CartDash Policies
Our commitment to creating a safe and transparent marketplace for vendors and customers, with flexible payment options.
Vendor Subscription Plans
Store Creation Options
Vendors can choose from our flexible subscription plans. Note that "Pay After Delivery" is exclusive to Premium subscribers or active Trial users.
Free Plan
Perfect for starting your store with zero upfront cost
5% commission on item sales
Default Mode: Payment Before Delivery
Pay After Delivery Locked
Free Plan vendors cannot offer "Pay After Delivery." Upgrade to Premium or use a 7-Day Trial to access this feature.
Monthly Plan
Full access to all store customization features
0% commission on item sales
Cancel anytime
Yearly Plan
Save ₦10,000 compared to monthly billing
0% commission on item sales
Two months free
What's Included in All Plans
- Customizable storefront with your branding
- Unlimited product uploads
- Built-in inventory management
- Sales analytics dashboard
- Customer management tools
- 24/7 store access
- Escrow protection (Default)
Payment Modes: Escrow vs. Pay After Delivery
1. Payment Before Delivery (Escrow)
Standard Protection
Available for: All Plans (Free, Premium, Trial).
Flow: Customer pays upfront → Funds held by CartDash → Item Shipped → Customer Confirms → Vendor Paid.
Benefit: Guaranteed payment for vendors, money-back guarantee for customers.
2. Pay After Delivery (Premium)
Trust-Based Model
Available for: Premium Plans and 7-Day Free Trial only.
Flow: Order Placed → Item Delivered → Customer Inspects → Customer Pays Vendor (Directly/Platform Link).
Benefit: Higher conversion rate for vendors; increased trust for customers. Warning: If item is correct, customer refusal to pay is fraud.
Automatic Reversion
If a Premium subscription expires, or a 7-Day Trial concludes, your store's Payment Mode will automatically revert to "Payment Before Delivery" (Escrow) to protect all parties.
Commission & Transaction Fees
Perfect for new vendors testing the platform
- No monthly subscription fee
- 5% deducted from each sale
- Restricted to Escrow mode only
- Upgrade to premium anytime
Example: Sell ₦10,000 item (Escrow) → Receive ₦9,500 (5% commission = ₦500)
Best for established businesses
- Monthly or yearly subscription
- 0% commission on all sales
- Priority customer support
- Access to Pay After Delivery mode
Example: Sell ₦10,000 item (Pay After) → Receive full ₦10,000 (0% commission)
Platform Transaction Fee
In addition to subscription-based commissions, CartDash charges a 1% transaction fee on every item sold through your store to cover payment processing costs.
Complete Fee Calculation Examples
Free Plan Vendor (sells ₦10,000 item):
• Item price: ₦10,000
• 5% commission (free plan): ₦500
• 1% transaction fee: ₦100
• Vendor receives: ₦9,400
• Total platform fees: ₦600 (6%)
Premium Plan Vendor (sells ₦10,000 item):
• Item price: ₦10,000
• 0% commission (premium plan): ₦0
• 1% transaction fee: ₦100
• Vendor receives: ₦9,900
• Total platform fees: ₦100 (1%)
No Hidden Fees
There are no setup fees, withdrawal fees, or additional charges beyond clearly stated commissions and transaction fees.
Upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time. Commission rates apply immediately upon plan change.
Payout System
Auto-Payouts for Escrow Transactions
For "Payment Before Delivery" orders, CartDash features an instant auto-payout system that processes payments immediately when:
- Customer confirms delivery receipt
- No active disputes exist
- Vendor has valid bank details on file
The system automatically calculates and deducts: 5% commission (Free Plan) or 0% (Premium Plan), plus the 1% transaction fee.
Payouts for Pay After Delivery
Since funds do not flow through CartDash first in this mode, payouts function differently:
- Customer pays the vendor directly or via a secure payment link generated by CartDash after inspection.
- If paid via CartDash Link: Vendors receive funds instantly (minus 1% transaction fee). Premium plan = 0% commission.
- If paid externally: Vendors receive full amount. CartDash charges no fee unless the transaction is facilitated by our platform link.
- Vendors must still update order status to "Completed" on the dashboard to maintain account health.
Failed Payouts
If an auto-payout fails (e.g., incorrect bank details), it is retried automatically with notification.
