Merch Store FAQ
Quick answers to the questions buyers and sellers ask most often about the Vwaza Merch Store.
For sellers
Who can sell merch on Vwaza?
Approved Vwaza Creators (Solo Creators and Group Members) with at least one published audio release on Vwaza Music and a verified Malawian National ID. See Getting Started.
How long does seller approval take?
Most KYC applications are reviewed within 2 to 5 business days.
What is the commission?
A flat 15% on the gross item value of every order. Shipping fees are not charged commission.
When do I get paid?
Bi-weekly, on the 1st and 15th of each month at 08:00 UTC. Each payout aggregates every order whose 14-day dispute window has cleared.
Can I sell digital products?
Yes. Use the Digital Downloads category and turn off the physical-shipping flag on the product.
For buyers
How do I pay?
Mobile money (Airtel Money, TNM Mpamba, M-Pesa, MTN MoMo, etc. via PawaPay) or Visa/Mastercard via PayChangu.
Can I pay in MWK?
Yes. Prices are stored in USD but converted at checkout to your selected currency, including MWK, using today's exchange rate.
Is my money safe?
Yes. Vwaza holds your payment in escrow until 14 days after the seller marks the order as Shipped. We can refund you directly during that window.
How long do I have to return something?
10 business days from the date of delivery. After that, returns are not accepted through Vwaza.
Can I cancel an order?
Yes, at any time before the seller marks it as Shipped. The cancellation is automatic and you receive a full refund.
Payments and currency
Why are prices in USD?
USD is the source-of-truth currency for all Vwaza prices. This keeps earnings predictable for sellers and lets buyers pay in their preferred local currency at today's rate.
Are there extra fees on top of the price?
The buyer sees the item price, the seller's flat shipping fee, and any provider-side fees added by their mobile money operator. Vwaza does not add a separate buyer fee.
Shipping
Does Vwaza ship internationally?
Each seller picks the countries they ship to. Many Malawian sellers start with Malawi only. Some ship across SADC; a few ship globally. Open a seller's store page to see what they support.
Why can't I check out?
The most likely reason is that the seller does not currently ship to your country. You will see a message at checkout confirming this.
How is shipping calculated?
Each seller sets one flat shipping fee in USD that applies per order, regardless of how many items you buy from them.
Refunds
How do I request a refund?
Open the order in your account or via the public tracking page, click Request return, pick a reason, and submit. Support reviews within 2-3 business days.
Will I get my shipping fee back?
If the refund is the seller's fault (item never arrived, damaged, wrong, etc.), yes. If you simply changed your mind, no: the original shipping fee is not refunded and you also pay return shipping.
How long do refunds take to arrive?
Mobile money refunds are usually instant once approved. Card refunds typically take 5-10 business days to appear on your statement.
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