Verify a shop or seller before you send money
From KES 300per errand
Online sellers in Nairobi are mostly genuine and a few are not, and there is no way to tell from a photo and a till number. A runner goes to the address the seller gave, confirms the shop exists, that the stock is on the shelf and that the person you have been chatting to actually works there.
You get photos of the premises and an honest account of what the runner found, before any money leaves your M-Pesa. At a starting price of KES 300, it is the cheapest errand we run — and often the one that saves the most.
What people use it for
- Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp sellers asking for payment up front
- A supplier you have found online but never met
- Deposits on furniture, electronics or building materials
- Anyone buying from Nairobi while living abroad or upcountry
- Checking that a stall is where the seller says it is
What is included
- An in-person visit to the address the seller gave you
- Photos of the shop front, the inside and the stock
- Confirmation of whether the item you were shown is actually there
- A plain report of what was found, including when the answer is that the address does not exist
What this errand costs
Where an errand touches two priced areas, the surcharge is the higher of the two — not both added together. The full price is on the screen before you confirm. See full pricing.
Where we run it
Nairobi CBD, Gikomba, Kamukunji, Eastleigh and 21 other Nairobi areas have a set price for this errand. Anywhere else in the city is still possible — pick a custom location when you post and admin quotes the job before a runner is sent. See every area we cover.
Questions about this errand
What exactly does the runner check?
That the premises exist at the stated address, that they are trading, that the stock you were shown is on site, and that the seller is known there. What the runner cannot do is vouch for the seller's future conduct.
How long does verification take?
It is a single visit to one address, so it is one of the quicker errands. The runner reports back as soon as the visit is done.
Can you verify a seller who only has a till number?
A till number alone is not a location. Get a physical address or stall number from the seller first — a genuine trader will give you one, and a reluctance to is itself worth noticing.