Why international customers abandon checkout
International customers abandon checkout when total costs are unclear, currency is unfamiliar, and preferred local payment methods are missing. Uncertain taxes, duties, delivery timelines, and unexpected authentication steps raise perceived risk and effort, depressing conversion. Presenting prices in local currency, collecting taxes and duties upfront, offering country-specific payment options, aligning flows to local authentication norms, and clearly confirming shipping timelines create payment familiarity, reduce friction, and significantly increase checkout completion.
FAQ
### How does payment familiarity impact international checkout conversion?
Familiar currencies, local payment options, and expected authentication flows reduce perceived risk and cognitive load. This increases trust and lowers drop-off at the pay step, improving conversion.
### What costs should I show to cross-border shoppers before payment?
Show the full landed cost—product price, shipping, taxes, and duties—in the shopper’s local currency. Clear, upfront totals prevent delivery surprises and reduce abandonment.
### Which payment methods should I prioritize for international buyers?
Prioritize the most used methods in each market, including local cards, popular wallets, bank transfers, and installments. Align authorization and authentication with local norms to reduce failures.
### How can I minimize failed payments for international orders?
Localize currency and routing, support required authentication like 3DS or local variants, and offer alternative tenders. Provide clear error messages and retry paths to preserve conversion.
