Terms and Conditions

2.1 You must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and legally capable of entering into binding contracts under Ethiopian law to use the Platform.

2.2 Registration requires a valid Ethiopian phone number that you own and control. Providing false identity information is a violation of these Terms and may result in immediate account suspension and forfeiture of wallet funds.

2.3 Each individual may hold only one (1) User account. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent platform policies, including bid manipulation, is strictly prohibited and constitutes fraud.

2.4 Businesses, sole traders, and organisations operating legally in Ethiopia may register and use the Platform subject to these Terms. Corporate entities are responsible for ensuring that all individuals acting on their behalf comply with these Terms.

2.5 Yebirr reserves the right to verify User identity at any time and to request additional documentation as required under applicable Ethiopian law, including anti-money laundering (AML) obligations.

3.1 Listing and Runner Verification. Sellers submit items for auction through the Platform. Before any listing is made live, a Yebirr-authorised runner will conduct a physical verification visit at the location of the item. The runner will confirm that the item exists, assess its condition, and photograph it. Listings that fail verification will not be published. The Seller is responsible for ensuring item availability at the time of the runner visit.

3.2 Reserve Price. Sellers may set a minimum reserve price, which is the lowest price at which they are willing to sell. The reserve price is kept confidential from Buyers. An auction will only result in a completed sale if the highest bid meets or exceeds the reserve price at close.

3.3 Bid Bond Requirement. A Buyer must lock a Bid Bond in their Yebirr Wallet before placing any bid. The required Bid Bond amount is specified on each auction listing. Funds locked as a Bid Bond are unavailable for withdrawal or other uses while the bid is active. If a Buyer is outbid, their Bid Bond is automatically and immediately unlocked. The minimum Bid Bond amount may vary by auction category and current bid value.

3.4 Binding Bids. All bids placed on the Platform are legally binding and irrevocable. By placing a bid, the Buyer makes a firm offer to purchase the item at the bid price, subject to reserve price conditions. Yebirr does not permit bid retraction except in cases of demonstrable platform technical error, at Yebirr's sole and final discretion.

3.5 Bid Increments. The Platform enforces minimum bid increments which vary based on the current bid value. Bids below the required minimum increment will be rejected by the system.

3.6 Auction Extension. If a bid is placed within the final two (2) minutes of an auction, the auction end time may be automatically extended to ensure fair competition. The extension duration is configurable and will be displayed on the auction page.

3.7 Auction Outcome. When an auction closes with the reserve price met, the highest bidder is declared the winner. Both Buyer and Seller will be notified immediately via Telegram.

4.1 Following a successful auction, the Buyer has seven (7) calendar days from auction close to complete the transaction by collecting the item in person from the Seller and making final payment.

4.2 The Platform will send daily Telegram reminders to both parties during the Settlement Period.

4.3 The Yebirr platform fee is automatically deducted from the winning Buyer's Bid Bond balance upon auction close. The fee amount is displayed on each auction listing before bidding commences.

4.4 If the winning Buyer fails to complete the transaction within the Settlement Period without a valid reason accepted by Yebirr, the Buyer's full Bid Bond amount will be forfeited. A portion of the forfeited Bid Bond will be disbursed to the Seller as compensation; the remainder constitutes a penalty fee retained by Yebirr.

4.5 Final payment for the item itself is made directly between Buyer and Seller at the point of physical collection. Yebirr is not a party to this payment and does not hold sale proceeds in escrow. Users are encouraged to transact through traceable payment methods (mobile banking, bank transfer) and to avoid large cash transactions wherever possible.

4.6 The Buyer is responsible for physically inspecting the item at the point of collection. By accepting the item, the Buyer acknowledges that it corresponds to the verified listing description. Any discrepancies must be raised immediately at collection, and Yebirr support notified within twenty-four (24) hours.

5.1 Yebirr charges a platform fee on successful auction transactions. The fee is a percentage of the final winning bid and is displayed clearly on each listing page before any bid is placed. The fee schedule may be updated from time to time; any changes will be communicated to Users with at least seven (7) days notice.

5.2 There are no listing fees for Sellers and no registration fees for Buyers. Users only incur fees on successful transactions.

5.3 All wallet deposits and withdrawals are processed through Chapa. Chapa's own terms of service and transaction fees apply to payment processing. Yebirr is not responsible for delays or failures caused by Chapa, third-party banks, or mobile money operators.

5.4 Wallet withdrawals (returning funds not locked in active bids) are processed within two (2) to five (5) business days, subject to identity verification requirements and any applicable Ethiopian regulatory holds.

5.5 All transactions are conducted in Ethiopian Birr (ETB). Yebirr does not accept, facilitate, or have any obligation regarding transactions in foreign currencies.

5.6 Users are responsible for any applicable taxes, including income tax, VAT, or other levies arising from their transactions on the Platform, in accordance with Ethiopian tax law (Income Tax Proclamation No. 979/2016, as amended).

