Terms of Service

1. Introduction

Welcome to Mara by SDVEN ("we," "our," or "the Platform"). By accessing or using our platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. Mara by SDVEN is designed to empower talented students in Kenya to showcase and sell their creative products while providing schools with commission-based revenue opportunities.

2. User Eligibility

2.1 Students

Students must be enrolled in a registered school on our platform. Parents/guardians must provide consent for students under 18 years old. Students are responsible for creating and managing their product listings with school oversight.

2.2 School Administrators

School administrators must be authorized representatives of registered educational institutions in Kenya. A one-time registration fee of KES 500.00 is required to activate your school account.

2.3 Customers

Anyone 18 years or older with a valid email address and payment method can purchase products from our marketplace.

3. Revenue Sharing Model

Mara by SDVEN operates on a transparent commission structure for every product sale:

• 75.00% goes to the student seller
• 15.00% goes to the student's school
• 10.00% is retained as platform fee for transaction processing, hosting, and support

These percentages are calculated from the product's listed price and automatically distributed upon successful payment verification.

4. Product Listings

4.1 Prohibited Items

The following are strictly prohibited on our platform:

• Illegal or counterfeit goods
• Weapons, drugs, or hazardous materials
• Adult content or age-restricted items
• Stolen goods or items promoting violence
• Plagiarized or copyright-infringing content

4.2 Product Approval

All product listings must be approved by platform administrators before going live. We reserve the right to reject or remove any listing that violates these terms or our community guidelines.

4.3 Pricing and Accuracy

Students must accurately describe their products and set fair prices. Misleading descriptions, false advertising, or price manipulation will result in listing removal and possible account suspension.

5. Payment and Transactions

5.1 Payment Processing

All payments are processed securely through Paystack. We accept M-Pesa and major credit/debit cards. By making a purchase, you authorize us to charge your selected payment method.

5.2 School Registration Fee

The school registration fee is non-refundable once your school is approved and activated on the platform.

5.3 Student and School Payouts

Payouts are processed monthly to registered bank accounts or M-Pesa numbers. Schools and students must provide valid payout information. Minimum payout threshold is KES 100.

6. Delivery and Digital Downloads

6.1 Physical Products

Students are responsible for fulfilling physical product orders within agreed timelines. Delivery costs are calculated based on customer location using Kenya county-based shipping zones.

6.2 Digital Products

Digital downloads are available immediately after payment confirmation. Download links expire after 30 days and have a maximum of 3 download attempts.

7. Returns and Refunds

Due to the nature of student-created products and digital goods:

• Digital products are generally non-refundable once downloaded
• Physical products may be returned within 7 days if significantly not as described
• Refund requests must be submitted through our Contact Us page with supporting evidence
• Final refund decisions are at the platform's discretion

8. Account Responsibilities

8.1 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access.

8.2 Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

School administrators are required to enable two-factor authentication to protect financial data and student information. Students and customers may optionally enable 2FA for enhanced account security. You are responsible for maintaining access to your authentication device and securely storing backup codes provided during setup.

8.3 Account Suspension

We may suspend or terminate accounts for:

• Violation of these Terms of Service
• Fraudulent activity or payment disputes
• Selling prohibited items
• Harassment or inappropriate behavior
• Multiple customer complaints

9. Intellectual Property

Students retain ownership of their original creative works. By listing products on our platform, you grant Mara by SDVEN a non-exclusive license to display, promote, and facilitate the sale of your products.

The Mara by SDVEN brand, logo, and platform design are protected intellectual property. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

10. Limitation of Liability

Mara by SDVEN acts as an intermediary platform. We are not responsible for:

• Quality, safety, or legality of products listed by students
• Accuracy of product descriptions
• Ability of students to fulfill orders
• Disputes between buyers and sellers
• Third-party payment processing issues

Our total liability is limited to the platform fees collected from the transaction in question.

11. Dispute Resolution

We encourage users to resolve disputes amicably. For unresolved issues, contact our support team at support@sdven.com. Disputes will be handled in accordance with Kenyan law.

12. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or platform notification. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

13. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, contact us at:

Email: support@sdven.com
Phone: +254 715 598 801
Address: Nairobi, Kenya