When you start selling, it is tempting to pick the most exciting product you can find: a big appliance, an expensive gadget, a gift set worth thousands. But real orders tell a quieter story.
What the numbers say
Our data from about 5,000 cash-on-delivery orders from online shops on our system (September to October 2026) shows a clear pattern:
- The middle order was about Rs 1,950. Half of orders were below that, half above.
- 9 in 10 items sold cost between Rs 1,000 and Rs 3,000.
- 9 in 10 orders were a single item.
- 90–100% of orders were cash on delivery.
So the typical online buyer in Sri Lanka is not filling a basket. They see one useful thing at a fair price, and they order that one thing, paying when it arrives.
Why this range works
It is an easy "yes". Rs 1,000–3,000 is money most families can spend on something useful without a long discussion. The customer does not need to save up or ask anyone.
Delivery makes sense. Delivery usually costs the customer around Rs 450 (in real shops we saw Rs 390–500). On a Rs 400 item, delivery more than doubles the price, and the customer starts to wonder if it is worth it. On a Rs 2,000 item, delivery is a small part of the total.
Cash on delivery feels safe. Since almost everyone pays at the door, the customer must have the cash ready on the day. A total around Rs 2,500 is easier to keep ready than Rs 9,000.
There is room for your profit. A product in this range usually leaves space for a fair profit without the price looking too high.
A worked example
This is only an example to show the maths, not a promise of earnings.
Imagine a kitchen item where MyKade shows your price as Rs 1,350 and a suggested selling price of Rs 1,950. If you sell at Rs 1,950, the product page shows your profit for that price. The customer pays Rs 1,950 plus delivery, say Rs 450, so Rs 2,400 in total at the door.
Now imagine a cheap item at Rs 450 with delivery of Rs 450. The customer pays Rs 900 for something "worth" Rs 450. Many people will hesitate, and your profit on such a small price is tiny.
How to use the sweet spot
- Filter your choices. When you browse products in the app, start with items whose selling price falls between Rs 1,000 and Rs 3,000.
- Think "one useful thing". Since most orders are a single item, choose products that are complete on their own. A customer should not need to buy something else to use it.
- Always say the full total. Write "Rs 1,950 + delivery Rs 450 = Rs 2,400 at your door." A surprise at the door is one of the reasons parcels are refused.
- Don't count on bundles at first. "Buy 3 for a discount" can work later with loyal customers, but your early plan should not depend on it.
- Look at the best-selling categories. In real shops these were home and living, kitchen, car accessories, gadgets and electronics, beauty, and baby products. Many products in these groups sit in the sweet spot.
What about cheaper or dearer items?
You are free to sell outside the range, and you choose your own selling price (up to a maximum, so customers are not overcharged). Just know what you are taking on. Very cheap items struggle because of delivery. Expensive items need more trust, more questions answered, and a bigger cash amount at the door. Once you have regular customers who know you, higher-priced items become easier.
Quick check before you share a product
Is the full price, with delivery, under about Rs 3,500? Can I explain in one line why it is useful? Would I pay this amount myself?
If the answer is yes three times, it is worth sharing. For more on choosing, read how to pick products that sell and why one hero product beats fifty.
Start in the sweet spot
You don't need expensive stock or a big budget. Pick one product in the Rs 1,000–3,000 range, share it with people you know, and learn from the first replies. Download the MyKade app and find your first sweet-spot product today.