Seller Terms & Conditions

These Seller Terms and Conditions (“Seller Terms”) apply to all individuals, businesses, makers, artists and creative sellers who open, apply to open, operate or use a shop on the Zeko marketplace.

By creating a seller account, submitting your shop for review, listing products, accepting orders or otherwise using Zeko as a seller, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to these Seller Terms, Zeko's general Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Shipping Policy, Delivery Policy, Refund and Dispute Policy, Seller Handbook and any other seller-facing rules or policies made available by Zeko.

1. About Zeko

Zeko is a South African online marketplace that connects independent craft makers, artists and creative sellers (“Sellers”) with buyers (“Buyers”).

Zeko provides the marketplace platform, storefront tools, checkout system, order management features, courier integration, payment facilitation, protected payment processes, dispute support and seller dashboard tools.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise, Sellers are independent third-party sellers. Zeko is not the manufacturer, producer, owner or supplier of the products listed by Sellers. Each Seller is responsible for their own products, listings, fulfilment, packaging, compliance, customer obligations and legal responsibilities.

2. Eligibility to Sell

To sell on Zeko, you must:

• be at least 18 years old;
• be legally capable of entering into binding contracts in South Africa;
• provide accurate, complete and current registration, identity, contact, payout and shop information;
• be authorised to sell the products you list;
• comply with all applicable South African laws, regulations and tax obligations;
• comply with Zeko's marketplace standards, seller rules and product restrictions.

Zeko is intended for genuine handmade, handcrafted, artistic, creative, independently produced, small-batch or otherwise approved products. Mass-manufactured goods, counterfeit goods, stolen goods, unsafe goods, illegal goods and misleading listings are not permitted.

Zeko may accept, reject, suspend or remove any Seller or shop at its discretion where necessary to protect the Platform, Buyers, other Sellers, legal compliance or marketplace quality.

3. Shop Approval

All new shops may be reviewed by Zeko before going live. Zeko may review your shop name, branding, product category, product listings, photographs, descriptions, delivery setup, policies, social media presence, identity information, payout information and any other information relevant to your application.

We may accept, reject, request changes to, delay or suspend any shop application at our discretion.

If your shop is approved, it may become visible to Buyers on the Platform. Approval does not guarantee sales, traffic, search placement, promotion, continued access to the Platform, or any minimum income.

Zeko may require you to update your shop, listings, delivery information, pricing, product policies or verification details at any time.

4. Seller Account Information and Security

You are responsible for keeping your seller account login details confidential and secure.

You must notify Zeko as soon as possible if you suspect unauthorised access to your account, fraudulent activity, incorrect payout details, compromised login information, or any other security issue.

You are responsible for all activity under your seller account unless caused by Zeko's own proven fault.

You may not transfer, sell, assign or share your seller account without Zeko's written consent.

5. Product Listings

5.1 Accuracy of Listings

You are responsible for ensuring that all product titles, descriptions, categories, prices, photographs, dimensions, materials, colour descriptions, stock levels, customisation options, processing times, delivery information and other listing details are accurate, complete and not misleading.

Returns and refunds are accepted on every product listed on Zeko. You cannot opt out of this, and your listing must not state or imply that returns or refunds are unavailable on your products. The return standard, the buyer inspection window, the limited exclusions from change-of-mind returns and the allocation of return delivery costs are set out in the Refund and Dispute Policy.

Your listing must clearly explain any important details that may affect a Buyer's decision, including size, materials, care instructions, customisation limitations, handmade variations, fragility, safety warnings, age suitability, lead times, colour variations and whether the product is made to order.

5.2 Handmade and Creative Products

Because Zeko focuses on handmade and creative products, reasonable handmade variations are allowed. However, you must not use “handmade variation” as an excuse for materially inaccurate descriptions, poor workmanship, undisclosed defects, incorrect products, unsafe products or misleading photographs.

5.3 Product Images

Product images must be your own, created by you, properly licensed, or otherwise lawfully used.

You may not use stock images, copied images, AI-generated images, mock-ups, supplier images or heavily edited images in a way that misrepresents the actual product the Buyer will receive.

Images must fairly represent the product, including colour, scale, finish and relevant details.

5.4 Stock and Availability

You must keep stock levels accurate and up to date.

If you sell one-of-a-kind, limited-stock or made-to-order products, your listing must clearly reflect that.

Overselling, repeatedly cancelling orders due to stock issues, or failing to fulfil available listings may result in listing removal, shop suspension or other action by Zeko.

5.5 Prohibited Products

You may not list or sell products that are illegal, counterfeit, stolen, unsafe, misleading, infringing, prohibited by Zeko, or restricted by applicable law.

