Welcome to Groply (operated at https://groply.shop, hereinafter referred to as "Groply", "we", "us", or "the Platform"). By visiting, registering for, accessing, or utilizing any feature of the Groply marketplace, digital QR storefronts, or WhatsApp AI Business Manager, you enter into a legally binding agreement governed by these Terms of Service.
01. Acceptance of Terms & Eligibility
To access or utilize Groply, you must be at least eighteen (18) years of age or possess legal capacity under the laws of Cameroon or your country of residence to enter into a binding contract.
By clicking "Sign Up", "Open Store", "Start Free Trial", or continuing to browse our marketplace and storefronts, you confirm that you have read, understood, and consented to these Terms of Service and our incorporated Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to every provision herein, you must immediately cease all access to Groply.
02. Description of Services & AI Automation
Groply provides an integrated commerce ecosystem and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform tailored for digital trade in Cameroon and Central Africa:
- 1-to-1 Autonomous WhatsApp AI Sales Closer: An intelligent conversational agent that links to your verified WhatsApp business profile, ingests your product catalog, provides 24/7 product recommendations, answers customer inquiries in French, English, and Cameroonian Pidgin, and drafts structured checkout slips.
- Verified Digital QR Storefronts: High-speed mobile web storefronts generated under custom vanity URLs (e.g.
groply.shop/your-store) equipped with high-resolution vector QR codes for offline marketing.
- Centralized Public Marketplace: A localized consumer discovery portal highlighting vetted Cameroonian merchants across Douala, YaoundΓ©, Bamenda, Buea, Bafoussam, Kribi, and Limbe.
03. Accounts, Security & Merchant Standards
When creating a Shopper Profile or Merchant Dashboard account on Groply, you represent and warrant that:
- All registration information provided (including store name, WhatsApp phone number, city, and email) is authentic, accurate, and kept up-to-date.
- You are solely responsible for safeguarding your login credentials, passwords, and API authorization tokens. You must immediately notify Groply at contact@groply.shop upon suspecting any unauthorized breach of your account.
- Merchants maintain complete responsibility for the accuracy of their product descriptions, stated stock levels, pricing accuracy in FCFA (XAF), and advertised delivery timeframes.
04. Merchant Identity Verification, Anti-Scam Protection & Law Enforcement Disclosure
To foster buyer trust, eliminate fraudulent scams, and comply with Law No. 2010/012 on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime and Law No. 2010/013 on Electronic Commerce in Cameroon, merchants seeking verified status and WhatsApp AI sales agent activation must complete identity verification:
- Required Documentation: Merchants must submit (1) a clear photograph of a valid, unexpired government-issued or institutional identification (National ID Card / CNI Cameroun, Passport, Driver's License, Valid Student/School ID, or Taxpayer ID / NIU), and (2) a clear, unaltered selfie photograph holding that same ID card next to their face.
- Gating & Trust Badges: Unverified stores may create catalogs and showcase products, but the official green/gold "Verified Merchant" trust badge and WhatsApp AI Sales Agent automated connection are strictly granted only upon admin approval of authentic verification documents.
- Fortified Secure Storage: Verification documents and audit records are preserved in a fortified, government-grade encrypted storage environment with strict restricted access. Verification images are never published, shared, sold, or publicly indexed.
- Mandatory Law Enforcement Disclosure (Anti-Scam Protocol): In the event of reported customer scams, counterfeit merchandise, or fraudulent conduct, Groply preserves and will transmit all merchant identity records, selfie captures, registration IP addresses, and transaction audit trails directly to competent law enforcement authorities (including the National Gendarmerie Cybercrime Division / SED and the DGSN Police Judiciaire) to facilitate swift criminal investigation and customer restitution.
- Zero Liability for Off-Platform Transactions: Groply serves as a commerce infrastructure and directory provider. Any transactions concluded outside official Groply escrow or settled directly between buyer and seller are peer-to-peer agreements for which Groply assumes zero financial liability. Buyers are advised to inspect all goods upon delivery prior to making payment.
05. SaaS Subscriptions, Free Onboarding & MoMo Billing
Groply provides straightforward, transparent SaaS subscription tiers for business operators:
- Tier 1 β Starter Storefront: 100% Free to Start (0 FCFA upfront), then 5,000 FCFA / month (or 48,000 FCFA / year). Includes full digital QR storefront, unlimited catalog, and direct WhatsApp order generation.
