The problem we kept running into
Online shopping in Nigeria has a trust tax. Buyers send money and hope. Sellers send goods and hope. When something goes wrong — wrong item, late delivery, a vanished vendor — the dispute usually ends in a screenshot war on Twitter and no resolution.
Winipat exists because we got tired of that. Money should sit somewhere safe until both sides have done their part. Sellers should be verified before they can list. And every package should be traceable from pickup to doorstep.
How escrow actually works on Winipat
- Buyer pays via Paystack. Funds land in Winipat's escrow account, not the seller's.
- Seller is notified, accepts, prepares the order, uploads a package photo.
- Logistics partner (you pick: GIG, Sendbox, Kwik) picks up.
- Buyer confirms delivery. A 48-hour protection window starts.
- If no dispute is opened, the seller is paid out (minus a 12% commission).
- If a dispute IS opened, escrow stays frozen until our team reviews evidence from both sides.
Who's actually behind this
Winipat is operated by a small team in Lagos. We answer support emails ourselves. We review every seller application by hand for the first six months — no automated KYC rubber-stamping. If you want to know who reviewed your account, ask in your reply and we'll tell you.
What we won't do
- List sellers we haven't verified (government ID + bank + phone).
- Release escrow before the protection window ends.
- Take a side in a dispute without seeing photo or video evidence.
- Hide our commission. It's 12% on delivered orders, full stop.
- Email you marketing junk. Transactional only.
How to reach us
Email support@winipat.com or use the contact form. We answer Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00 WAT, usually within one business day. For dispute escalations, mention your order number (starts with WNP-) and we'll prioritise.