Zeko may remove any listing that violates these Seller Terms, Zeko's policies, applicable law, payment provider rules, courier rules or marketplace standards.

5.6 Artistic Nudity and Body Imagery

Original artwork containing artistic nudity, the unclothed human body, or stylised or anatomical depictions of human anatomy is allowed on Zeko. This includes painting, drawing, illustration, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, textile art and similar creative work, including work that explores the body, gender, identity, sexuality or intimacy as artistic subject matter.

What is not allowed is pornographic or sexually explicit material sold as such. This includes material whose primary purpose is sexual arousal rather than artistic, creative or decorative merit, depictions of real identifiable people in sexual contexts without their consent, and adult novelty or sex toy products marketed as adult products rather than as original artwork.

Any depiction of a minor in a nude, sexualised or suggestive context is strictly prohibited without exception, and will result in immediate listing removal, shop termination and reporting to the relevant authorities.

Where a listing contains nudity, your main listing image should be suitable for general browsing, and your description must accurately describe the work so that Buyers know what they are buying.

Zeko will not hide, remove or restrict a listing under this clause without telling you and giving you the reason. Zeko may still decide not to feature work containing nudity on the Zeko homepage, in curated collections, in promotional emails or in other placements selected by Zeko, and that decision does not affect the listing itself.

6. Pricing, Taxes and VAT

You are responsible for setting your own product prices.

All prices displayed to Buyers must be in South African Rand (ZAR).

You are responsible for determining whether you are required to register for VAT, charge VAT, issue tax invoices, declare income, pay income tax, pay provisional tax, or comply with any other tax obligations.

Zeko does not collect VAT on your behalf unless expressly stated. If you are VAT-registered, you are responsible for ensuring that your prices, invoices and tax treatment are correct.

Zeko's own fees, commission or invoices may be subject to Zeko's tax obligations.

7. Zeko Fees and Commission

7.1 Platform Fee

Unless otherwise agreed or displayed to you, Zeko charges a 5% platform fee on successful sales.

The platform fee is generally calculated on the product sale amount for the relevant Seller Order or Seller Allocation, excluding delivery charges unless otherwise stated.

Zeko's platform fee is deducted from the amount payable to you before payout or release.

7.2 No Listing Fees

There are no upfront listing fees unless Zeko introduces and clearly discloses such fees in future.

You only pay Zeko's standard platform fee on successful sales, unless a different arrangement, promotion, paid feature, subscription or seller plan is clearly agreed.

7.3 Promotions

Sellers who join during Zeko's pre-launch or Founding Maker period may receive promotional benefits, such as a Founding Maker badge or temporary reduced commission, where expressly offered by Zeko.

Any promotional fee reduction applies only for the period and on the terms stated by Zeko. Once the promotional period ends, Zeko's standard fees will apply unless otherwise agreed.

The Founding Maker badge is a recognition feature and does not create a permanent right to discounted fees, preferential placement, guaranteed traffic, guaranteed sales or continued access to the Platform.

8. Payment Processing Fees and Safe Transaction Fee

8.1 Buyer-Paid Safe Transaction Fee

Zeko may charge Buyers a visible Safe Transaction Fee at checkout. This fee supports protected payment infrastructure, which may include escrow, payment protection, transaction monitoring, payment holding, buyer acceptance, dispute handling and related payment services.

The Safe Transaction Fee is paid by the Buyer and is not part of your Seller payout unless expressly stated.

8.2 Seller-Side Payment Processing Fees

Payment processing fees may be deducted from your Seller payout.

These fees may include card processing fees, EFT or instant EFT fees, payment gateway fees, escrow provider fees, payout fees, withdrawal fees, bank fees, chargeback fees, refund fees or similar transaction costs.

Payment processing fees are charged by third-party payment providers, card processors, banks, escrow providers, payout providers or similar service providers. They are not retained by Zeko as platform commission, although Zeko may collect, allocate, deduct, facilitate or display them through the Platform.

8.3 Expected Seller Payout

Your expected payout for an Order may be calculated as:

• product sale amount
• minus Zeko's platform fee
• minus applicable payment processing fees
• minus any applicable payout, withdrawal, chargeback, refund, courier adjustment or other permitted deductions.

The expected payout shown in your seller dashboard is an estimate until the transaction is fully settled, accepted, undisputed and released. The final payout may change if there is a refund, partial refund, payment provider adjustment, dispute, courier issue, chargeback, fee change or other adjustment.

