Vendor Policy

1. Eligibility

To list products or services on Steady.ng, a vendor must meet all of the following requirements at the time of application and on an ongoing basis:

• Registered business entity: The applicant must be a legally registered business in Nigeria. Sole proprietorships, partnerships, and incorporated companies are all eligible.
• Valid CAC documentation: A current Certificate of Incorporation or Business Name Registration Certificate issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is required.
• Active business operations: The vendor must be actively trading at the time of application and must have a verifiable physical address, WhatsApp number, or other contact means in Nigeria.
• Relevant product category: Products must fall within the power, energy, and related categories supported by the Platform — including but not limited to solar panels, inverters, batteries, generators, engine oil, electrical accessories, cooking gas, and fuel delivery services.
• Genuine inventory: Vendors must only list products they are able to supply. Listing products not in stock or not available for sale is not permitted.

2. Application Process

1. Submit application. Complete the vendor application form at /become-a-vendor. Provide accurate business details, a valid CAC number, product categories, contact information, and a brief description of your business.
2. Document verification. Our team will verify your CAC registration number against public records and may request additional supporting documents (e.g., utility bill, product catalogue, proof of stock).
3. Review period. Application review typically takes 3–5 business days. Complex applications or those requiring additional documentation may take longer. You will be notified of the outcome by email.
4. Approval and onboarding. Approved vendors receive an email with instructions to set up their vendor dashboard, add listings, and configure their WhatsApp contact. A Steady representative may schedule a brief onboarding call.
5. Listing goes live. Once your listings are submitted and pass our content review (usually within 24 hours), they will appear in marketplace search results.

Steady reserves the right to reject any application without providing a reason, at its sole discretion.

3. Listing Standards

3.1 Price Accuracy

Prices displayed on vendor listings must reflect the actual selling price available to a buyer at the time of listing. Bait-and-switch pricing — advertising a price that is unavailable when a buyer makes contact — is a violation of this policy and grounds for immediate suspension.

Vendors must update prices within 48 hours of a significant market price change. Steady reserves the right to flag listings where displayed prices appear materially inconsistent with prevailing market rates.

3.2 Product Authenticity

• All products listed must be genuine. The listing of counterfeit, substandard, or imitation goods (e.g., solar panels falsely marketed under reputable brand names) is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate and permanent suspension.
• Vendors representing authorised distributors or dealers of a brand must be able to provide distribution agreements on request.
• Product specifications — wattage, capacity, efficiency ratings, warranty periods — must be accurate and verifiable.

3.3 Product Photos and Descriptions

• Images must accurately represent the product being sold. Stock photos are permitted only if they accurately depict the actual product model and condition.
• Descriptions must not contain misleading claims, fabricated specifications, or FOMO-inducing artificial scarcity.
• All text must be in English. Additional languages (e.g., Pidgin) may be included alongside English.

3.4 Stock Availability

Vendors must mark listings as out of stock or update the availability field when items become unavailable. Steady uses the is_active and availability fields in our system. Listings that consistently lead to buyer enquiries for unavailable products may be automatically deactivated.

4. Review Integrity

The Steady review system is fundamental to buyer trust. The following are strictly prohibited:

• Vendors must not offer discounts, gifts, or any incentive in exchange for positive reviews.
• Vendors must not ask employees, family members, or business partners to submit reviews as customers.
• Vendors may respond to reviews through their vendor dashboard. Responses must be professional and factual.
• If you believe a review is fraudulent or violates our guidelines, report it using the flag function — do not respond with personal attacks.

Steady uses automated and manual systems to detect review manipulation. Confirmed violations result in immediate suspension without appeal for repeated offences.

5. Platform Fees

Listing on Steady.ng is currently free of charge for all approved vendors. We reserve the right to introduce premium plans, featured listing options, or a commission structure in the future. Any changes to our fee structure will be communicated to active vendors with a minimum of 30 days' notice before taking effect.

Current fee information will be published at /vendor-pricing. Vendors are not obligated to continue listing if they do not agree to new pricing terms.

6. Response Time Expectations

Steady buyers expect vendors to be responsive. We set the following minimum standards:

• WhatsApp enquiries: Vendors should respond to buyer enquiries within 24 hours on business days. Consistent non-response will be flagged and may result in reduced listing visibility.
• Price or availability queries: Respond within 24 hours of a direct enquiry, regardless of the communication channel.
• Steady communication: Vendors must respond to official communication from Steady (including policy notices, verification requests, and suspension notifications) within 5 business days.

Vendors who are temporarily unable to respond (e.g., during travel, illness, or public holidays) should set their listings to inactive or mark items unavailable.

7. Grounds for Suspension or Removal

The following violations will result in listing suspension or permanent vendor removal:

• Listing counterfeit, substandard, or prohibited products
• Bait-and-switch pricing or deceptive advertising
• Fraudulent transactions, including requesting payment outside the agreed terms and failing to deliver
• Review manipulation (soliciting fake reviews, suppressing legitimate negative reviews)
• Sustained non-response to buyer enquiries over 14 or more days without prior notice
• CAC registration found to be invalid, expired, or fraudulently submitted
• Conduct that harasses, abuses, or threatens users or Steady staff
• Any material misrepresentation in the original vendor application

Steady reserves the right to remove listings immediately and without prior notice where there is evidence of fraud, counterfeit goods, or a risk to buyer safety. In other cases, vendors will receive a written warning before suspension unless the breach is severe.

8. How to Appeal a Suspension

If your account or listing has been suspended and you believe the decision was made in error, you may submit a formal appeal:

1. Email our vendor support team at vendors@steady.ng with the subject line: "Suspension Appeal — [Your Business Name]".
2. Include your evidence. Provide documentation that addresses the specific reason for suspension — e.g., authentic product invoices, updated CAC documents, revised pricing screenshots, or buyer communication logs.
3. Allow up to 10 business days for our team to review your appeal and respond. Complex cases may take longer.
4. Reinstatement. If your appeal is successful, your listing(s) will be reinstated. If the appeal is rejected, you will receive a written explanation. Repeat policy violators may not be eligible for reinstatement.

Appeals submitted without supporting evidence will not be reviewed. Please be thorough.

9. Vendor Support

For any questions about listing management, policy interpretation, or your vendor dashboard, contact our vendor support team:

• Email: vendors@steady.ng
• General contact form: Contact Us
• Response time: We aim to respond to all vendor queries within 2 business days.

These policies are incorporated into and governed by the Steady.ng Terms of Service.