Discover US-based Congolese artisans and distributors. Every vendor is verified for cold-chain integrity and authentic sourcing.
Wenze na Biso General Terms of Service
Welcome to Wenze na Biso. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Wenze na Biso website, mobile applications, and services. By using our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.
1. Description of Services
Wenze na Biso operates an online marketplace connecting US-based sellers ("Vendors") of authentic Congolese specialty foods, heritage goods, and merchandise with buyers. Wenze na Biso acts as a facilitator and platform provider. We are not a broker, manufacturer, or shipping carrier.
2. Account Registration & Security
Eligibility: You must be at least 18 years old to create an account.
Accuracy: You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and keep it updated.
Credentials: You are responsible for safeguarding your login credentials. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account.
3. Secure Payment Hold & Marketplace Transactions
Stripe Processing: All payments are processed through Stripe, Inc. By purchasing or selling on the platform, you agree to Stripe's Services Agreement.
Secure Payment Hold: When a purchase is completed, funds are held securely by Stripe. Funds are only transferred to the Vendor's account after carrier-verified delivery plus a 24-hour verification window.
Pricing & Taxes: Vendors are responsible for setting prices and identifying any applicable local state sales taxes.
4. Vendor Obligations & Listings
Listing Integrity: Vendors must only list items that are authentic, safe, and comply with state and federal laws.
Perishable Logistics: Vendors selling perishable items must declare them as Perishable and pack them with commercial insulation and gel packs in compliance with our Cold-Chain Guarantee.
Off-Platform Conduct: Transactions must be completed through Wenze na Biso. Direct solicitations for off-platform payment (Zelle, CashApp, etc.) may result in account suspension or termination.
5. Refund & Cancellation Policy
Standard Cancellations: Buyers can cancel any order and receive a full refund at any time before the Vendor marks the package as shipped and uploads a tracking code.
Unshipped Orders: If an order is not dispatched within 5 business days, the transaction is automatically cancelled, and a full refund is processed.
Perishable Spoilage: If cold-chain items arrive warm or spoiled due to packaging failure or transit delay, buyers must submit a dispute with photo proof within 12 hours of delivery to receive a refund.
Return of Staples: Non-perishable items can be returned within 7 days of delivery if they are unopened and in their original packaging. The buyer is responsible for return shipping costs.
6. Cookie Policy
We use cookies to improve your browsing experience and keep our platform secure.
Essential Cookies: Necessary for the security and operation of the marketplace (e.g., maintaining your login session and remembering shopping cart items).
Payment Processor Cookies: Stripe utilizes security and anti-fraud cookies during checkout to prevent fraudulent transactions and analyze card authorization risks.
Preference Settings: Used to remember user settings, regional parameters, and display options. You can manage or disable cookies in your web browser settings.
7. Limitation of Liability
Wenze na Biso is not liable for health issues, foodborne illness, or packaging defects caused by products prepared and shipped by third-party Vendors.
We do not guarantee the performance of carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx) but facilitate refunds under our Cold-Chain Guarantee.
8. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles.
Wenze na Biso General Privacy Policy
Welcome to Wenze na Biso. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal data of all our buyers, sellers, and visitors. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and secure your information in a clear, non-technical way.
1. Information We Collect
We only collect the information necessary to process your transactions, manage your account, and verify shipping delivery.
Account & Profile Data: Your name, email address, profile picture (for vendors), phone number, and delivery shipping address.
Storefront Details (for Sellers): Your business name, physical location, store description, and list of products.
Order & Tracking Information: The details of the products you buy or sell, carrier names, and package tracking numbers.
Technical Details & Cookies: Simple browser data, IP addresses, session cookies (to keep you logged in and manage your shopping cart), and page interaction timestamps to keep the platform secure and functional.
2. Payments & Financial Security (Stripe Integration)
To guarantee your security, Wenze na Biso does not store, process, or have access to your credit card numbers, bank credentials, or financial account details.
Wholly Handled by Stripe: All payment transactions, card processing, and seller payout operations are managed directly by Stripe, Inc. on their secure PCI-compliant servers.
Stripe Connect: Sellers link their payout destination using Stripe Connect. Any tax information (like SSN or EIN) required by financial regulations is collected and kept securely by Stripe, not Wenze na Biso.
3. Secure Payment Hold Protection & Refund Policy
Wenze na Biso uses a Secure Payment Hold mechanism where buyers pay for items up-front, but the funds are held securely until the shipment is delivered and verified.
Standard Order Refunds: If you cancel a standard order before the seller has dispatched it, you will receive a full refund to your original payment method.
Perishable Spoilage (Cold-Chain Breach): If a fresh package arrives spoiled or warm because of a carrier delay or vendor packaging issue, buyers are entitled to a full refund or replacement. You must file a dispute on your dashboard with photo proof within 12 hours of delivery.
Unshipped Orders: If an order is not dispatched within 5 business days, the transaction is automatically cancelled, and the held funds are refunded to the buyer.
4. Data Retention and Regulatory Compliance (GDPR / CCPA)
Access & Update: You can view and edit your profile information, address, and product details at any time from your account dashboard.
Account Deletion (Right to Be Forgotten): If you wish to delete your account, you can contact us or run the account deletion process. We will permanently erase your user profile and active merchant data from our active systems, except for transaction history records required to be kept for financial, tax, and regulatory audits.
No Selling of Data: We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third-party advertisers or data brokers under any circumstances.
5. Contact Us
For any privacy questions or to request data removal, please contact the Wenze na Biso team at:
Email: contact@wenzenabiso.com
Wenze na Biso Shipping & Delivery Guidelines
This Shipping Policy governs the packaging, transit, and delivery of goods purchased on the Wenze na Biso marketplace.