9. Protected Payments and Payment Providers

Zeko may use TradeSafe or another third-party payment, escrow, paymaster or protected payment provider to process Buyer payments, hold funds, manage Seller allocations, facilitate refunds, release payouts, process amendments and support disputes.

You agree that payments relating to your sales may be processed, held, allocated, amended, refunded or released through the relevant payment provider's systems and subject to that provider's terms, processes, timelines, verification requirements and compliance rules.

You may be required to provide additional information for verification, payout, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering, tax, payment provider, bank verification or compliance purposes.

Zeko may delay, pause, reverse or withhold payout where required by law, payment provider rules, fraud checks, courier status, dispute status, Buyer issue, chargeback risk, incorrect payout details, failed verification or breach of these Seller Terms.

10. Payouts

10.1 Payout Eligibility

Seller payouts are not immediately due at the time the Buyer pays.

A payout generally becomes eligible only once:

• Buyer payment has been successfully secured or cleared;
• the relevant Seller Order has been fulfilled and delivered;
• delivery has been confirmed through the courier, tracking system, Buyer, Zeko, payment provider or other acceptable method;
• the applicable Buyer inspection or issue window has passed, or the Buyer has accepted the Order;
• no unresolved issue, dispute, refund, chargeback, fraud review, courier problem or compliance hold applies; and
• the relevant payment provider makes the funds available for release or payout.

10.2 Buyer Inspection Window

Unless a different period is shown in the Order details or required by law, Zeko's standard Buyer inspection window is 7 days from Delivery Confirmation.

During this time, the Buyer may accept the item or raise an issue.

If the Buyer accepts the item, or if the inspection window expires without an issue being raised, the relevant Seller Order may become eligible for payout release.

If the Buyer raises an issue during the inspection window, payout will be paused until the issue is resolved.

10.3 Payout Timing

Payout timing depends on Zeko's payment provider, courier confirmation, Buyer acceptance, dispute status, bank processing times, payout schedules, verification checks and any applicable holds.

Zeko may display an expected payout date or payout status in your seller dashboard. This date is an estimate and may change.

10.4 Payout Method

Payouts may be released through TradeSafe, another payment provider, a payout provider, bank transfer, wallet withdrawal or any other method supported by Zeko.

You must provide accurate and valid payout information. Zeko is not responsible for delayed or failed payouts caused by incorrect, incomplete, outdated or unverifiable payout details supplied by you.

10.5 Payout Adjustments

Zeko may adjust, reduce, delay, reverse or withhold payouts to account for:

• refunds or partial refunds;
• Buyer disputes or issues;
• chargebacks or payment reversals;
• payment provider fees;
• payout or withdrawal fees;
• courier adjustments;
• cancelled orders;
• duplicated payments;
• fraud or suspected fraud;
• incorrect listing information;
• Seller breach of these Seller Terms;
• legal or compliance requirements.

11. Order Fulfilment

11.1 Seller Responsibility

You are responsible for preparing, packing and handing over each Order in a timely, careful and professional manner.

You must ensure that the product is properly protected for delivery and packaged appropriately for its size, fragility, material and delivery method.

11.2 Processing Times

You must comply with the processing times shown in your listings or seller dashboard.

If an item is made to order or requires additional preparation time, this must be clearly disclosed to the Buyer before purchase.

If you cannot fulfil an Order on time, you must notify Zeko and the Buyer as soon as possible.

11.3 Courier Collection, Drop-Off and Tracking

Zeko may provide courier booking, pickup, drop-off, PUDO, locker-to-locker, locker-to-door, door-to-door or other delivery options through third-party courier providers.

You are responsible for following the delivery method selected or required for the Order.

If the Order requires courier pickup, you must ensure that the parcel is ready before booking or confirming collection.

If the Order requires PUDO or other drop-off, you must drop the parcel off correctly, within the required timeframe, using the correct label, locker, code or delivery instructions.

You must use the correct waybill, label, tracking number, parcel size and delivery information provided through Zeko or the courier system.

11.4 Multi-Seller Orders

Where a Buyer purchases from multiple Sellers in one checkout, you are responsible only for your own Seller Order or Seller Allocation.

Your courier tracking, delivery confirmation, Buyer issue window and payout timing may be separate from other Sellers in the same Buyer Order.

12. Delivery Problems

You must cooperate with Zeko, the Buyer and the courier provider if there is a delivery problem, including failed collection, failed delivery, incorrect address, damaged parcel, missing parcel, lost parcel, delayed parcel, incorrect tracking status or disputed delivery confirmation.

You may be required to provide packaging photographs, proof of handover, drop-off confirmation, courier communication, product photographs or other evidence.

