📄 Terms & Conditions

Last updated: 19 August 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to UniBuy. UniBuy is a student-focused online marketplace that allows users to discover, list, and communicate about goods offered for sale by other users.

By creating an account, accessing, or using UniBuy, you agree to comply with these Terms & Conditions. If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use UniBuy.

2. The Role of UniBuy

UniBuy provides an online platform that allows buyers and sellers to find one another and communicate regarding potential transactions.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, UniBuy is not the buyer, seller, manufacturer, distributor, owner, or agent of goods listed by users.

Transactions are entered into directly between the relevant buyer and seller. UniBuy does not take ownership of goods listed by users and does not guarantee that a transaction will be completed.

3. User Accounts

Users are responsible for providing information that is accurate, current, and not misleading.

Users must not:

• Create an account using another person's identity.
• Impersonate another user or organisation.
• Create accounts for fraudulent or abusive purposes.
• Attempt to access another user's account without permission.
• Use UniBuy for unlawful, fraudulent, deceptive, or abusive activities.

You are responsible for activity carried out through your account and should take reasonable steps to keep your login information secure.

4. Seller Responsibilities

Sellers are responsible for the accuracy and legality of their listings.

When listing an item, sellers must:

• Have the legal right to sell the item.
• Provide an honest and reasonably accurate description.
• Use genuine photographs or clearly identify illustrative images.
• Disclose significant defects, damage, or missing parts.
• Clearly state the asking price.
• Not falsely claim that an item is genuine, original, new, or in a particular condition.
• Comply with applicable laws relating to the sale of the item.

5. Prohibited Items and Activities

UniBuy may prohibit or remove listings involving goods or activities that are unlawful, unsafe, fraudulent, or inappropriate for the platform.

Users must not use UniBuy to list or facilitate transactions involving:

• Stolen or unlawfully obtained property.
• Counterfeit or unauthorised goods.
• Illegal drugs or controlled substances.
• Weapons or other prohibited items.
• Fraudulent documents, identities, or credentials.
• Goods that the seller is legally prohibited from selling.
• Goods or services intended to facilitate illegal activity.
• Any other goods or services prohibited by UniBuy or applicable law.

UniBuy reserves the right to remove, restrict, or disable a listing that reasonably appears to violate these Terms or applicable law.

6. Buyers

Buyers are responsible for reviewing listings carefully before agreeing to a transaction.

Before completing a transaction, buyers should consider:

• The condition of the item.
• Whether the item matches its description.
• The identity and reliability of the seller.
• The agreed price.
• The payment method.
• The location and method of handover.

Where practical, buyers should inspect an item before making payment or accepting delivery.

7. Transactions Between Users

Unless expressly stated otherwise, UniBuy does not process or control payments, delivery, collection, ownership transfer, refunds, or handover arrangements between users.

Buyers and sellers are responsible for agreeing on the relevant transaction terms, including price, payment method, delivery or collection arrangements, and the condition of the item.

Users remain responsible for complying with all applicable laws relating to their transactions.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or limit any legal right or protection that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under South African law.

8. Safety

Users arrange transactions with other users at their own discretion and should take reasonable precautions.

UniBuy recommends that users:

• Meet in safe, public locations.
• Where possible, meet on campus or in another suitable public area.
• Avoid meeting strangers alone in isolated locations.
• Inspect goods before making payment where practical.
• Avoid sharing unnecessary personal information.
• Be cautious of unusual payment requests or advance-payment scams.
• Report suspicious behaviour, scams, threats, or illegal activity.

9. Communication

UniBuy may provide messaging and communication features to allow users to communicate about listings and transactions.

Users must not use UniBuy to:

• Harass, threaten, intimidate, or abuse another person.
• Send fraudulent or deceptive messages.
• Distribute malicious software or harmful content.
• Send unlawful or prohibited material.
• Spam or repeatedly contact users without a legitimate purpose.
• Attempt to unlawfully obtain passwords, financial information, or personal information.

10. User Content

Users retain ownership of content they lawfully upload to UniBuy, including photographs, descriptions, and other listing material.

By uploading content to UniBuy, you grant UniBuy a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to host, reproduce, display, format, and distribute that content as reasonably necessary to operate, maintain, promote, and improve the platform.

You confirm that you have the necessary rights to upload and use content that you submit to UniBuy.

11. Platform Availability

UniBuy aims to provide a reliable service but does not guarantee that the platform will always be available, uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.

UniBuy may temporarily suspend, modify, restrict, or discontinue features for maintenance, security, technical reasons, legal compliance, or improvements to the service.

12. Disputes Between Users

UniBuy is not ordinarily a party to transactions between buyers and sellers.

Where a dispute arises, the parties should first attempt to resolve the matter directly and respectfully.

UniBuy may review reports concerning fraud, prohibited listings, abuse, or violations of these Terms where reasonably appropriate. However, UniBuy is not required to act as an arbitrator or decide which party is legally entitled to money or property unless required by law.

13. Limitation of Responsibility

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, UniBuy is not responsible for:

• The quality, safety, legality, authenticity, ownership, or condition of goods listed by users.
• The accuracy or completeness of information provided by users.
• The conduct, identity, reliability, or actions of buyers or sellers.
• Payment disputes between users.
• Losses arising from transactions independently arranged between users.
• Personal injury, theft, fraud, or property loss arising from interactions between users, except where UniBuy is legally responsible.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by law.

14. Indemnity

To the extent permitted by applicable law, a user may be responsible for losses, claims, liabilities, costs, or expenses reasonably incurred by UniBuy as a result of that user's unlawful conduct, fraud, intentional misconduct, or material breach of these Terms.

15. Privacy and Personal Information

UniBuy may collect and process personal information necessary to operate the platform, provide services, communicate with users, maintain security, and comply with legal obligations.

UniBuy will process personal information in accordance with applicable South African privacy laws, including the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).

Please refer to the UniBuy Privacy Policy for more information about how personal information is collected, used, stored, and protected.

16. Suspension and Termination

UniBuy may suspend, restrict, or terminate access to an account or listing where reasonably necessary, including where a user:

• Breaches these Terms.
• Engages in fraudulent or unlawful activity.
• Creates a risk to other users or the platform.
• Uploads prohibited goods or content.
• Attempts to compromise the security of UniBuy.
• Uses UniBuy in a manner that may cause harm to UniBuy or its users.

17. Changes to These Terms

UniBuy may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes to the platform, applicable law, security requirements, or business practices.

Where appropriate, material changes may be communicated to users. Updated Terms will be published on UniBuy together with the applicable effective date.

18. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa, subject to any mandatory rights, protections, or remedies available to users under applicable law.

Any dispute concerning these Terms will be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts of South Africa, subject to applicable law.

19. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision will be interpreted or limited to the extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.

20. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the UniBuy Privacy Policy and any other policies expressly incorporated into them, govern your use of UniBuy, subject to any mandatory rights and obligations imposed by applicable law.

21. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or complaints regarding these Terms, a listing, another user, or the operation of UniBuy, please contact us through the Contact Us page.