1. General Shipping Rules
US-Only Delivery: Wenze na Biso is currently a United States-only marketplace. We only support shipping to addresses within the 50 US states. We do not support international shipping, nor do we ship to military APO/FPO addresses.
Carrier Rates: Shipping rates are calculated and set by individual vendors based on weight, packaging dimensions, and regional zones.
PO Boxes: Standard PO Box addresses are permitted only for non-perishable (Nationwide) shipping. Perishable shipping requires a physical address to prevent items from sitting in post office lockers.
2. Shipping Categories
Nationwide (Staples / Non-Perishables)
Eligible Items: Shelf-stable goods, dry foods, spices, custom textiles, and cosmetics.
Fulfillment Time: Dispatched within 48 hours of order confirmation.
Delivery Window: 3 to 7 business days.
Carriers: USPS Ground Advantage/Priority, UPS Ground, or FedEx Home Delivery.
Perishable (Fresh / Cold-Chain Required)
Eligible Items: Fresh greens, frozen fish, custom meats, prepared stews, and temperature-sensitive goods.
Fulfillment Restrictions: Shipped exclusively Monday through Wednesday morning. Perishable orders placed from Wednesday afternoon to Sunday are held for shipment until the following Monday to prevent weekend layovers.
Transit Guarantee: 24 to 48-Hour delivery once dispatched.
Carriers: Express overnight or 2-day priority services with guaranteed transit times.
3. Delivery and Buyer Responsibility
Address Accuracy: Buyers are responsible for providing a complete and correct shipping address. Wenze na Biso is not liable for package losses resulting from incorrect shipping entries.
Signature Release: Most carriers drop packages at front doors without a signature. It is the buyer's responsibility to track delivery progress.
Unpacking & Temperature Integrity: For cold-chain shipments, buyers must open packaging and transfer perishable products to refrigeration or freezing immediately. If the carrier scan indicates a package was delivered, the buyer must retrieve it within 4 hours of that scan. Failing to retrieve it within this window invalidates the Cold-Chain Guarantee.
Lost or Stolen Packages: If tracking shows a package was delivered but it is missing, the buyer must report this within 24 hours. We will investigate carrier details to verify geo-coordinates.
Wenze na Biso Merchant & Seller Policies
All vendors selling on Wenze na Biso must adhere to these policies to maintain their status and use our Secure Payment Hold system.
1. Secure Payment Hold & Payout Policy
Stripe Connect requirement: All sellers must link and maintain an active Stripe Express Connected Account.
Secure Payment Hold Period: When a customer makes a purchase, the money is held securely on a temporary hold by Stripe. Funds are only released and transferred to the vendor's Stripe Connect balance after the package has been marked as delivered by the shipping carrier, plus a 24-hour buyer inspection window.
Prohibited Payment Methods: Sellers must not ask buyers for direct bank transfers, CashApp, Venmo, Zelle, check, or payment outside the Wenze na Biso platform. Engaging in off-platform sales will lead to immediate store suspension.
2. Product Compliance & Listing Integrity
Authenticity & Heritage: All products must be authentic Congolese heritage items, specialized groceries, apparel, or books. Counterfeits, misbranded items, or misleading listings are strictly prohibited.
Admin Review & Status Approval: New listings and edits are subject to admin review. Any product marked as PENDING_REVIEW or REJECTED will be hidden from the storefront until compliance is resolved.
Food Safety and Regulations: Sellers listing perishable foods or homemade products must comply with local, state, and federal guidelines regarding food preparation, licensing, allergen warnings, and packaging.
3. Shipping & Fulfillment Deadlines
Fulfillment Window: Sellers must ship standard packages within 48 hours of order receipt.
Fresh Shipping Restrictions: To guarantee cold-chain accuracy, perishable food orders must be dispatched between Monday and Wednesday morning only. Shipping fresh goods on Thursday or Friday is prohibited.
Fulfillment Failure: Orders that remain unshipped after 5 business days are subject to automatic cancellation, and the transaction funds will be released back to the buyer.
4. Penalties and Dispute Resolution
Excessive Claims: If a vendor is subject to multiple cold-chain disputes (exceeding 10% of their total monthly orders) due to poor packaging or carrier delays, Wenze na Biso reserves the right to suspend their store or restrict their fresh selling plan.
Resolution: In the event of a dispute, Wenze na Biso administrative support acts as arbitrator. Vendors must cooperate with claims by submitting tracking proof or packaging receipts when requested.
5. Data Processing Addendum (DPA)
Scope and Roles: Wenze na Biso is the Data Controller of Buyer Data collected during checkout. The Vendor acts as a Data Processor when receiving Buyer Data (names, phone numbers, and shipping addresses) solely for the purpose of shipping and fulfilling orders.
Processing Obligations: The Vendor agrees to process Buyer Data only for the purpose of fulfilling purchases made on the platform. The Vendor must:
1. Confidentiality: Ensure that employees authorized to handle Buyer Data are bound by confidentiality agreements.
2. Limited Retention: Do not store, write down, or export customer addresses or contact details beyond what is required to generate shipping labels and complete delivery.
3. No Marketing: Do not add buyers to external marketing email lists, SMS campaigns, or mailings without explicit, opt-in consent from the buyer.
4. Security Measures: Maintain technical security measures to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure of Buyer Data.
Sub-processors: The Vendor authorizes Wenze na Biso to engage third-party sub-processors (such as Stripe for payment handling, Brevo for email notifications, and shipping carriers for delivery) to facilitate the marketplace services.
Data Breaches: In the event of any unauthorized access, loss, or leakage of Buyer Data in the Vendor's possession, the Vendor must notify Wenze na Biso support within 24 hours of discovery and cooperate fully in mitigating the breach.
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