Paying by credit card and payment by invoice are by far the most common payment methods when it comes to online shopping, as the survey on The link will open in a new window Swiss online retail conducted by Swiss Post shows. 23% of customers make advance payments. This is also down to the fact the method doesn’t have the best reputation, which isn’t always fair. But what exactly is payment in advance?

Payment in advance: pay first, then receive your goods

All payment in advance means is a customer paying for a product or service before it’s actually delivered. This may not sound particularly unusual at first, but from a customer point of view, it is. With payment in advance, you avoid fees that you’d be charged for other payment methods. By making a transfer in advance to a shop, you’re also indicating you trust it to actually process that order. For the majority of e-commerce stores, you cannot always guarantee the seller will actually deliver, yet this is by no means the only risk that online shopping involves.

Only pay in advance if it’s a trustworthy shop

Using online shops you can trust implicitly is absolutely key when it comes to online shopping. This is especially true if you’re paying in advance: this is a safe option that gives you, the customer, the best chance of receiving your order. You can also buy digital vouchers in 21 trustworthy shops using PostFinance’s e-finance tool.

The other way to pay in advance: digital vouchers so you have a better financial overview when shopping

Digital vouchers are the other way you can pay in advance. With this method, you purchase credit from digital service providers. These include the App Store and iTunes, the Google Play Store, the paysafecard, the PlayStation Store, Spotify and more. PostFinance customers can top up vouchers for these services either in e-finance directly, using the PostFinance App or at Postomats. This has three benefits:

1. if you buy digital vouchers in e-finance in advance , you can keep track of finances in your account. This means you will know what you can and can’t afford.
2. You still retain control over your spending: when you top up credit, you can only use up this credit.
3. You can rest assured you won’t forget to cancel any online subscriptions, which could well be extended automatically.

So next time you pay for games, TV series, films or music online, think about what payment method makes the most sense. Reap the benefits of digital vouchers. Topping up with digital credit in the PostFinance App or in e-finance, PostFinance’s e-banking tool, is a smart way to pay. Whether it’s credit for Netflix, the App Store or the PlayStation Store, you, as a buyer, can keep a lid on your costs, which will in turn help you budget.