How can Dropshipping sellers handle Thai payments?

As a payment platform expert, the following is a step-by-step solution for Dropshipping sellers expanding into the Thai marketplace with payment needs:


I. Core features of Thailand's payment environment

  1. Low bank card penetration(35% only)
    • However, credit/debit card online transactions accounted for 45%, with Visa/Mastercard still dominant
  2. Explosive growth of e-wallets
    • Local leaders: TrueMoney (over 20 million users), Rabbit Line Pay (Line Eco)
    • International players: Alipay+ has access to 7-11 and other offline scenes
  3. Cash culture intransigence
    • COD (cash on delivery) still accounts for 30-401 TP3T, especially in non-urban areas

Second, must be connected to the 4 types of payment methods

Payment type Representative platforms Applicable Scenarios Rate reference
International Card Organisation Visa/Mastercard High-price-per-unit goods ($50+) ~3.5%+$0.3
Localisation programme Thai QR Payment Generation Z users ~2%
electronic wallet (e.g. for money) TrueMoney/Line Pay Social e-commerce lead generation orders 1.5-2.5%
COD collection |Kerry Express and other logistics providers|Second and third tier city customer base|Single $1+15% cargo deposit

III. Implementation strategy on the ground

(1) Shopify Seller Solutions

graph TD
A [Shopify shop] --> B [Billing via Stripe]
B --> C {Monthly flow > $5 million?}
C --> |Yes| D [Apply for Stripe Thailand Entity Company Qualification]
C --> |No| E [using agents such as 2Checkout for acquiring orders]
E --> F [overlay TrueMoney plugin]

(2) COD Risk Control Points

  • Pre-Check: Verify shipping address validity via MocaStation API
  • Deposit: 15% required in advance (available via PromptPay instant transfer)
  • Logistics: Choose a logistics provider that offers collection services, such as Kerry Express.

(3) Localized's Guide to Avoiding the Pit

⚠️ must be supported:

  • ธนาคารไทยพาณิชย์ (SCB) Bank Transfer

IV. Guidelines for localised payment depth configuration

(1) New Bank of Thailand Regulation Response (Updated 2024)

  • Thai QR standard mandatory access: All online merchants are required to support PromptPay QR code payment (through Thai commercial banks such as Kasikornbank).
  • SCB Instant Transfer Whitelist: You need to register a corporate account with Siam Commercial Bank in advance to show the "SCB PayNow" option.
  • 3DS 2.0 exemption: OTP verification is exempted for single transaction <1,500 Baht (approx. $40) (to be filed by acquirer)

(2) E-purse technology interfacing programme

# TrueMoney API Call Example (Python)
import requests

def truemoney_checkout(amount, phone).
headers = {"Authorisation": "Bearer YOUR_PARTNER_KEY"}
payload = {
"payment_type": "ewallet".
"amount": amount.
"phone": phone[:10], # Remove Thailand international code +66
"callback_url": "https://yourstore.com/tmn_callback"
}
response = requests.post(
'https://api.truemoney.com/v1.5/checkout',
json=payload.
headers=headers
)
return response.json()['checkout_url'] # Returns the checkout link

(3) COD cost optimisation formula

Actual amount = (Order Amount × 85%) - MAX(Logistics Fee, (Item Weight × 25฿))  

▶️ Hands-on examples:
2,000 baht order weighing 1.5kg
Kerry Express fee formula:50฿ + (15฿×1.5kg) =72.5฿
Seller's actual receipt:(2000 x 0.85) - 72.5 = 1627.5฿


V. Conversion Rate Improvement Techniques

(1) Mandatory UI localisation changes

elemental Wrong Example Right Example
Currency Display $49.99  ๑,๙๙๙.- (*with "บาท" symbol)
CTA button colours Blue  Bright orange (#FF6F00)*
Trust Badge PayPal Badge |Krungthai Bank Certification Marks|

Note: According to Line Commerce research, orange buttons have a 23% higher click-through rate than regular colours

(2) Checkout Process Golden Rule

1️⃣ Reduced input fields::

  • The Phone field automatically adds the "+66" country code.
  • The Address field intelligently identifies "ตำบล" (district administrative unit).

2️⃣ Multi-step order splitting strategy::

[Step1] เลือกชำระเงิน → [Step2] กรุณาเลือกธนาคาร →
[Step3] ยืนยันการโอน (*with bank logo and countdown)

VI. List of alternative options

(A) Shopify Plugin Recommendations Portfolio

pie
title The optimal combination for Shopify when monthly GMV is <$100k
"Stripe+Omise" :45
"MOLPoints Gateway" :30
"DOKU Wallet Aggregator":25

(B) Comparison table of COD logistics providers

Kerry Express Flash Express J&T Thailand
Handling fee |12% |15% |8%+50฿Fixed Fee |
NSR* statute of limitations <48 hours (BKK region) 72-hour national average <24-hour metropolitan area

*:: (Net Success Rate: sign-off success rate)


VII. Risk warning and compliance points

⚠️ VAT Trap Tips:

  • Dropshipping patterns may be recognised as 'import sales' when satisfied:
    ① Annual sales > 1.8 million baht ($50k+)
    ②Shipping from Thailand's local warehouse

✅Solution:
▸ Low unit price by postal parcel (<1500 baht VAT free)
▸ Prepayment of 7%VAT for high-value orders (filed in iCustoms)

Need to discuss further implementation details or special scenario solutions?