Can Trust Be the Growth Engine? Gardino Says Yes.
In the crowded and often skeptical world of online shopping, especially for drop-shipping brands, building customer trust isn’t just a best practice; it’s a non-negotiable, and Gardino, a brand known for everyday gadgets and home utility products, took this challenge head-on.
Founded by Kartik Chandok, an ex-Amazon employee, Gardino was launched during the lockdown with a clear mission to bring value-driven gadgets and home utility products to Indian households. Built on a lean dropshipping model, the brand quickly gained traction. But like many fast-growing online businesses, Gardino faced an important question early on: how do you earn trust in a market where skepticism is high?
This case study explores how a single strategic move, enabling Buyer Protection, helped Gardino overcome this challenge, boost prepaid adoption, and build lasting customer confidence.
The Challenge: Distrust Was Blocking Growth
Kartik quickly realized that trust was the biggest challenge in growing Gardino. Many online shoppers were unsure about drop-shipping websites. Some had bad past experiences with unknown sellers. Others were afraid of not receiving the product or not being able to get a refund if something went wrong.
Gardino was dealing with two main problems:
❗Many customers were dropping off before completing their orders.
❗Most people were choosing cash on delivery instead of prepaid options.
Both of these were signs that shoppers didn’t fully trust the brand yet. Kartik wanted to fix this and give people a reason to feel confident while shopping.
Solution: Adding Buyer Protection to Build Confidence
To address the trust deficit, Gardino added the Buyer Protection widget to key website pages, including product pages and checkout.
The message was simple and reassuring: “Your order is protected.”
Customers now saw that if their product didn’t arrive or was damaged, there was a safeguard in place. That peace of mind made them more comfortable with completing the purchase, especially with prepaid payments.
This small addition created a clear and credible trust signal. It shifted how customers perceived Gardino and changed how they shopped.
As a drop-shipper, you are asking customers to trust you without showing them what happens behind the scenes. You don’t have your own warehouse or logistics setup, so you need to work even harder to create a sense of security. A great-looking website is not enough. You have to clearly and early on show that their money is safe. That is what builds trust, and trust is what drives real growth. — Kartik, founder of Gardino
Impact: Higher Conversions and More Prepaid Orders
After adding Buyer Protection, Gardino saw clear improvements in their numbers:
🔷 The order conversion rate went up by 116.7%. More people were completing their purchases.
🔷 The prepaid order share increased by 40%. Fewer people chose cash on delivery.
Customers felt confident that their money was secure. That shift in perception helped Gardino build stronger relationships and grow faster.
Founder’s POV: Building Trust with Buyer Protection
Trust is the foundation of e-commerce, especially for drop-shippers. A great-looking website matters, but it also needs to feel trustworthy at first glance. Tools like Buyer Protection help create that feeling. If you’re trying to grow, start by earning your customers’ confidence. — Kartik Chandok, Founder of Gardino
Ready to Instill Trust in Your Store?
If you’re looking to build trust as Gardino did, Razorpay Buyer Protection is a simple but powerful solution. It shows your customers that their money is safe, giving them the confidence to complete their purchase. Enable Buyer Protection today and turn hesitation into conversion.