Where a delivery problem is caused by your late fulfilment, poor packaging, incorrect parcel information, incorrect label use, failure to follow courier instructions or other Seller fault, Zeko may hold you responsible for resulting refunds, replacement costs, courier costs, payment adjustments or other losses.

Parcels not collected from a locker are not treated as your fault. Lockers hold a parcel for a limited period, currently 48 hours, after which the locker operator returns it to you. Where you delivered the parcel as required, this is not a failed delivery and is not counted against your record.

When this happens, the Buyer is asked to choose between a redelivery, which they pay for, and a refund of the item price. Your payment is held while they decide, and you will be told which they chose. If they ask for a redelivery, you must send the item again once the returned parcel reaches you, and you must book it through the Zeko Platform rather than directly with the courier, so that tracking, delivery confirmation and your payout stay attached to the order.

If the Buyer asks for a refund, does not reply within the period given to them, or the redelivery is not sent within a reasonable period, the seller order is refunded to the Buyer for the item price. The returned items remain yours and may be relisted and sold again.

If a returned parcel does not reach you, or reaches you damaged, tell Zeko rather than absorbing the loss. A parcel lost or damaged on the return leg is handled as a courier claim under section 12 in the ordinary way.

13. Returns, Issues and Disputes

13.1 Buyer Issues

Buyers may raise issues through the Zeko Platform if an item is damaged, wrong, missing, materially not as described, defective, unsafe or not received despite being marked as delivered.

Where an issue is raised, payment release may be paused while the issue is reviewed.

13.2 Seller Response

You must respond to Buyer issues, return requests, dispute messages, evidence requests and Zeko admin messages within the timeframe stated by Zeko.

Unless Zeko specifies a different period, you should respond within 24 hours of receiving an issue notification.

Failure to respond on time may result in Zeko deciding the matter based on the information available, which may include approving a refund, partial refund, replacement or other resolution.

13.3 Evidence

You may be required to provide evidence such as product photographs, packaging photographs, proof of correct item, proof of customisation approval, courier handover proof, PUDO drop-off proof, waybill information, tracking details or communication records.

13.4 Zeko's Role in Disputes

Zeko may review and decide disputes between Buyers and Sellers. Zeko may consider the product listing, Buyer evidence, Seller evidence, courier status, delivery proof, communications, applicable law, Seller policy, Zeko policy and payment provider rules.

Zeko may decide to:

• release payment to you;
• approve a full refund;
• approve a partial refund;
• require a replacement;
• request more information;
• require return of the item before refund where appropriate;
• escalate the dispute through the payment provider or another process;
• take any other reasonable action.

Zeko's decision in marketplace disputes is binding for Platform purposes, subject to applicable law and any rights the parties may have under South African law or the payment provider's process.

13.5 Statutory Consumer Rights

You must comply with applicable consumer protection laws, including the Consumer Protection Act, 68 of 2008.

Buyers may have statutory rights where goods are defective, unsafe, materially not as described, not fit for purpose, or otherwise fail to meet legal standards. These rights apply in addition to Zeko's return standard, and regardless of whether an item is handmade, custom, personalised or made to order.

13.6 Handmade Variations

Reasonable handmade variations are allowed, but you must describe your products honestly.

A Buyer issue may not be valid merely because of minor variation in colour, texture, size, shape, pattern or finish where the variation is reasonable for a handmade product and the listing was not misleading.

14. Refunds and Partial Refunds

If an Order is fully refunded before payout, you will generally receive no payout for that Order.

If an Order is partially refunded, your payout and Zeko's platform fee may be recalculated based on the final settled sale amount.

Payment processing fees, Safe Transaction Fees, courier fees, return delivery fees, payout fees, withdrawal fees, chargeback fees and other third-party fees may not always be refundable. Zeko may apply the refund outcome according to applicable law, Zeko policy, TradeSafe or payment provider rules, courier rules and the facts of the particular case.

You may be responsible for refund costs, replacement costs, courier costs or other costs where the issue was caused by your fault, including incorrect product, misleading listing, undisclosed defect, poor packaging, late fulfilment, incorrect parcel information or failure to follow delivery instructions.

15. Communication with Buyers

You must communicate with Buyers respectfully, honestly and promptly.

You may not harass, threaten, insult, discriminate against, mislead or pressure Buyers.

You may not encourage Buyers to complete transactions outside Zeko, pay outside Zeko, cancel and repurchase off-platform, or contact you outside Zeko for the purpose of avoiding Zeko's fees, checkout, delivery, payment or dispute systems.

