Legal & Policies

TibebShop ("we", "us", "our") operates a global multi-vendor marketplace connecting Ethiopian artisans and businesses with buyers worldwide. This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, and your rights over that data.

Data we collect: account details (name, email), order and delivery information, payment metadata (handled by our payment processor — we never store full card numbers), seller business details, messages exchanged through the platform, and usage data (device, browser, IP address, cookies).

Why we use it: to operate your account, process and fulfil orders, communicate with you, prevent fraud, comply with legal obligations, and improve the marketplace.

Legal basis & GDPR: for users in the EU/EEA and UK, we process personal data under the legal bases of contract performance, legitimate interest, consent, and legal obligation, in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). If you are located in the EU/EEA, UK, or a jurisdiction with similar laws (e.g. California CCPA/CPRA), you have the right to: access your data, correct inaccurate data, request erasure ("right to be forgotten"), restrict or object to processing, request data portability, and withdraw consent at any time.

International transfers: as a global marketplace, your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your own, including Ethiopia and other regions where our sellers and infrastructure providers operate. We apply appropriate safeguards for such transfers.

Data retention: we retain personal data only as long as necessary to provide our services and meet legal, accounting, or reporting obligations, after which it is deleted or anonymized.

Data sharing: we share data with sellers (to fulfil your orders), payment and email service providers, and authorities where legally required. We do not sell your personal data.

To exercise any privacy right, or to reach our Data Protection contact, email privacy@tibebshop.com.

By creating an account, browsing, or purchasing on TibebShop, you agree to these Terms & Conditions. If you do not agree, please do not use the platform.

TibebShop is a marketplace: we connect independent sellers with buyers. Sellers are solely responsible for the accuracy of their listings, the quality of their products, and fulfilling orders. TibebShop is not the manufacturer or direct seller of marketplace products unless explicitly stated.

Eligibility: you must be at least 18 years old, or the age of majority in your jurisdiction, to create an account or place an order.

Accounts: you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity under your account.

Pricing & availability: prices are set by individual sellers and displayed in the listed currency. Availability is not guaranteed until an order is confirmed by the seller.

Limitation of liability: to the maximum extent permitted by law, TibebShop is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from use of the platform or products purchased through it.

Changes: we may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

Governing law: these Terms are governed by applicable Ethiopian law and, where mandatory consumer protections apply, the laws of the buyer's country of residence.

This Seller Agreement governs your participation as a seller/vendor on TibebShop, in addition to the general Terms & Conditions.

Application & approval: all sellers must submit a seller application and be approved by our team before listing products. TibebShop reserves the right to approve, reject, suspend, or terminate any seller account at its discretion, including for policy violations.

Listings: sellers must provide accurate product titles, descriptions, images, pricing, and stock availability. Misleading listings, counterfeit goods, or prohibited items (see Prohibited Items Policy) will be removed and may result in account suspension.

Order fulfilment: sellers agree to confirm, prepare, and ship orders promptly, provide accurate tracking/status updates, and honour the Returns & Refund Policy.

Fees & payouts: sellers agree to the commission structure described in our Commission & Seller Payout Policy, deducted from each completed sale prior to payout.

Conduct: sellers must communicate professionally with buyers, respond to inquiries in a timely manner, and comply with all applicable consumer protection, tax, and export/import laws in their operating jurisdiction.

Termination: TibebShop may suspend or terminate a seller account for repeated policy violations, fraudulent activity, poor performance, or at its reasonable discretion with notice where practicable.

As a buyer, you agree to provide accurate order and delivery information, pay the listed price (including any applicable shipping and taxes), and communicate respectfully with sellers.

Orders are contracts between you and the individual seller; TibebShop facilitates the transaction and provides support, dispute resolution, and buyer protection tools as described in our Dispute Resolution Policy.

You are responsible for reviewing product descriptions, sizing, and seller policies before purchasing. Customs duties or import taxes for international orders, where applicable, are the buyer's responsibility unless stated otherwise.

Misuse of the platform, including fraudulent orders, chargebacks without cause, or abusive communication with sellers, may result in account suspension.

Eligibility: most items may be returned within 7 days of delivery if unused, unworn, and in original condition with tags/packaging intact. Custom-made or made-to-order garments may be non-returnable — this will be stated on the product listing.

How to request a return: contact the seller directly through your order or the messaging feature, stating the reason for return. If unresolved, open a dispute via our support team (support@tibebshop.com).