Vendors can track all payouts in their dashboard with detailed breakdowns of commissions and fees.
Refund & Dispute Policy
Refunds for Escrow Transactions
If a vendor fails to deliver an item or there's a significant issue with an escrow order, customers are eligible for a 95% refund of their payment.
Refund Scenarios
• Item not delivered: 95% refund after 14 days with no delivery confirmation
• Wrong item received: 95% refund if vendor doesn't correct within 7 days
• Significantly not as described: 95% refund after investigation
5% is retained to cover payment processing costs
Refunds for Pay After Delivery
Since the customer hasn't paid yet, refunds are often about waiving payment obligations:
- Item is Wrong/Defective: Customer opens dispute. If valid, customer pays ₦0. Vendor bears the cost.
- Item is Correct: Customer is contractually obligated to pay. If they refuse, the vendor can open a dispute. If CartDash confirms item is correct, customer is suspended for fraud.
Commission Refund Policy
When a refund is issued to a customer (Escrow mode):
- Any commission collected is refunded to CartDash
- Transaction fees may still apply depending on the refund reason
- Premium plan subscription fees are not refundable for refunded transactions
Dispute Resolution Process
- Customer opens dispute within 14 days of purchase
- CartDash notifies vendor and requests evidence
- Both parties submit evidence within 3 business days
- CartDash reviews and makes determination within 5 business days
- If dispute is resolved in customer's favor, refund is processed immediately (Escrow) or payment obligation waived (Pay After Delivery).
Plan Change Policy
Upgrading Plans
When upgrading from Free to Premium (Monthly/Yearly):
- 0% commission applies immediately to all new sales
- Existing pending orders continue with original commission rate
- No pro-rata refunds for previous commissions
- Subscription starts immediately upon payment
- You gain access to Pay After Delivery mode immediately.
Downgrading Plans
When downgrading from Premium to Free plan:
- 5% commission applies immediately to all new sales
- Premium subscription continues until the end of the paid period
- Payment After Delivery mode is disabled. All existing and new orders revert to Escrow.
- No refunds for unused premium subscription time
Cancellation
Vendors can cancel their premium subscription at any time:
- Monthly plans: Cancel anytime, service continues until end of billing cycle
- Yearly plans: Cancel anytime, no refund for unused time
- Store remains active on Free plan after cancellation (Reverts to Escrow)
- All products and data are preserved
Vendor Responsibilities
Product Listings
- Provide accurate descriptions and clear photos
- Maintain correct inventory counts
- Update product availability regularly
- Price items fairly and transparently
- Clearly display any additional fees or charges
- Update store settings to indicate correct Payment Mode.
Order Fulfillment
- Ship items within stated timeframe (max 3 business days)
- Provide tracking information when available
- Package items securely to prevent damage
- Respond to customer inquiries within 24 hours
- Update order status promptly in the system
- For Pay After Delivery: Ensure item is perfect before shipping to avoid payment disputes.
Prohibited Items
Vendors may not sell:
- Counterfeit or unauthorized goods
- Illegal substances or paraphernalia
- Weapons or dangerous items
- Stolen property
- Items that violate intellectual property rights
Customer Responsibilities
Order Process
- Review item details carefully before purchasing
- Provide accurate shipping information
- Make payment through secure CartDash system only
- For Escrow: Confirm delivery within 3 days of receipt
- For Pay After Delivery: Pay vendor promptly if item is correct and matches description.
- Report any issues within 14 days of delivery
Payment Obligations
- Escrow Orders: Funds are released automatically upon confirmation.
- Pay After Delivery Orders: You are obligated to pay if the item matches the description. Refusal to pay for correct goods is fraud and leads to account suspension.
General Terms
Account Termination
CartDash reserves right to suspend or terminate accounts that:
- Violate our policies repeatedly
- Engage in fraudulent activities (e.g., refusing to pay for Pay After Delivery goods)
- Have excessive customer complaints
- Fail to fulfill orders consistently
- Attempt to circumvent commission fees or plan restrictions
Policy Updates
We may update these policies periodically. Continued use of CartDash after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.
Vendors will be notified of significant changes 30 days in advance.
Contact Information
For policy questions or disputes:
Email: support@cartdash.com
Response Time: 1-2 business days
Commission Inquiries: billing@cartdash.com