Vendor Guidelines

1. Shop Registration

To start selling, every vendor must pay a KES 100 registration fee and maintain a KES 100 monthly subscription. There is no free trial. These fees help us maintain a high-quality marketplace and verify that our sellers are serious about their business.

• You must provide a valid M-Pesa number for registration and monthly renewal reminders.
• Shops must have a clear name (e.g., "Jane's Thrift" or "TechHub Kenya").
• One account can manage multiple listings across different categories.

2. Listing Requirements

Quality listings sell faster. We encourage all vendors to follow these standards:

3. Prohibited Items

To keep Soko Afric safe for everyone, the following items are strictly prohibited:

• Illegal substances or drugs.
• Counterfeit documents or currency.
• Firearms or dangerous weapons.
• Stolen property.
• Expired or unsafe products.

4. The "Reveal Contact" Policy

Soko Afric uses a unique contact privacy system. Your phone number is hidden from casual browsers and is only revealed when a buyer is genuinely interested and taps the "Reveal Contact" button.

As a vendor, you agree to:

• Respond professionally to calls and WhatsApp messages from buyers.
• Keep your listed phone number active and reachable.
• Do not use buyer contact info for spam or unrelated marketing.

5. Subscription, Ad Boosts & Rankings

Every seller shop stays active on the standard KES 100 monthly subscription. You can then optionally upgrade to Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum visibility tiers to:

• Appear higher in search results.
• Get featured slots on the homepage.
• Gain access to the exclusive Flash Sales section.

6. Buyer SMS Alerts

Sellers may use Soko Afric buyer SMS alerts to remind interested buyers about their online shop, promotions, and new arrivals. Buyers should only receive alerts they have agreed to receive.

• Only send relevant promotional reminders.
• Do not send spam or unrelated messages.
• Respect buyer privacy and opt-out requests.