16. Off-Platform Transactions

If a Buyer discovers you through Zeko, contacts you through Zeko, or attempts to purchase a listed product through Zeko, you may not redirect that Buyer to complete the transaction outside Zeko in order to avoid fees or Platform rules.

Circumventing Zeko's payment, fee, delivery or dispute systems is a serious breach of these Seller Terms and may result in shop suspension, payout holds, removal from the Platform or other action.

17. Intellectual Property

You retain ownership of your product designs, product photographs, descriptions, shop branding, logos, banners and other content you upload, provided that you own or have the right to use that content.

By uploading content to Zeko, you grant Zeko a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, host, store, reproduce, display, resize, crop, publish, promote, distribute and otherwise use that content for purposes related to operating, improving, marketing and promoting Zeko, your shop, your products and the Platform.

You warrant that your content does not infringe any intellectual property, privacy, publicity, image, design, copyright, trademark or other rights of any third party.

You must not copy another Seller's product photographs, descriptions, branding, designs or original creative work.

18. Reviews and Marketplace Integrity

Zeko may allow Buyers to leave reviews or feedback.

You may not manipulate reviews, pressure Buyers to leave false reviews, offer improper incentives for positive reviews, create fake reviews, retaliate against Buyers for honest reviews, or otherwise interfere with marketplace integrity.

Zeko may remove or moderate reviews that are abusive, false, irrelevant, discriminatory, defamatory, spam, manipulative or in breach of Zeko's policies.

19. Data Protection and Privacy

You may receive or access Buyer personal information only for the purpose of fulfilling Orders, communicating about Orders, handling delivery, managing returns or disputes, and complying with your legal obligations.

You must protect Buyer personal information and may not misuse it, sell it, add Buyers to marketing lists without consent, contact Buyers for unrelated purposes, or share Buyer information except where necessary for fulfilment, delivery, dispute resolution, legal compliance or Zeko-approved purposes.

You must comply with applicable privacy laws, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013.

20. Taxes and Records

You are solely responsible for keeping appropriate business, tax, sales, expense, payout, invoice and accounting records.

You are responsible for determining and paying any taxes, VAT, duties, levies or other amounts payable in relation to your sales, business income or activities on Zeko.

Zeko may provide payout summaries, transaction records or invoices through the Platform, but these do not replace your own obligation to keep proper records and obtain tax advice where necessary.

21. Suspension, Removal and Termination

Zeko may suspend, restrict, hide, remove or permanently close your shop or listings if you:

• breach these Seller Terms or Zeko's general Terms and Conditions;
• engage in fraudulent, deceptive, abusive or unlawful behaviour;
• repeatedly fail to fulfil orders;
• repeatedly ship late or package items poorly;
• repeatedly receive valid Buyer complaints;
• fail to respond to disputes or admin requests;
• provide false or misleading information;
• sell prohibited, counterfeit, unsafe or infringing goods;
• attempt to avoid Zeko's fees or payment system;
• create legal, reputational, operational or financial risk for Zeko or its users.

You may close your shop at any time, subject to completing outstanding Orders, resolving disputes, paying any amounts owed, and fulfilling any remaining obligations.

Zeko may continue to hold or delay payouts after closure where necessary to resolve disputes, refunds, chargebacks, courier issues, legal obligations, fraud concerns or payment provider requirements.

22. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by South African law, Zeko will not be liable to you for indirect, incidental, special, punitive or consequential losses, including loss of profits, loss of revenue, loss of opportunity, reputational harm, loss of data or business interruption.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Zeko's aggregate liability to you for any claim arising from these Seller Terms, your shop, your use of the Platform or a transaction will not exceed the amount of Zeko platform fees paid by you to Zeko in relation to the transaction giving rise to the claim.

This limitation does not apply where liability cannot legally be limited or excluded.

23. Independent Seller Status

You are an independent seller and not an employee, agent, partner, franchisee, representative or joint venture partner of Zeko.

You may not represent that you are employed by Zeko or authorised to bind Zeko.

You are responsible for your own business decisions, products, taxes, expenses, legal compliance, customer obligations and fulfilment.

24. Changes to Seller Terms

Zeko may update these Seller Terms from time to time.

If we make material changes, we may notify Sellers by email, seller dashboard notice, website notice or another reasonable method.

Where practical, Zeko will aim to provide advance notice of material changes that significantly affect Seller fees, payout rules or core seller obligations. Continued use of your seller account after updated Seller Terms take effect means you accept the updated Seller Terms.

25. Contact and Seller Support

For seller support, shop questions, order issues, delivery questions, payout queries or disputes, please contact Zeko through zekosupport@gmail.com or the seller support channels made available on the Platform.