How ZWPRICE uses marketplace data

ZWPRICE collects buyer requests, supplier profiles, quote details, messages, contact details, location details, uploaded or submitted evidence, account data, transaction outcomes, billing records, dispute notes, device or log data, and WhatsApp conversation metadata.

If you use WhatsApp, email, or another messaging channel, ZWPRICE may process the phone number, message content, timestamps, delivery status, and conversation context needed to operate the request flow.

WhatsApp is run by Meta Platforms, which processes your phone number and the content of messages sent through it on our behalf. Order updates are sent on WhatsApp only if you turn them on under Account and confirm the number by sending us a short code from it. We record that number, the date you confirmed it and any later change or opt-out (including replying STOP), so we can show you agreed. You can turn them off at any time; order emails continue either way.

Quotes are shown only to signed-in buyers. When you sign in with a one-time code, ZWPRICE stores your email address, when you signed in, and a scrambled (hashed) copy of the code with its expiry and the number of attempts. The code itself is not stored and stops working after 10 minutes or once used. We also keep the network address that asked for each code with that record, to limit abuse. These records are deleted after 30 days.

When you sign in from a request’s private link, that request is added to your account. Other requests are added only if you already confirmed this same email on them with a code. Your account is used to show you your requests and quotes and to let suppliers you choose reach you; it is not used for marketing unless you agree.

When a buyer issues a purchase order, ZWPRICE stores the order: what is bought, quantities, prices, delivery address, dates, terms, notes, the buyer’s name and contact details as printed on the order, the supplier’s name, every agreed version, and who did what and when. The supplier’s payment instructions (for example a mobile-money number or bank account) are stored with the order when the supplier accepts it.

When a supplier that has quoted on ZWPRICE signs in with a code sent to the email on its supplier profile, that sign-in is linked to the profile so it can answer orders, and we email that address to say so. Businesses we found online are never linked this way.

When buyer and supplier record payments on an order, ZWPRICE stores each entry: amounts, the payment method, references (such as an EcoCash or bank reference), dates, reasons given for corrections, who recorded it and when. A buyer or supplier may add a photo or PDF of a receipt; these files are stored privately and opened only through short-lived links. If a payment dispute is raised, ZWPRICE stores what each party says, the evidence they provide and the decision. ZWPRICE does not collect bank, card or mobile-money login details and does not see account statements.

When goods are dispatched and delivered, ZWPRICE stores what the supplier reports (items, quantities, dates, notes), what the buyer confirms or reports as missing, damaged or wrong, and any photos or PDFs either party adds, such as a delivery note. These files are stored privately and opened only through short-lived links. Disputes store each message, file and the decision. If a buyer has not confirmed a delivery, we send reminders by email and ZWPRICE staff may contact them.

The buyer (and colleagues in the buyer’s organisation on ZWPRICE), the supplier the order is addressed to, and ZWPRICE staff can see an order, its payment and delivery records, dispute messages and files. Other suppliers never see them. Order and payment records are kept as transaction records for the retention purposes described below, including after an order is cancelled; they are never edited, so a request to delete them may be refused where the law allows us to keep them for accounting, dispute or audit purposes.

For suppliers, ZWPRICE keeps a record of the success fee on each completed order (the order reference, the goods value, the fee and whether it is due, waived or paid), the monthly statements sent, and payments made to ZWPRICE. Payments through Paynow are handled by Paynow, a Zimbabwean payment provider; ZWPRICE receives the payment reference and status, not card or mobile-money details. These records are kept for at least 7 years for accounting and tax purposes.

We use information to create requests, parse buyer needs, match suppliers, send quote notifications, support manual sourcing, manage supplier accounts, process billing, prevent misuse, investigate disputes, improve market price ranges, and operate trust and safety workflows.

ZWPRICE may use AI or automated tools to classify requests, extract product, quantity, price, delivery, and location details, suggest supplier matches, and identify market price signals. Human review may still be used for support, safety, sourcing, and disputes.

ZWPRICE shares only the information reasonably needed to operate the marketplace. For example, a supplier may receive buyer request details and contact details where needed to quote or fulfil a request, and a buyer may see supplier profile, quote, delivery, and contact details.

We may share operational data with payment providers, communication providers, hosting providers, analytics and security providers, professional advisers, regulators, courts, law enforcement, or other parties where required by law or necessary to protect users and the platform.

To find where people get stuck and which pages are slow, the ZWPRICE website records page visits, when someone starts describing a request, when a request has been created, a few supplier steps (starting and finishing sign-up, opening a request, sending a quote), when a buyer opens the quotes for a request, and how fast pages load. This uses no cookies and no IP addresses: a random identifier is kept only for your browser tab, and page addresses are stored without the private part of any link. If you start a request from that tab (for example by pressing Find suppliers), the visit is linked to that request, even if you never send it. The request holds any contact details you give and, if you are signed in, belongs to your account, so we can see which visits lead to requests and quotes. These records are deleted after 180 days.

If your browser sends a Global Privacy Control or Do Not Track signal, none of this is recorded.

When something breaks, a technical error report may be sent to our error-monitoring provider. Reports are stripped of cookies, contact details, request contents and private links before they leave ZWPRICE.

ZWPRICE may create aggregated or de-identified price, demand, supply, reliability, and market trend data. Aggregated reporting should not expose private buyer contact details.

Individual transaction, quote, and evidence records may still be retained internally where needed to explain trust, price, billing, compliance, fraud, or dispute decisions.

ZWPRICE keeps records for as long as reasonably needed for marketplace operation, legal compliance, fraud prevention, billing, dispute handling, tax, accounting, audit, and safety purposes.

No online service can guarantee perfect security. ZWPRICE uses reasonable operational and technical safeguards, but users should avoid sending unnecessary sensitive information through requests or messages.

You may ask ZWPRICE to correct inaccurate account, request, supplier, or contact information. Some records may be retained where required for transactions, disputes, fraud prevention, audit, or legal compliance.

You may ask to delete your account from the Notifications page while signed in. ZWPRICE completes it within 30 days: your name, email, phone and WhatsApp number are removed from your account and from your requests, sign-in stops working, and a supplier profile stops receiving requests. Purchase orders, statements and payment records you were part of are kept as they were issued, because they are also the other party’s records and may be needed for accounting, disputes or the law.

You may opt out of non-essential marketing messages. Operational messages related to requests, quotes, sourcing, payments, safety, support, or account access may still be sent where needed to provide the service.

Privacy, correction, access, opt-out, or deletion requests can be sent to contact@mathbrooks.com or through the support or account contact channels published by ZWPRICE. ZWPRICE may need to verify the requester before changing or disclosing account, request, supplier, payment, or dispute records.

If a request relates to a live transaction, fraud concern, legal obligation, billing record, or dispute, ZWPRICE may retain the minimum records reasonably needed to handle that matter.

ZWPRICE may use service providers or infrastructure located outside Zimbabwe. Where data is processed across borders, ZWPRICE aims to use it only for the purposes described in this policy and for platform operations.

Third-party payment, communications, hosting, and analytics providers may have their own terms and privacy practices.