Answers to what customers usually ask before ordering.
You fill out our order form with the item(s) you want, including the store price for each — the form automatically calculates your estimated total and the 30% advance payment required to submit. You pay that advance via bank transfer and upload your receipt as part of the form. Once submitted, we source your item(s) at the best price and confirm the final cost with you — any difference from your estimate is settled in your remaining balance.
Our Shop is a set of items we already have on hand — you pick, pay in full, and get it same-day in Addis Ababa or handed to a courier if you're outside it, no 30% advance or 2-week batch wait involved. A custom order (the form above) is for anything else sold in the USA that we don't currently stock — we source it for you on your usual sourcing/batch timeline.
Sold-out Shop listings show a gold "Reorder" button in place of the normal buy option. Tapping it starts a fresh sourcing request for that exact item at its last-listed price (which may have changed slightly by the time we re-source it) — it follows our standard sourcing timeline and advance-payment terms rather than the Shop's instant checkout.
Almost anything sold in the USA: clothing, shoes, jewelry, household essentials, books, toys, appliances, beauty and personal care, baby care, vitamins and supplements, small electronics, phones, laptops, and more. If you're not sure, just ask.
Standard items are priced by weight, with a lower rate per kg the more your order weighs — so bigger orders get a better price, not just the same flat rate. Laptops, tablets, and phones get a flat fee based on device type and condition (used/new) instead, since they don't fit the per-weight model — see Pricing for exact amounts. The item's own cost is always separate and billed at the exact price shown by the retailer, with no markup.
If you're packing close to a full checked suitcase (around 50 lb / 22.5 kg), ask about our flat full-luggage rate — it's often cheaper than the per-kg price at that weight. You can see exact numbers for your own order's weight using our instant estimate calculator.
Payment in USD is preferred where possible. If you're paying in ETB, we convert using the actual daily bank selling rate (which includes standard bank commissions and fees). This rate changes daily.
A 30% advance payment is required before you submit your order — it's calculated automatically from the store price you enter for each item, right there on the order form. This advance is non-refundable once paid, since it's collected before we begin any sourcing work, based on your own estimate. Final pricing (service fee, taxes, and any difference from your estimate) is confirmed once we source your item and settled in your remaining balance.
Orders are grouped into batches, which typically stay open for about 2 weeks before closing — once a batch closes, everything in it is purchased together, and standard delivery typically takes an additional 2–4 weeks from that closing date, not from when you place your order. Batch open/close dates are announced on our Telegram channel, so join there to see current deadlines. If you need it faster, two paid options skip the batch entirely: Rush (about 7–10 business days) and Nina Express (about 3–5 business days), both priced by weight — see the calculator for your order's exact fee.
Delivery fees are calculated from Mesqel Square as our central reference point: free within 2 km, ETB 500 for 2–10 km, and ETB 1,500 for 10–20 km. Beyond 20 km, deliveries are handled through a third-party courier service.
Deliveries outside Addis Ababa are handled through a third-party courier service.
Any customs duties, taxes, or fees applied by Ethiopian customs are the customer's responsibility and separate from our service fee. These vary by item, so we're not able to predict or control them in advance.
Since we carry orders in checked airline luggage, loss or damage caused by the airline is unfortunately outside our control. If this happens, we'll help you file a claim with the airline, though we can't guarantee compensation beyond what the airline provides.
It's optional but genuinely helpful — a photo or screenshot of exactly what you want (size, color, model) helps us source the right item faster and avoid mix-ups.
Your advance payment is based on the estimate calculated at submission — the final price is confirmed once we actually source the item, and we never make the purchase without settling that final price with you first. If the item goes out of stock or its price changes before we buy it, we'll reach out with updated options; any difference from your original estimate is reflected in your remaining balance.
Yes. Your name, contact info, delivery address, and any photos you provide are used only to process and fulfill your order, and are never sold or shared with third parties beyond what's needed to complete your delivery.
Not at the moment — in-store sourcing is paused indefinitely. All orders are sourced from online stores for now.
We ship exactly what you order — the same item, size, color, and specifications you confirm with us before we buy anything. Since we're sourcing on your behalf rather than making the product ourselves, we're not able to guarantee your satisfaction with the item itself once it matches what was confirmed. We recommend double-checking sizing charts and product details before confirming your order, especially for clothing and shoes.
If it's a mistake on our end — the wrong item was sourced, or it was damaged in our handling — we'll make it right at no extra cost. Please report any issue within 48 hours of delivery with photos so we can verify and resolve it quickly.
Once an item has been purchased and shipped, returns follow the original retailer's own policy. International return shipping is often impractical and costly, so we can't guarantee a return is possible after an item has left the USA — please double-check sizing and details before confirming your order.
Message us on WhatsApp or Telegram with your order details and photos of the issue within 48 hours of delivery, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Message us on WhatsApp or Telegram (the floating buttons on every page go straight there), call +251-92-919-4227, or use our Contact page.
