Terms of Service — strixbi Marketplace

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the strixbi marketplace — the classifieds platform at strixbi.com and our mobile apps where buyers browse listings, post requests for matched quotes, and chat with sellers, and where sellers publish ads, run shops, and respond to inquiries. By creating an account or using the marketplace, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use strixbi.

strixbi is Kenya's smart classifieds marketplace. Buyers can browse live ads by category and location (down to ward level where available), save favourites, post a buyer request to receive matched quotes from nearby sellers, and chat in-app. Sellers can open a shop, publish listings across categories such as Vehicles, Phones & Tablets, Electronics, Home & Furniture, Fashion, Services, and more, respond to quote requests, and optionally pay for listing capacity, reach, and advertising.

strixbi is a marketplace only — we are not a party to any sale between a buyer and a seller. We do not process payment for goods, hold funds in escrow, arrange delivery, or take a commission on private sales. Price, payment (including M-Pesa, cash, or any method you agree), pickup, and delivery are settled directly between buyer and seller, off-platform. strixbi's role ends at listing discovery, quote matching, chat, and seller tools.

• Browsing is free. You may search, browse categories, view shop pages, save listings, and post buyer requests at no charge.
• Quote requests. When you describe what you need, strixbi matches relevant sellers in your area (and widens outward if needed) and returns quotes. A quote is an offer from the seller — not from strixbi.
• Accepting a quote creates an agreement directly between you and the seller. strixbi does not verify item condition, seller identity beyond platform checks, or delivery.
• Deal safely. Inspect items where possible, meet in public places, keep conversation on strixbi chat, and only pay through means you trust. Never send money to strixbi for a listed item.

• Individuals and registered businesses may sell. You must verify your phone number (SMS one-time code) before publishing listings or responding to quote requests.
• Starter plan includes a limited number of active listings; Pro Seller, Pro+, and Enterprise raise capacity, recycle ads to the feed automatically, and unlock additional shop features. Plan fees are billed separately from any sale you make to a buyer.
• You are responsible for the accuracy of your listings — price, photos, availability, and descriptions — and for honouring quotes you send through the marketplace.
• Sellers may optionally provide a KRA PIN at subscription checkout. We validate format only; providing a PIN that is not genuinely yours is a breach of these Terms.
• Paid ads, listing boosts, and ad-wallet top-ups are optional marketplace services billed via Paystack. They do not guarantee sales or a specific number of leads.

• You must be at least 18 years old and provide accurate account information.
• Sign-in is managed through Clerk (email, phone one-time code, Google, Facebook, or Apple where available).
• You are responsible for all activity on your account and for keeping your login credentials confidential.

When using the marketplace, you agree not to:

• List counterfeit, stolen, illegal, or prohibited goods.
• Post misleading prices, stock levels, or item descriptions.
• Harass, defraud, or threaten another user in chat or elsewhere on strixbi.
• Upload photos you do not have the right to use, or that contain unsafe content.
• Bypass verification, create duplicate accounts to evade suspension, or manipulate search, quote matching, or ad metrics with bots or fake clicks.
• Move buyers off-platform solely to avoid marketplace safety rules while using strixbi to find them.

strixbi may remove listings, hide shops, suspend, or terminate accounts that breach these Terms, at our discretion.

Goods and services between users: paid directly between buyer and seller. strixbi never collects M-Pesa, card, or cash on behalf of either party for a listed item.

strixbi fees: seller subscriptions, ad-wallet top-ups, and listing boosts are charged by Paystack in Kenyan Shillings (M-Pesa first, card as fallback). These fees are non-refundable except where required by law. Higher-tier seller plans and paid ads receive ranking and matching priority over free listings — this is disclosed here for transparency.

The marketplace includes an AI assistant to help buyers draft quote requests and sellers manage listings and ads. AI output is generated automatically, may be wrong, and is not legal or professional advice. You must review anything the assistant drafts before you publish a listing, send a quote, or change ad settings.

You retain ownership of content you post (listing text, photos, shop branding, messages) and grant strixbi a licence to host, display, and distribute it to operate the marketplace. The strixbi name, logo, and platform remain our property.

The marketplace is provided "as is." We do not guarantee that any listing, quote, shop, seller, or AI suggestion is accurate, available, or trustworthy. We are not liable for losses from a deal between a buyer and a seller because we are not a party to it. To the maximum extent permitted by law, strixbi's liability for any claim relating to the marketplace is limited to the fees you paid strixbi in the twelve months before the claim arose.

You may stop using the marketplace and delete your account from seller settings when signed in, or by following our Data Deletion Instructions. We may suspend or terminate accounts that breach these Terms.

These Terms are governed by the laws of Kenya, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

We may update these Terms as the marketplace grows. Continued use after a change means you accept the revised Terms.

Marketplace support: support@strixbi.com.