Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers about how MarketRada works for buyers, vendors, service providers, collection point operators, and anyone using local price comparison, escrow, collective buying, and trust verification.
What is MarketRada?
MarketRada is a Nigeria-first local commerce platform. Buyers compare live prices, stock status, and trust badges from nearby vendors; pay through wallet escrow for protected delivery orders; join collective-buy pools; and discover skilled service providers in one place.
How do I compare prices on MarketRada?
Search for a product once and review offers from different vendors side by side — price, distance, stock status, opening hours where provided, and shop trust badges. Sort by nearest, cheapest, top rated, or newest before you travel or checkout.
Can I check stock and opening hours before visiting a shop?
Yes. Vendor listings can show in-stock status and opening hours so you can avoid wasted trips to closed shops or items that are already sold out. Always confirm details on the listing before you travel.
Why does MarketRada show distance from me to a vendor?
Distance helps you judge convenience, transport cost, and how quickly you can get the item. If you allow location access, MarketRada can estimate how far each vendor is from you.
How do price alerts work?
Set a target price on a product and MarketRada notifies you when a matching vendor listing hits your budget. Alerts scan listings in your area and refresh as vendors update prices. Manage alerts from Price Alerts in the menu. Step-by-step help: Set a price alert.
What happens if I cannot find the product I need?
Use Looking For. Describe the exact item — brand, model, condition, and budget — and optionally set a search radius. Signed-in vendors and service providers respond with price and availability; you choose who to transact with. Requests stay active for 30 days, with up to 5 new requests per day, and are safety-screened before publishing. See Post a Looking For request for the full walkthrough.
How do service providers use MarketRada?
Plumbers, tailors, mechanics, electricians, and other skilled workers can create a public service profile with verified identity badges, portfolio videos, reviews, and direct booking. Buyers discover providers near them instead of relying only on word of mouth. See Create service profile to get started.
How does escrow payment work?
If you pay through MarketRada for a delivery order or collective-buy pool share, the money can be held in escrow first instead of going directly to the vendor or pool creator. Funds are released after delivery or pickup is confirmed according to the platform workflow, or after the auto-release window if no dispute is opened. Wallet escrow typically auto-releases 7 days after an order is marked delivered if the buyer does not confirm first.
What do trust badges on shops and services mean?
Trust badges reflect admin-reviewed verification — not self-asserted claims. KYC Verified means identity (BVN/NIN) was approved. CAC Registered means business registration was verified for vendors. Licence Verified means a professional licence was approved where applicable. See What each badge means for buyers for how buyers should read badges before purchasing.
What is collective buying?
Collective buying lets multiple buyers join the same product pool for staples such as rice or garri. Each member pays their share into wallet escrow while the pool is open. When the pool completes, packages are fulfilled and collected from a registered collection point chosen during join — bulk savings without buying a full bag alone.
What is a Collection Point Store Charge?
It is a flat fee (by package tier) paid by the customer directly to the collection point agent in cash or bank transfer at pickup. It is not deducted from your wallet join total and is not part of shop order escrow. The full tier schedule is published below.
What are late storage fees at collection points?
If you do not collect your package before the pickup countdown expires, a flat daily late storage fee applies for each day the package remains at the collection point. This is also paid in cash to the agent. MarketRada does not collect late storage fees.
How is the package tier chosen for a pool?
The pool creator selects a package tier (Small, Medium, High Value, or Bulky/Heavy) when creating a collective-buy pickup pool. That tier determines the Store Charge and daily late storage fee shown in the published schedule.
Can I leave a collective-buy pool after joining?
Yes, while the pool is still open and before the creator marks shipping. Your escrow is released back to your wallet immediately when you leave. Once shipping begins or the pool moves to pickup, members can no longer leave.
Does MarketRada take a cut of collection point fees?
No. Store Charges and late storage fees go entirely to the collection point operator. MarketRada publishes the fee schedule for transparency but does not process or retain those payments.
