Trust guaranteed
Every listing is reviewed by our team before it goes live. When you buy, you can deal directly with the seller or pay with Protected Purchase. Here's how each one works.
Protected Purchase
When you choose "Buy with Protection", your money is held by Lagos Market, not the seller. The seller is only paid out once you confirm the item arrived as advertised, or once the 48-hour inspection window passes without a dispute. It costs buyers nothing extra, protects you from paying for items that never show up, and protects sellers from chargebacks.
Dispute resolution
If a Protected Purchase item doesn't match its listing, raise a dispute from your Orders page within the 48-hour inspection window and tell us what's wrong. Funds stay held while our team reviews the order, chat history, and any evidence from both sides. We then decide whether to release the payout to the seller or refund the buyer.
For deals you arrange directly with a seller, Lagos Market doesn't hold the payment and can't issue refunds, but please report a suspicious seller or listing to our support team using the chat button at the bottom of any page, so we can act on it.
Buyer's safety tips
- Never pay in advance for an item you haven't seen. If you can't inspect it first, use Protected Purchase.
- Meet in a busy public place, and bring someone along for high-value items.
- Inspect the item carefully and test it before you hand over any money.
- Check the seller's rating and review history before buying.
- Keep your conversation in Lagos Market chat so there's a record if anything goes wrong.
Seller's safety tips
- Describe condition and defects honestly, accurate listings get fewer disputes.
- For direct sales, confirm the money is in your account before handing over the item. Watch out for fake transfer alerts.
- For Protected Purchase orders, only hand over an item after you see it marked "Paid" in your dashboard.
- Add your verified bank account early so Protected Purchase payouts aren't held up.
- Use clear, well-lit photos so buyers know exactly what they're getting.