Why the company lets families see their pet before paying the balance
Families reserve with 25% and pay the balance after meeting their pet.
For most online purchases, paying in full upfront is normal. A phone or a pair of shoes can be returned. A puppy cannot simply be sent back in a box. Nearby Pets India built its payment model around that difference.
The 25% booking
Families reserve a pet by paying a 25% advance online. The remaining 75% is paid in cash or UPI at the doorstep — only after the family has met the pet and is happy with it. Customers who prefer can still pay the full amount online.
“The moment the crate opens is the moment of truth,” says Soundarrajan Kannan, Founder & CEO of Nearby Pets India. “We want the family to look at their puppy, check that it is healthy and that it is the breed they chose, and only then pay the balance. That moment is where our trust is earned.”
Why the model works
The approach removes the biggest fear in online pet buying: sending a large sum to someone you have never met. It also keeps the company honest. If something about the pet does not match what was promised, the family can raise it on the spot, before the balance changes hands.
The booking advance, in turn, gives the company the commitment it needs to reserve the pet, arrange the vet check and plan the journey.
No surprises at checkout
The payment model is paired with transparent pricing. Delivery charges and taxes are shown on each pet’s page before the customer reaches checkout. UPI payments carry no extra fee, and card fees are shown upfront rather than added at the last step.
The company follows the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023. That means no drip pricing, no false urgency such as fake countdown timers or “only one left” warnings, no basket sneaking or pre-ticked add-ons, and no subscription traps.
“A family should decide on a pet with a calm mind,” Kannan says. “If we have to rush someone into buying, they were probably not ready for the pet.”
After the doorstep
Trust does not end at delivery. Every pet arrives with a vet certificate and is covered by a 7-day health guarantee, and families can reach the team on phone or WhatsApp with questions about food, vaccinations or settling in.
For many customers, that follow-up is what they remember most. Families regularly send photos weeks and months later, and many return when they are ready for a second pet — or recommend the company to friends.
“Selling a pet is one day,” Kannan says. “Being someone a family can call is the real job.”
Website: nearby-petstore.in · Phone / WhatsApp: +91 80696 45024
