Terms of Service

Welcome to Soko Marketplace ("Soko", "we", "us"). By creating an account or using our platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use Soko.

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account or use Soko. By using Soko, you confirm that you meet this requirement.

2. What Soko Is

Soko is a marketplace platform that allows independent businesses ("Sellers") to list products and allows customers ("Buyers") to discover and order from them. Soko does not own, manufacture, sell, ship, or take possession of any product listed on the platform. Every listing, price, discount, and transaction is created and controlled by the Seller, not by Soko.

3. User Accounts

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use.

4. Buying and Selling

• Sellers are solely responsible for the accuracy of their product listings, pricing, and any discounts they choose to apply. Soko does not add or create discounts on a Seller's behalf.
• Buyers agree to pay the price shown at the time of ordering.
• Sellers agree to fulfill orders accurately and in a timely manner.
• Payment happens directly between the Buyer and Seller (for example, cash, mobile money, or another method agreed between the two parties). Soko does not process, hold, or guarantee any payment, and is not a party to the transaction.
• Delivery and pickup arrangements are agreed directly between the Buyer and Seller.

5. Paid Promotions (Boost and Featured)

• Sellers may pay Soko to promote a product for a set period. Boost shows a product near the top of the marketplace. Featured allows a product to appear on the homepage banner.
• Promotion spots are limited, and promoted products take turns. Soko does not guarantee that a promoted product will always be shown first, or to a specific number of people, or that it will result in sales.
• Payment for promotions is arranged directly with Soko. A promotion is activated by Soko after payment is confirmed, and runs for the agreed period.
• Payments for promotions are not refundable once the promotion has been activated, except where Soko decides otherwise at its discretion, for example if a promotion could not be delivered because of a fault on our side.
• Soko may remove a promotion, without refund, if the product or Seller violates these Terms.

6. Reviews and User Content

Ratings and reviews reflect the personal opinion of the customer who wrote them, not the views of Soko. We do not verify the accuracy of reviews. We may remove any content that violates these Terms, is abusive, or is reported as false, but we are not obligated to monitor all content and are not liable for user-submitted content.

7. Prohibited Activities

• Listing illegal, counterfeit, or prohibited items
• Fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive activity, including fake reviews
• Harassing or abusing other users
• Misusing contact information (phone number, WhatsApp) obtained through the platform for purposes unrelated to a genuine order
• Attempting to bypass or interfere with our security measures

8. Location Services

Some features (such as showing nearby shops or distance to a seller) ask for your device's location. Sharing your location is optional; if you decline, those specific features may not work, but you can still use the rest of Soko normally.

9. Emails and Notifications

Soko sends emails about your orders, and about price drops on products in your wishlist. We may also email Sellers about their shop, products, or promotions. Push notifications are sent only if you have enabled them in your browser or device.

10. Third-Party Services

Soko uses third-party services to operate, including Google Sign-In (for login), OpenStreetMap (for maps), Vercel (hosting and image storage), Neon (database), Resend (sending emails), and WhatsApp (for optional seller contact). These services are governed by their own terms and privacy policies, which we encourage you to review.

11. Intellectual Property

Soko's branding, design, and platform code are protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. Sellers retain ownership of the product photos and descriptions they upload but grant Soko a license to display them on the platform, including in promotional images generated for their products.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

Soko is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee that the platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that any product listed will meet your expectations. Soko does not inspect, endorse, or guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of any product listed by Sellers.

13. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Soko and its owner(s) shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, or for any dispute, loss, or damage arising from: (a) transactions between Buyers and Sellers, (b) the quality, safety, or delivery of any product, (c) content posted by users (including reviews), or (d) unavailability or interruption of the platform. Soko facilitates discovery and communication between Buyers and Sellers but is not a party to, and assumes no responsibility for, the underlying transaction.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold Soko harmless from any claim or demand arising out of your use of the platform, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.

15. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account for violations of these Terms or for any other reason at our discretion.

16. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania. Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of Soko shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Tanzania.

17. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will post the updated version here with a new "Last updated" date. Continued use of Soko after changes means you accept the updated Terms.

18. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us: