Powered by Vesicash

Escrow
Agreement

Last updated: January 15, 2026. This Escrow Agreement governs the escrow services provided for all transactions on Amana Marketplace through our partnership with Vesicash.

1. Vesicash Partnership

Amana Marketplace partners with Vesicash, a licensed escrow service provider, to hold and manage transaction funds on behalf of buyers and sellers. Vesicash operates under applicable financial regulations and maintains funds in regulated trust accounts separate from operational funds.

By using Amana Marketplace, you agree to the terms of this Escrow Agreement and acknowledge that Vesicash acts as a neutral third party in the escrow process. Vesicash is not a party to the sale between buyer and seller — it solely holds and disburses funds according to the conditions set forth in this agreement.

The escrow service is provided automatically for all transactions on Amana Marketplace. There is no opt-out from escrow protection — this is a fundamental feature of the Platform designed to protect all parties.

2. Fund Holding

When a buyer completes a purchase on Amana Marketplace:

  • The full transaction amount (product price + shipping costs) is transferred to a Vesicash escrow account
  • Funds are held in a regulated trust account at a licensed commercial bank
  • Escrow funds are segregated from Amana's and Vesicash's operational accounts
  • Neither Amana nor Vesicash may use escrow funds for their own purposes
  • The seller is notified that funds are in escrow and can proceed with order fulfillment
  • Both buyer and seller can view the escrow status in their respective dashboards at all times

Funds are held in the transaction currency. For cross-border transactions, currency conversion occurs at the point of disbursement using the prevailing exchange rate at that time.

3. Release Conditions

Funds are released to the seller when:

  • The buyer explicitly confirms satisfaction with the delivered order through the Platform
  • The 72-hour inspection window expires after confirmed delivery without the buyer opening a dispute
  • A dispute is resolved in the seller's favor by the Amana dispute resolution team
  • A partial refund is agreed/determined — the remaining amount is released to the seller

Funds are returned to the buyer when:

  • The seller fails to ship within the agreed timeframe (typically 5–7 business days after escrow confirmation)
  • A dispute is resolved in the buyer's favor with a full refund determination
  • The seller cancels the order before shipment
  • A partial refund is agreed/determined — the partial amount is returned to the buyer

Automatic release:

If the buyer does not confirm receipt or open a dispute within 72 hours of confirmed delivery (as determined by carrier tracking data), the funds are automatically released to the seller. This automatic release mechanism protects sellers from indefinite fund holds.

4. Dispute Triggers & Escrow Holds

When a dispute is opened, the escrow hold is extended until the dispute is resolved. A dispute can be triggered by:

  • Buyer reports product not as described
  • Buyer reports product damaged in transit
  • Buyer reports wrong item delivered
  • Buyer reports missing items from order
  • Buyer reports product not delivered (despite tracking showing delivery)
  • Seller reports suspicious buyer behavior

During a dispute, funds remain securely in escrow. Neither party can access the funds until the dispute is resolved. The dispute resolution process follows the procedures described in our Dispute Resolution page.

Resolution timeline: Most disputes are resolved within 3–5 business days. Complex cases involving cross-border returns or high-value items may take up to 10 business days.

5. Fee Structure

The escrow service fee is included in Amana Marketplace's standard commission. There are no additional escrow fees charged to either buyers or sellers.

Fee Breakdown

  • Buyer escrow fee$0 (included in product price)
  • Seller commission (includes escrow)5–8% per transaction
  • Currency conversion1.5% markup on mid-market rate
  • Dispute filing$0 (free for both parties)

Premium sellers may qualify for reduced commission rates. See Seller Guidelines for tier details.

6. Liability

Amana's Role: Amana Marketplace operates the platform and facilitates the escrow process. Amana is responsible for the dispute resolution process and for communicating escrow instructions to Vesicash.

Vesicash's Role: Vesicash holds and disburses funds according to the instructions received from Amana based on transaction outcomes. Vesicash is responsible for the security and regulatory compliance of fund custody.

Limitations: Neither Amana nor Vesicash is liable for:

  • The quality, safety, or legality of items sold on the Platform
  • Delays in payment processing caused by third-party payment providers or banks
  • Currency exchange rate fluctuations between the time of purchase and fund release
  • Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from escrow-related delays

Force Majeure: Neither party shall be liable for delays or failure to perform due to circumstances beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, government actions, bank failures, or internet infrastructure failures.

7. Governing Law

This Escrow Agreement is governed by the laws of the Republic of Kenya. Any disputes related to the escrow service shall be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures outlined in our Terms of Use.

Questions about escrow? Contact escrow@amanamarket.com.

See also: How Escrow Works · Buyer Protection · Terms of Use