- Tier 1B β WhatsApp AI Assistant Only: 5,000 FCFA / month (or 48,000 FCFA / year) with free initial trial setup. Designed for clinics, schools, consultants, and service businesses requiring 24/7 automated replies without product catalogs.
- Tier 2 β Storefront + 24/7 AI Sales Closer Bundle: 7,500 FCFA / month (or 72,000 FCFA / year) with free initial trial setup. Includes complete digital storefront, automated inventory lookup, voice-note transcription, and smart cart recovery.
- Tier 3 β Enterprise Growth Partner: Tailored bespoke quote for multi-branch retail chains, ERP synchronizations, and dedicated account management.
π‘ Zero Unwanted Charges & MoMo Invoicing
Groply does not silently rebill credit cards or deduct hidden fees. All subscription renewals are initiated via MTN Mobile Money or Orange Money merchant payment prompts upon invoice notification. You may upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your subscription at any time without penalty.
07. 0% Transaction Commission & MoMo Payments Disclaimer
Groply charges 0% transaction commission on orders placed through merchant storefronts or WhatsApp. 100% of customer payments made via MTN Mobile Money, Orange Money, or Cash on Delivery go directly to the merchant's designated account.
- Peer-to-Merchant Payments: When a buyer checks out, Groply facilitates the transmission of order summaries and official MoMo payment details. Groply is not a banking institution or custodial wallet provider.
- Fulfillment & Returns: The merchant is solely responsible for packaging, shipping, inspecting, and delivering ordered merchandise. All return/exchange guarantees (including standard 7-day replacement policies) are fulfilled directly by the merchant.
08. Prohibited Goods, Cybercrime Laws & Content Standards
In accordance with Law No. 2010/012 on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime and Law No. 2010/013 governing Electronic Commerce in Cameroon, the sale, advertisement, or promotion of the following items is strictly prohibited on Groply:
- Counterfeit branded merchandise, pirated software, or intellectual property infringements.
- Illegal drugs, narcotics, unapproved prescription pharmaceuticals, and controlled chemicals.
- Firearms, munitions, military contraband, and hazardous explosives.
- Stolen property, fraudulent financial schemes, pyramid schemes, or unregistered lottery services.
- Pornography, sexually explicit services, or human trafficking material.
Groply reserves the unconditional right to suspend, freeze, or remove any store listing or merchant found violating these legal prohibitions and report such violations to the National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ANTIC) or competent law enforcement authorities.
09. Intellectual Property & Data Ownership
- Merchant Content: You retain 100% ownership of your trademarks, business logos, product imagery, and uploaded descriptions. You grant Groply a non-exclusive license to host, display, and index this content across the marketplace and search feeds.
- Groply Platform IP: The Groply logo, brand identity, user interface designs, AI orchestration architecture, source code, and documentation remain the exclusive intellectual property of Groply. You agree not to decompile, reverse-engineer, mirror, or unlawfully extract platform components.
10. Service Availability & Warranty Disclaimers
Groply is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. While we maintain a 99.9% target uptime backed by enterprise VPS infrastructure, we do not warrant that:
- The platform will be entirely error-free or uninterrupted during external network disruptions (such as telecommunications downtime, Meta Graph API outages, or cloud hosting maintenance).
- AI assistant responses will always be infallible. Merchants are responsible for configuring accurate product pricing, stock numbers, and reviewing order logs.
11. Limitation of Liability & Indemnification
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law in the Republic of Cameroon, Groply and its affiliates, directors, and developers shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages resulting from:
- Commercial disputes between buyers and sellers regarding product quality or delayed courier deliveries.
- Temporary suspension of third-party WhatsApp accounts caused by merchant breach of Meta policies.
- Lost revenue, missed sales opportunities, or data loss arising from unauthorized account access where the merchant failed to maintain credential secrecy.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Groply from any third-party claims, legal fees, or administrative sanctions arising from your violation of these Terms or applicable laws.
12. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution
These Terms of Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Cameroon, including OHADA Uniform Acts where applicable.
Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms shall first be submitted to good-faith amicable settlement. If unresolved within thirty (30) days, the dispute shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of Douala, Cameroon.