6.1 The following items may not be listed or sold on the Platform:

• Firearms, ammunition, explosives, or any weapons regulated under Ethiopian law
• Controlled substances, narcotics, or any items prohibited under Ethiopian drug laws
• Counterfeit, stolen, or illegally obtained goods
• Vehicles without valid customs clearance documentation (Debdabe)
• Items subject to import or export restrictions under Ethiopian trade law
• Endangered wildlife or products derived therefrom
• Pornographic, defamatory, or otherwise illegal content
• Any item whose sale or transfer is prohibited by Ethiopian law or international treaties to which Ethiopia is a signatory

6.2 The following conduct is strictly prohibited:

• Shill bidding (bidding on your own listings directly or through associates)
• Price manipulation, bid rigging, or collusion with other Users
• Fraudulent listings, misrepresentation of item condition or ownership
• Harassment, threats, or abuse directed at other Users or Yebirr staff
• Attempting to conduct off-platform transactions to avoid platform fees
• Scraping, crawling, or automated access to the Platform without written consent
• Attempting to circumvent identity verification or security measures

7.1 The Seller warrants that they are the rightful owner of any item listed for auction, or hold valid authority to sell it on behalf of the owner.

7.2 The Seller must ensure the item remains available and accessible for runner verification and for collection during the Settlement Period. Withdrawing an item after auction close without Yebirr's written consent constitutes a material breach of these Terms and may result in account suspension and financial penalties.

7.3 The Seller must provide accurate, honest, and complete information about the item's condition, provenance, and any known defects. Deliberate misrepresentation constitutes fraud under Ethiopian law and may be referred to law enforcement authorities.

7.4 The Seller acknowledges that runner verification photographs become part of the item's official record on the Platform and may be used to resolve disputes.

7.5 The Seller is responsible for safely handing over the item to the winning Buyer at the agreed collection point and time, and must co-operate with Yebirr's post-auction settlement monitoring.

8.1 Yebirr provides a dispute resolution service for transaction-related disagreements. Disputes must be raised via Telegram support (@yebirr_ethiopia_bot) or by email to contact@yebirr.com within forty-eight (48) hours of the triggering event.

8.2 Yebirr will review all available evidence, including runner verification records, wallet transaction logs, and communication records, to make a fair determination. Yebirr's determination on factual disputes related to the Platform is final.

8.3 For disputes relating to the physical condition of items, the runner verification photographs and condition report constitute the primary evidence of the item's state at the time of listing.

8.4 Yebirr is a platform facilitator and is not a party to the sale contract between Buyer and Seller. Disputes relating to events occurring after physical handover of the item (post-collection disputes) are civil matters between the parties and Yebirr cannot compel settlement. However, the Platform reserves the right to restrict Users found to be acting in bad faith.

8.5 Any dispute not resolved through Yebirr's internal process that proceeds to formal legal action shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, specifically the courts of Addis Ababa.

9.1 The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available." Yebirr makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the uninterrupted or error-free operation of the Platform.

9.2 To the maximum extent permitted by Ethiopian law, Yebirr's total liability to any User for any claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the Platform shall not exceed the total platform fees paid by that User in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

9.3 Yebirr is not liable for: (a) the acts or omissions of any Buyer or Seller; (b) the quality, safety, legality, or title of any item; (c) the failure of any Buyer or Seller to complete a transaction; (d) losses arising from internet outages, payment system failures, or force majeure events; or (e) indirect, incidental, or consequential losses of any kind.

9.4 Nothing in these Terms limits Yebirr's liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

10.1 The "Yebirr" name, logo, branding, and all original content on the Platform are the exclusive intellectual property of Yebirr Technologies PLC and are protected under Ethiopian copyright and trademark law.

10.2 By submitting listing content (text, photographs, descriptions), Sellers grant Yebirr a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, display, and reproduce such content for the purposes of operating, promoting, and improving the Platform.

10.3 Users may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any Platform content without prior written consent from Yebirr.

11.1 Yebirr may suspend or permanently terminate a User account, with or without notice, for: (a) material breach of these Terms; (b) fraudulent, illegal, or abusive conduct; (c) failure to complete two or more auction settlements within a rolling twelve-month period; or (d) any conduct that Yebirr reasonably determines harms the Platform or its Users.

11.2 Upon termination, any unlocked wallet funds will be returned to the User net of any outstanding fees, forfeited Bid Bonds, and penalties, subject to a reconciliation period of up to thirty (30) business days.

11.3 Users may request account deletion at any time by contacting contact@yebirr.com. Outstanding obligations (active bids, pending settlements) must be resolved before an account can be deleted.

12.1 Yebirr reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated to registered Users via Telegram notification and/or email at least seven (7) days before the changes take effect.

12.2 Continued use of the Platform following the effective date of any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

12.3 The current version of the Terms is always available at https://yebirr.com/terms.

For questions regarding these Terms, please contact us: