Frequently asked questions

What is AwaOwn?

AwaOwn is Nigeria's online marketplace connecting shoppers, merchants, and affiliates on one platform. Shoppers browse and buy from verified merchants; merchants list products and earn from every sale; affiliates earn commissions by sharing referral links. Everything runs through a single platform with transparent tracking and secure payouts.

How does AwaOwn work?

Shoppers browse the marketplace, add items to their cart, and checkout securely. Merchants list products for free and receive payouts after successful deliveries. Affiliates generate referral links for any product, share them with their audience, and earn a commission on every completed purchase. All three roles are supported in one account, with live dashboards for merchants and affiliates.

How do I place an order?

Browse the shop, add items to your cart, then proceed to checkout. Fill in your delivery address, choose your payment method, and confirm. You'll receive an order confirmation email within minutes, even on a slow connection. You can track your order anytime from My Account → Orders.

What payment methods are accepted?

We accept debit and credit cards (Mastercard and Visa via Paystack), direct bank transfers, and Paystack. Pay-on-delivery may be available from select merchants in certain cities, check the product page before checkout.

How long will my delivery take?

All deliveries are handled by Fez Delivery, our logistics partner. Delivery typically takes 2–5 business days for orders within the same state and 5–10 business days for interstate deliveries. You will receive real-time tracking updates from Fez as your order moves.

Can I track my order?

Yes. Once a merchant dispatches your order, a tracking number will appear in your My Account → Orders section. Click it to follow your delivery in real time via the courier's tracking page.

What if my item arrives damaged or is not as described?

Report it within 48 hours of delivery. Log in, go to My Account → Orders, click Request Return on the order, and upload photographs of the issue. Our team reviews requests within 24 hours. If the item is defective or wrong, return shipping is on us and you will receive a full refund. See our full Refund Policy for details.

My item hasn't arrived, what do I do?

If your order is past its estimated delivery date, first check the tracking number in your account. If tracking shows delivery but you didn't receive the package, contact us at support@awaown.com within 48 hours of the delivery date shown. We will investigate with the courier and either reship or refund your order.

Do I need an account to shop?

You can browse the marketplace without an account, but you'll need to create one to complete a purchase. Registration is free and takes under two minutes. Having an account also lets you track orders, save favourites, and use referral codes for discounts.

Can I use a referral code from an affiliate?

Yes. If an affiliate shared a referral link with you, simply click it before adding items to your cart, the discount or benefit is applied automatically at checkout. If you were given a code rather than a link, enter it in the coupon field during checkout.

How do I become a merchant on AwaOwn?

Click Become a merchant and complete the registration: personal details, business information, and your Nigerian bank account for payouts. Identity verification (a government-issued ID and selfie) is required before your first payout is processed, not at sign-up.

What does it cost to sell on AwaOwn?

Registration is completely free. There are no listing fees, no monthly fees, and no setup charges. AwaOwn deducts a transparent commission only when a sale is successfully completed. A standard Paystack processing fee is also deducted from earnings at the point of payout. Commission rates by category are published on the Commission Structure page.

When and how do I get paid?

Payouts are made weekly, every Monday, to your verified Nigerian bank account. Orders become eligible for payout 3 days after confirmed delivery, this short window covers buyer returns. There is no minimum payout amount; all eligible cleared funds are remitted each cycle. Disputed orders are held until the dispute is resolved.

What documents do I need to register?

You can sign up with just your personal details and Nigerian bank account. Before your first payout is processed, you will need to submit: (1) a valid government-issued photo ID — National ID, Voter's Card, International Passport, or Driver's Licence; and (2) a clear selfie holding the same ID for liveness verification. All documents are handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

How many products can I list?

There is no limit on the number of products you can list on AwaOwn. You pay only when a sale is made, listing more products costs nothing and increases your visibility to shoppers and affiliates.

How does the affiliate network benefit my store?

When you list products on AwaOwn, any of our approved affiliates can generate referral links for your products and promote them to their audience, at no additional cost to you. Affiliate-driven sales count toward your store's performance metrics and do not attract a higher commission rate than direct sales.

Can I run my own promotions and discount codes?

Yes. From your merchant dashboard, you can create coupons, percentage discounts, fixed-amount discounts, and product bundles. Promotions are visible to shoppers and can be shared with specific affiliates if you choose.

What happens if I get a dispute or return request?

When a buyer opens a return or dispute, your payout for that order is held. You will be notified immediately and given 48 hours to respond with your side of the story. AwaOwn reviews the evidence from both parties and issues a determination within 5 business days. See the Refund Policy for full details.

Can I sell services, not just physical products?

Yes. AwaOwn supports a Services category for professional and handyman services. Listings must clearly describe the scope, deliverables, location availability, and timeline. A 15% commission applies to service sales.

How does the AwaOwn affiliate programme work?

Sign up, verify your identity, and get approved (usually within 24–48 hours). Then browse the AwaOwn shop, generate a tracked referral link for any product, and promote it on your WhatsApp, social media, blog, or anywhere your audience is. When someone clicks your link and completes a purchase within 30 days, you earn a commission. Everything is tracked live in your affiliate dashboard.

What commission rates do affiliates earn?

Commission rates mirror the merchant commission table and vary by product category, from 7% for Food & Groceries to 15% for Books, Digital Products, and Services. Your dashboard shows the current rate for every product you promote. See the full commission table.

How long does my referral link track a buyer?

Your referral link tracks buyers for 30 days from the click. If someone clicks your link today and buys within the next 30 days, you earn the commission, even if they didn't buy immediately. The last affiliate to be clicked before a purchase receives the commission.

How do I get paid as an affiliate?

Once your confirmed commission balance reaches ₦10,000, you can request a withdrawal from your affiliate dashboard. Payouts are processed within 2 business days and deposited directly to your Nigerian bank account. You'll receive a notification when the transfer is sent.

Do I need a large following to earn as an affiliate?

No. Many of our most successful affiliates earn through small, engaged communities, a WhatsApp group, a tight-knit Instagram following, or recommendations to colleagues and family. What matters is that your audience trusts you, not how large it is.

Can I promote any product on AwaOwn?

Yes, you can generate a referral link for any active product listed on AwaOwn. You are not limited to specific categories or merchants. Focus on products relevant to your audience for the best conversion rates.

Can I be both a merchant and an affiliate?

You cannot earn affiliate commissions on sales from your own store. However, as a merchant you may register a separate affiliate account and promote other merchants' products on AwaOwn. Contact support@awaown.com to discuss this arrangement.

Do I need to disclose that I'm an affiliate?

Yes. Nigerian consumer protection guidelines and most social media platform policies require you to disclose when you earn from a recommendation. A brief statement like "I earn a commission if you buy through this link" is enough and builds trust with your audience.

Can I cancel an order after placing it?

Orders can be cancelled before a merchant dispatches them. Log in, go to My Account → Orders, and click Cancel if the option is visible. Once a merchant has marked the order as dispatched, cancellation is no longer possible and you will need to request a return instead. Any affiliate commission tied to a cancelled order is automatically voided.

How are payments processed securely?

All payments are processed through Paystack, a PCI-DSS compliant payment gateway. Card details are never stored on AwaOwn servers. Bank transfers are verified before orders are confirmed. Paystack's built-in fraud detection runs on every transaction.

How does AwaOwn prevent affiliate fraud?

We use multiple layers of protection: every referral link is tied to a verified affiliate account; duplicate clicks from the same device or IP are filtered automatically; suspicious purchase patterns trigger manual review; and payouts include a short clearance window that lets us catch reversals before funds are released.

How do I create an account?

Click Sign up on any page, enter your name, email, and a secure password, then verify your email address. Your account is ready to use immediately for shopping. To sell or earn as an affiliate, you'll complete an additional verification step.

How do I reset my password?

On the sign-in page, click "Forgot password" and enter your registered email. We'll send you a secure reset link within a few minutes. Check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive. Reset links expire after 1 hour, request a new one if needed.

Is my personal data safe on AwaOwn?

Yes. We use bank-grade TLS encryption for all data in transit, and AES-256 encryption for sensitive stored data. We never share your personal information with merchants beyond what is needed to fulfil your order, and affiliates never see your personal details. Read our full Privacy Policy for complete details.

What should I do if I think my account has been compromised?

Change your password immediately from My Account → Security, then email support@awaown.com with "Account Compromised" in the subject line. Our team will review recent activity on your account, secure it, and help you understand what may have happened.

How do I update my bank account or payout details?

Log in and navigate to your dashboard settings. For merchants, this is in Merchant Dashboard → Settings → Payout. For affiliates, it's in Affiliate Dashboard → Earnings → Payout Account. Changes to bank details require re-verification and take effect from the next payout cycle.

How do I close my account?

Email support@awaown.com from your registered email with the subject "Account Deletion Request." We will confirm the request and process the closure within 7 business days. Any outstanding orders must be completed or refunded before closure is finalised. Certain records are retained as required by Nigerian tax and anti-fraud law, see our Privacy Policy for retention periods.

Can I use AwaOwn on my mobile phone?

Yes. AwaOwn works fully on mobile browsers including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari on both Android and iOS. No app download is needed, simply visit the website from your phone browser. A dedicated mobile app is in development and will be announced soon.

What can merchants track in their dashboard?

Your merchant dashboard shows real-time sales totals, order status, revenue driven by affiliates, customer stats, and full payout history. You can also see which affiliates are actively promoting your products and how much traffic they are generating to your store.

What can affiliates track in their dashboard?

Your affiliate dashboard shows clicks, conversions, earnings per product, and your total commission balance in real time. You can see which products convert best, filter by date range, and track when each commission clears and becomes available for withdrawal.

Does AwaOwn work in all Nigerian states?

Shoppers from all Nigerian states can browse and purchase on AwaOwn. Delivery availability depends on the individual merchant, each product page shows the merchant's delivery coverage before you check out. Merchants can list and sell nationwide, and affiliates can promote products to any audience in Nigeria.