Hungary, Romania, Czechia, and Slovakia: the COD belt of Eastern Europe

Mariana Lopes · 2026-10-07

Delivery and return rates by country

• Hungary: The delivery rate is around 95%, with an average return rate of 10%. Hungarian consumers are more cautious and need to trust the store.

• Romania: The delivery rate reaches 90%, and returns are around 12%. The Romanian market is sensitive to issues in the delivery process.

• Czechia: Delivery is at 94%, with a return rate of approximately 8%. Logistics efficiency is a priority.

• Slovakia: The delivery rate is 92%, with returns at around 9%. Consumers are more likely to return products that don't meet their expectations.

Local currencies and psychological pricing

• Hungary: The currency is the Forint (HUF). Prices ending in 9, for example, HUF 999, are common and drive more sales.

• Romania: The currency is the Leu (RON). A psychological price point is RON 199, which is seen as a good deal.

• Czechia: The currency is the Czech Koruna (CZK). Prices ending in 90 CZK are preferred because they give the impression of a good discount.

• Slovakia: The Euro (EUR) is used here. Prices at EUR 49,99 are more attractive to consumers.

Carriers and delivery times

• Hungary: The most commonly used carriers are DPD and GLS, with delivery times of 2 to 4 business days.

• Romania: Fan Curier and Sameday are popular, with delivery times ranging from 1 to 3 business days.

• Czechia: Zásilkovna and PPL offer delivery times of 2 to 4 business days.

• Slovakia: Zásielkovňa and Slovenská Pošta are the main carriers, with delivery times of 2 to 5 business days.

Language and call center

• Hungary: Hungarian is the official language. Support in Hungarian is important to meet consumer needs.

• Romania: Romanian is the official language. A call center in Romanian can increase consumer trust.

• Czechia: Czech is essential for effective customer service. A local call center can reduce friction.

• Slovakia: Slovak is the official language. Offering support in Slovak can give you a competitive edge.

Less competition, lower volume

These countries have less competition compared to Western markets. Online shopping volume is more modest, but it's growing. For e-commerce businesses that operate with COD, this means less saturation and opportunities to enter specific niches.

If you're exploring these regions, consider these points to optimize your operation.

What's your experience with COD sales in these countries? Share your numbers!