Terms of Service

1. Who we are

EgoGebeya operates an online marketplace that connects customers with independent sellers and shops in Ethiopia. We provide listing, cart, checkout, delivery coordination, and payment instruction tools. Unless stated otherwise, sales contracts for products are between you and the seller; we facilitate the transaction and platform services.

2. Eligibility and accounts

You must provide accurate registration information (name, email, phone where required) and keep it up to date. You are responsible for activity under your account and for keeping your password confidential.

We may offer sign-in via email and password, Google, and phone verification (SMS) when we enable it. You must not create fraudulent accounts or impersonate others.

We may suspend or close accounts that violate these Terms, abuse the Platform, or pose a security or legal risk.

3. Marketplace roles

• Customers browse, purchase, pay according to the selected method, and receive deliveries or pickups as offered.
• Shop owners / sellers list products, manage inventory and pricing, fulfill orders assigned to their shop, and communicate with customers through platform tools where available.
• Platform administrators manage settings, verify payments, moderate content, and support operations.

4. Orders and pricing

Product prices, stock, and listing status are set by sellers. Displayed prices are in Ethiopian Birr unless otherwise shown. Delivery fees depend on the delivery method, distance, product category handling tier, and platform settings shown at checkout.

Placing an order is an offer to buy. We or the seller may cancel before acceptance if an item is unavailable, mispriced, or restricted. When you place an order, inventory may be reserved for a limited time while payment is completed.

Supermarket and mixed-cart rules shown in the app (for example, minimum order amounts per shop or separate checkout for supermarket vs other items) form part of these Terms.

5. Payments

Supported methods may include Telebirr, bank transfer, and cash on delivery (COD), as shown at checkout. Online methods require you to pay the amount shown to the merchant payout details displayed in the app (Telebirr number and/or bank accounts configured by the platform).

For online payments you must submit a valid payment reference and, when requested, a proof image (screenshot). Payments are reviewed by our team before an order moves to processing. We may reject proofs that do not match the order amount, reference, or payer details.

For cash on delivery, pay only the delivery fee online before dispatch (0% of products, including orders of 10,000 ETB or more). The full product amount is due in cash when the order arrives. Telebirr and bank transfer still require the full amount shown at checkout.

You are responsible for paying the correct amount on time. Unpaid orders may be cancelled automatically after the hold period shown in platform settings, and reserved stock will be released.

We may add automated payment providers in the future; additional terms shown at checkout will apply when you use them.

6. Delivery and pickup

Delivery options may include shop pickup, hub pickup, and door-to-door delivery. Grocery and supermarket orders are door-to-door only and may include scheduled delivery. Estimated times and fees are shown at checkout and are not guaranteed if events outside our control occur.

You must provide a correct delivery address and phone number when required. Risk of loss may pass to you upon delivery to the address or handover at pickup, subject to applicable law.

7. Cancellations, refunds, and disputes

You may cancel unpaid orders while status allows cancellation in the app. After payment verification or shipment, cancellation and refund rules depend on order status and platform policy communicated in order history or support.

Refunds, when approved, may be processed manually to your original payment method or as store credit, as determined by the platform. Chargebacks or false payment claims may result in account suspension.

Product quality, warranty, and seller conduct disputes should first be raised via in-app support or shop messages. We may mediate but are not the manufacturer of third-party goods.

8. Seller obligations

Sellers must list only lawful products, maintain accurate stock, honor fulfilled orders, and comply with Ethiopian consumer and trade laws. Sellers grant the Platform a license to display product content and images they upload.

Vendor tax responsibility & trade license

If you sell on EgoGebeya as a shop owner or vendor, you act as an independent seller of physical inventory. The Platform provides marketplace listing, checkout, and payment facilitation only; we are not the seller of your goods except where we explicitly sell platform-owned inventory.

You are solely responsible for all tax obligations arising from physical inventory you sell through the Platform, including VAT and income tax where applicable. You must maintain valid business registration, provide an accurate Tax Identification Number (TIN) for your physical shop, and upload a valid Trade License as required during onboarding.

You warrant that your TIN, trade license number, and license documents are genuine, current, and match your physical place of business. False or misleading information may lead to suspension, withheld payouts, order cancellation, and reporting to authorities where required by law.

Marketplace commission and platform service fees charged by EgoGebeya are separate from your tax liability on product sales. Amounts collected on your behalf for your sales are pass-through funds owed to you, not platform revenue, except for disclosed commission and fees.

9. Acceptable use

• Do not upload malware, scrape the site abusively, or attempt to bypass security or payment verification.
• Do not use the Platform for illegal goods, hate speech, harassment, or fraud.
• Do not interfere with other users’ orders or manipulate reviews or inventory.

10. Intellectual property

The Platform name, branding, software, and design are owned by or licensed to us. You may not copy or reverse engineer the service except as allowed by law. Product images and descriptions belong to their respective sellers or licensors.

11. Disclaimers and limitation of liability

The Platform is provided "as is" to the extent permitted by law. We do not warrant uninterrupted service. To the maximum extent permitted by Ethiopian law, we are not liable for indirect damages, lost profits, or seller failures; our aggregate liability for platform services is limited to the fees you paid us for that transaction in the prior twelve months, or one thousand Birr, whichever is greater, except where law requires otherwise.

12. Changes and governing law

We may update these Terms by posting a new version with an updated date. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. Material changes may also be notified by email or in-app notice where appropriate.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Disputes should be addressed first through support at support@egogebeya.com; courts in Addis Ababa may have jurisdiction unless mandatory consumer protections specify otherwise.