1. About Afrisinia
Afrisinia ("we", "us", "the Platform") is an online auction marketplace operating in Ethiopia. We connect sellers who list goods for auction with buyers who place competitive bids. By creating an account or using any part of the Platform, you agree to these Terms and Conditions in full.
2. Eligibility
- You must be at least 18 years old to register.
- You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration.
- Each person may hold only one account. Duplicate accounts may be suspended without notice.
- Accounts used for fraudulent activity will be permanently banned and reported to relevant authorities.
3. Account & Security
- You are responsible for keeping your password confidential.
- All activity under your account is your responsibility.
- Notify us immediately at afrisiniadigitals@gmail.com if you suspect unauthorised access.
- We may suspend your account if we detect suspicious activity or policy violations.
4. Bidding Rules
4.1 Bids Are Binding Commitments
Every bid you place is a legally binding offer to purchase the item at that price. Winning an auction creates an obligation to go meet the seller in person, pay them directly, and collect the item. Do not bid unless you intend to pay.
4.2 Trust Tiers
Your trust tier is based on your combined history of completed purchases and sales, plus identity verification (KYC):
- New — fewer than 3 completed transactions, or not yet KYC-verified.
- Verified — 3 or more completed transactions and KYC-verified.
- Trusted — 5 or more completed transactions and KYC-verified.
4.3 Security Deposit (All Tiers)
Every bidder, regardless of trust tier, must hold a 3% security deposit from their wallet for each active bid. This deposit:
- Is held from your wallet when you place a bid.
- Is returned immediately to your wallet if you are outbid, or if you cancel your bid.
- Is converted directly into the platform's commission if you win and the sale completes — no separate charge.
- Is forfeited to the platform if you win and then fail to complete payment within your pickup window.
4.4 Verified & Trusted Buyers
Verified and Trusted bidders hold the same deposit as any other bidder, but get a longer pickup window to complete payment after winning: Verified buyers have 48 hours; Trusted buyers have 72 hours (New-tier buyers also have 48 hours).
4.5 Non-Payment Consequences
- 1st offence: recorded against your account; any held deposit is forfeited.
- 2nd offence: 30-day bidding suspension.
- 3rd+ offence: permanent bidding ban.
- An unpaid win is automatically offered to the next-highest bidder.
5. Seller Rules
- Sellers must accurately describe items including condition, defects, and photographs (minimum 4 photos required).
- A non-refundable listing fee of 1.5% of the starting price (minimum 50 ETB, maximum 1,000 ETB) is charged from your wallet at the moment an admin approves your listing.
- The seller receives 100% of the winning bid, paid directly by the buyer in cash at pickup. The platform charges no commission to the seller — the 3% platform commission is paid by the buyer (see §4) and is never deducted from the seller's payout.
- Cancelling an auction that already has active bids incurs a penalty of 2× the listing fee, and your listing rights may be suspended for 30 days.
- Once a buyer wins, the sale proceeds through the in-person pickup and dual-confirmation process described in §8 below.
- Selling counterfeit, stolen, or prohibited goods will result in immediate permanent ban.
6. Fees Summary
| Fee | Who Pays | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listing fee | Seller | 1.5% of start price (50–1,000 ETB) | On listing approval |
| Platform commission | Buyer | 3% of winning bid | Only once the sale is fully confirmed at pickup |
| Security deposit | Buyer (New tier only) | 3% of bid amount | When bidding (refunded if outbid/cancelled; becomes the commission if you win) |
7. Payments & Wallet
- All transactions on the Platform are conducted in Ethiopian Birr (ETB).
- Deposits and withdrawals are handled manually via Telebirr or CBE Bank and confirmed by an Afrisinia admin — there is no automated payment gateway.
- Funds deposited into your Afrisinia wallet are held securely and used for bids, deposits, listing fees, and commission.
- Verified/Trusted users may have part of their balance temporarily reserved against commission owed on auctions they are currently leading (see §4.4); this portion cannot be withdrawn until those auctions resolve.
- The Platform is not a licensed bank. Wallet balances are not insured by any government deposit scheme.
8. Pickup & Payment Confirmation
Afrisinia is a cash-at-pickup marketplace — there is no shipping, and nobody from the Platform is present at the handoff. A sale is only ever finalized once both sides confirm it:
- The buyer meets the seller, pays the agreed amount in cash, and receives the item, then confirms pickup in the app. This alone does not move any money.
- The seller then confirms they actually received payment — only at this point is the sale finalized and the platform's commission collected from the buyer.
- If the seller disputes the buyer's claim (payment was not actually received), or if the buyer reports the seller never showed up, the order is frozen and an Afrisinia admin investigates before anything is finalized.
- Afrisinia's decision in dispute resolution is final.
9. Prohibited Items
The following may not be listed or sold on Afrisinia:
- Weapons, ammunition, and explosives
- Illegal drugs or controlled substances
- Counterfeit or pirated goods
- Stolen property
- Wildlife or protected species
- Items prohibited under Ethiopian law
- Human beings, organs, or any form of trafficking
Violators will be permanently banned and reported to law enforcement.
10. Privacy
We collect your name, phone number, and transaction history to operate the Platform. Your personal information is never sold to third parties. We may share information with law enforcement when legally required. By using Afrisinia you consent to this data collection and use.
11. Limitation of Liability
Afrisinia acts as an intermediary marketplace. We are not responsible for the quality, safety, legality, or delivery of any item. Our maximum liability to you for any claim is limited to the fees you paid us in the 30 days before the event giving rise to the claim.
12. Changes to Terms
We may update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the new Terms. We will notify registered users of material changes via SMS.
13. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Any dispute that cannot be resolved through mediation shall be submitted to the competent courts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
14. Contact Us
For questions, disputes, or support: afrisiniadigitals@gmail.com