Trust & Safety at Derbaba
Derbaba is built on trust — between buyers and sellers, and between our community and the platform. Here is how we keep the marketplace safe.
Seller Verification
Every seller on Derbaba was visited in person at their shop in Addis Ababa and consented to being listed — a baseline we hold for all of our founding sellers, and more diligence than most marketplaces do. The Derbaba Verified badge (✓) is a further tier on top of that baseline, which we are rolling out as sellers claim and confirm their shops. It reflects a real, checkable status rather than an assumption: a seller carries it only when all of the following are true.
- We visited them in person at their shop, and they consented to being listed
- They have claimed their shop through the secure link we sent to the phone number we collected on site — confirming they control that contact channel
- They have confirmed their listing details, and that the photographs are their own work
- They have replied — their contact channel is confirmed responsive
How Buying Works
- Browse listings and find what you love
- Contact the seller directly via WhatsApp or Telegram
- Agree on price, sizing, and shipping directly with the seller
- Pay the seller directly using your agreed method
Sizing & Made to Order
Most sellers make each piece to order rather than holding fixed stock, so sizing is flexible — agree on your measurements directly with the seller via WhatsApp or Telegram before you pay.
Safe Messaging
All initial contact happens through WhatsApp or Telegram. Derbaba does not store or have access to your messages. Never pay via wire transfer or cryptocurrency to unknown sellers.
Disputes
If you have a problem with a seller, contact us at hello@derbaba.com. We will review the situation and can remove sellers who violate our community standards.
Seller Responsibilities
Sellers must provide accurate descriptions, respond to buyer inquiries within 48 hours, and ship items as described. Listings that misrepresent products will be removed.
Claiming or Withdrawing Your Shop
Some shops were created from details their owners shared with our team during onboarding, and are free to run during a pilot period — no listing fees and no commission. If a shop is yours, you can claim it to manage it directly using the link we sent you. You can withdraw your shop at any time, with or without an account: email hello@derbaba.com and we will take it offline immediately and remove your data within 14 days.