Is 'Cash on Delivery' the safest payment method?

Cash on delivery (COD) stipulates that the purchaser must pay for the goods when they are delivered and not in advance. So, COD is considered a safe payment option in terms that the purchaser does not have to pay in case the goods are not delivered for any reason. However, given that the purchaser have to pay the delivery person before opening the parcel, COD does not secure the purchaser in case the delivered goods are not as described including defects, or damages occurred during shipping. On the contrary, online payment methods secure the purchaser against any problem may occur, as bank institutes, which issue credit cards or debit cards, and PayPal allow the purchaser to claim a refund.