting the total from the fee avoids an argument on the doorstep.

• Header: none

• Buttons: URL “Track my order” (optional)

• Example values: {{first_name}} = Emma, {{order_number}} = 10482, {{total}} = 39.90, {{cod_fee}} = 3

3. With an offer of help

Modelled on a sunglasses brand. It adds a line inviting questions, so a customer who can’t be home writes to you instead of refusing the parcel.

• Header: none

• Buttons: none

• Example values: {{first_name}} = Emma, {{order_number}} = 10482, {{total}} = 54

When to send it

Send it right after the customer confirms the cash on delivery order, when the order ships, or both: the beauty brand above sends both. With TextYess, it goes out automatically after the COD confirmation, using the total from your Shopify order.

Meta category

A payment reminder for a specific order is utility, as long as it makes no offer. A discount for paying by card instead, or a product suggestion, makes it marketing. Keep the order number in the text so the message is clearly about one order. See Meta’s template categorisation.

Avoid rejection

• Never start or end the body with a variable. Put the amount in the middle of a sentence, not as the last word.

• No threats. Meta rejects messages that threaten legal action or public shaming, so keep it to a friendly reminder.

• Keep # and £ outside the variables: #{{order_number}} and £{{total}}, with plain numbers as sample values.

• Don’t ask for card or bank details in the message. Meta rejects requests for full card or account numbers.

• Button labels can be 25 characters at most.

Full list: Meta’s template review.

FAQ

Related templates

Cash on delivery confirmation and Shipping update.

See all 20 WhatsApp message templates for ecommerce.