Refunds: once a return is approved and the item is received back in acceptable condition, refunds are issued to the original payment method within 5–10 business days.

Damaged or incorrect items: if you receive a damaged, defective, or incorrect item, contact us within 48 hours of delivery with photos for a replacement or full refund, at no cost to you.

Non-refundable circumstances: change of mind after the return window, items damaged by misuse, or missing original packaging/tags may not qualify for a refund.

Shipping is managed independently by each seller. Estimated processing and delivery times, carriers, and shipping costs are displayed at checkout or on the product listing.

Domestic orders (within Ethiopia) typically ship within 2–5 business days. International orders typically take 7–21 business days depending on destination and customs processing.

Tracking: where available, sellers provide tracking information through your order status page or direct message.

Customs & import duties: for international deliveries, the buyer is responsible for any customs duties, import taxes, or fees imposed by the destination country.

Lost or delayed shipments: if your order has not arrived within the estimated window, contact the seller or our support team so we can investigate with the carrier.

TibebShop uses cookies and similar technologies to keep you signed in, remember your language/currency preferences, understand site usage, and improve our services.

Essential cookies are required for core functionality (login, cart, security) and cannot be disabled. Analytics and preference cookies are optional and used only with your consent, which you can manage via the cookie consent banner shown on your first visit.

You can withdraw consent or clear cookies at any time through your browser settings. Disabling non-essential cookies will not affect your ability to browse or purchase, but may reduce personalization.

We do not use cookies to sell your personal data to third parties.

All users (buyers and sellers) agree not to: post false or misleading content; infringe on intellectual property rights; engage in harassment, hate speech, or discriminatory behaviour; attempt to defraud other users or TibebShop; circumvent the platform to avoid fees (e.g. directing transactions off-platform); or use automated tools to scrape or abuse the platform.

Violations may result in content removal, warnings, suspension, or permanent termination of an account, at TibebShop's discretion, depending on severity.

We encourage users to report suspected violations to trust@tibebshop.com.

All prospective sellers must submit a seller application including business name, contact details, country, and business type. TibebShop reviews each application before granting seller/dashboard access.

Verification may include confirming contact information, business legitimacy, and compliance with our Acceptable Use and Prohibited Items policies. TibebShop may request additional information before approving, and may reject applications that do not meet our standards.

Approved sellers may have their status re-reviewed periodically or in response to complaints, and approval may be revoked for policy violations, fraud, or sustained poor performance.

TibebShop charges a commission on each completed sale to fund platform operations, marketing, and support. The applicable commission rate is disclosed to sellers in their dashboard and/or seller agreement at the time of approval.

Payouts are issued to the seller's registered payment details after an order is marked as received (or after the applicable return window closes), less commission and any applicable payment processing fees.

Sellers are responsible for their own tax obligations (income tax, VAT, or equivalent) arising from sales made through the platform.

TibebShop reserves the right to withhold or reverse a payout in cases of suspected fraud, chargebacks, or unresolved buyer disputes.

All listings must accurately represent the product being sold, including authentic materials, sizing, and origin claims (e.g. handmade, Ethiopian-made).

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: counterfeit or replica goods; items infringing third-party trademarks or copyrights; weapons, drugs, or illegal substances; hazardous materials; items promoting hate speech or discrimination; and any goods illegal under Ethiopian or applicable international law.

TibebShop may remove any listing that violates this policy without prior notice and may suspend sellers who repeatedly list prohibited items.

Buyers and sellers are encouraged to resolve issues directly through the platform's messaging feature as a first step.

If unresolved within 5 business days, either party may escalate the issue to TibebShop support (support@tibebshop.com) with relevant order details and evidence (photos, messages).

TibebShop will review the dispute impartially and may facilitate a refund, replacement, or other resolution based on the evidence provided and our policies. Our decision on platform-mediated disputes is final with respect to platform access, but does not limit either party's legal rights.

For unresolved legal disputes, users may pursue resolution through applicable consumer protection bodies or courts of competent jurisdiction.

All TibebShop branding, logos, and platform content are the property of TibebShop and may not be used without permission.

Sellers retain ownership of their original product photography and descriptions but grant TibebShop a non-exclusive licence to display this content on the platform and in marketing materials.

If you believe content on TibebShop infringes your copyright or trademark, submit a notice to legal@tibebshop.com including a description of the work, the infringing content's location (URL), and your contact details. We will investigate and remove infringing content where appropriate.

Repeat infringers, whether sellers or buyers posting content, may have their accounts suspended.