How do I earn money as a collection point operator?
Vendors and service providers with verified KYC can apply to register a collection point near a road or busy location. You earn a flat Store Charge per collective-buy pickup (by package tier) plus agreed late storage fees when packages are not collected on time — both paid directly to you in cash or transfer. See Apply to operate a collection point.
Can I still meet a vendor and buy physically?
Yes. MarketRada supports physical patronage. Compare the offer on-platform first, then visit in person if you choose pickup. Meet only in busy public places (markets, petrol stations, bank halls), do not enter private spaces, inspect goods before paying, and bring someone or tell a trusted person your plans. Full safety checklist: Meet a vendor safely in person.
How do I make my shop show at the right place on the map?
Use the address search when creating or editing your shop — pick the closest match if several appear. If search cannot find your exact spot, open Google Maps, right-click your shop location, copy the coordinates (latitude first, then longitude), and paste them into the Latitude and Longitude fields. See the step-by-step guide at Set accurate map coordinates.
Do vendors and service providers pay to stay on the platform?
Yes. After a 30-day free trial, vendors and service providers pay ₦1,200 for their first year through Paystack. Each renewal after that costs ₦600/year. If you referred them, you earn ₦200 when they pay their first subscription and ₦100 on every renewal — paid directly to your MarketRada wallet. Listings are paused (not deleted) if unpaid and reactivate instantly on payment.
How do user rewards and quarterly earnings work?
MarketRada tracks six activity types each quarter — referrals, completed orders, reviews, product listings (vendors), page views (vendors/providers), and money spent — and converts them into points. At quarter-end, your share of the platform profit pool is proportional to your points. The minimum payout is ₦1,000 and the maximum is ₦500,000 per quarter. You can track your current points breakdown on your Rewards dashboard.
Is it safe to pay a vendor directly outside MarketRada?
Direct payment outside the platform — bank transfer or cash — removes MarketRada buyer protection. Escrow only applies to payments made through this app. If you pay externally, MarketRada cannot mediate disputes. Always complete financial transactions within the app when you want platform-backed protection.
How does MarketRada protect users and data?
MarketRada verifies vendor and service provider identity (BVN/NIN) before trust badges unlock; reviews CAC and licence submissions through admin workflows; holds wallet payments in escrow until delivery rules are met; processes deposits and subscriptions through Paystack; encrypts sensitive PII at rest; scans product names and Looking For requests against a prohibited-items list; and uses automated plus human content moderation. Disputes and audit logs support resolution when issues arise.
Can I sign in or sign up with Google?
Yes. Tap Continue with Google on the Login or Register page. Returning users are signed in immediately. New users complete a short screen with phone number and role (Customer, Vendor, or Service Provider). Google-only accounts should keep using Google or set a password via Forgot Password before signing in with email.
Do I need separate accounts to buy and sell on MarketRada?
No. One MarketRada login can hold customer, vendor, and service provider capabilities. Complete KYC, then use Settings → Expand My Role to add a shop or service profile. Switch between your own dashboards from Account Context (when enabled) or your default dashboard. Shop team invites use Switch Role or Delegated Access — that is separate from owning your own shop.
Collection Point Fee Schedule
Official published rates for collective-buy collection point pickups. Amounts depend on the package tier selected by the pool creator.
| Package tier | Collection fee | Storage fee |
|---|---|---|
| Small | ₦150 | ₦100/day |
| Medium(this pool) | ₦300 | ₦200/day |
| High Value | ₦500 | ₦300/day |
| Bulky / Heavy | ₦700 | ₦500/day |
- Collection fee is paid per package unit to the collection point agent in cash or bank transfer at pickup. Multiply by your share count when you order multiple units (e.g. 10 tubs of yam).
- Storage fee applies per package unit per day only after the pickup countdown expires. It is also multiplied by quantity.
- MarketRada does not collect these fees — they go entirely to the collection point operator.
- Pool creators select which package tiers apply. Each member chooses the tier that matches their package when joining.