Help Centre

Handsy is a South African marketplace that connects artisans and crafters with buyers looking for unique handmade products. Handsy is a venue only — every sale is a contract between you and the other party. Handsy never receives, holds, or distributes buyer funds.

You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of South Africa. By creating an account you confirm that you meet these requirements and will follow South African law, including the Consumer Protection Act and POPIA.

Open Sign up from the footer or the account menu, enter your name, email, and a strong password, then verify your email. You can also sign in later from /auth/login. One person may only hold one Handsy account.

Check spam and promotions folders, then use the resend option on the verify-email page. Make sure you typed the address correctly. If it still does not arrive, open a support ticket or email support@handsy.co.za.

On the sign-in page choose Forgot password, enter your email, and follow the reset link we send. Choose a new password you have not used elsewhere. If the link expires, request a new one.

MFA adds a second step after your password, usually a code from an authenticator app. You can turn it on under Account → Security. We recommend MFA for every seller account and for anyone who stores payment details.

Go to Account → Edit profile to update your display name, photo, and contact details. Sellers also have a Store page under Seller → Store for shop name, banner, logo, and public description.

Yes. The site is built for mobile browsers. You can browse, checkout, message sellers, and manage orders from your phone. Add Handsy to your home screen for quicker access.

Use Search, browse categories from the home page or footer, or open a seller shop. You can filter by location, category, and keywords. View counts on product cards show how often a listing has been viewed.

Open a product, choose quantity and any options, then Add to cart. When you are ready, open Cart and proceed to Checkout. You must be signed in, have a delivery address (for physical items), and confirm the order.

No. Handsy never receives, holds, or controls buyer funds and does not run escrow. You pay the seller directly. At checkout, choose Pay by card when the shop shows Pay fast & securely, or Pay by EFT to the seller’s verified bank account. Wallet credits are not for product orders — they are for Handsy platform features such as promotions.

At checkout, choose Pay by card when the shop shows Pay fast & securely. After you place the order, card checkout starts immediately. Complete the secure checkout and return to Handsy. Card-paid orders can mark as paid automatically. If that does not happen, stay on the order and try card again, or choose Pay by EFT instead.

Choose Pay by EFT at checkout. Open the order page or invoice for the seller’s bank name, account holder, account number, and branch code, plus any custom payment instructions. Use the reference shown. Attach proof and mark as sent so the seller can confirm. Keep proof of payment.

Pay at checkout. Card payments can mark the order paid automatically. For EFT, attach proof and mark as sent; the seller confirms once they see the funds. You will get an in-app notification and email when payment is confirmed.

Open the order and choose the invoice / print option. The invoice includes the store banner and logo (when the seller has set them), full banking details, buyer and seller addresses, order number, and invoice date. Use Print / Save as PDF in the invoice window.

Open My orders and select the order. Status moves from placed → confirmed → shipped → delivered (or cancelled). When the seller marks it shipped they can add a tracking number. You will also get email, in-app, and (for key events) SMS updates if you have those channels enabled.

Contact the seller as soon as possible if the order has not shipped. The seller can cancel if they cannot fulfil it. If you cannot agree, open a dispute from the order screen. Refunds of money already paid are arranged directly with the seller — Handsy cannot reverse a seller’s card or EFT payment.

Digital listings are fulfilled by the seller granting access (a file or link) after payment. Return rules can differ once access is granted, but Consumer Protection Act rights still apply if the digital product is defective or misdescribed.

Tap the heart on a product card or product page. Saved items live under Favourites so you can return to them later. Favourites are tied to your account, so sign in first.

No. Wallet credits pay for Handsy platform features (for example promotions or subscriptions). Product orders are paid directly to the seller by card or EFT. Credits never move into a seller’s bank or card account as order funds.

Open the product or shop and start a conversation from Messages. You may share contact details. Handsy recommends completing the sale through the Handsy order system so it is recorded for reviews, disputes, and order history.

Create an account, open Seller onboarding, and set up your shop (name, banner, logo, description). Add bank details under Seller → Payments so buyers can pay you. Then create listings from Seller → Products. A Free plan lets you list up to 3 products.

Handmade and craft products that you are legally allowed to sell in South Africa. Listings must be accurate, including photos, price, and whether the item is shipped or a digital download. You may not list illegal goods, counterfeit items, or anything that infringes someone else’s intellectual property.

Go to Seller → Products → New, choose a physical item or digital download, then add photos, title, description, category, price, stock, and shipping options. Save as a draft or publish. Your listing count is limited by your subscription tier.

Open Seller → Payments and enter bank name, account holder, account number, and branch code. Buyers see these details on invoices so they can pay you by EFT. Keep details accurate — wrong banking information delays payment and can cause disputes.

Open Seller → Store and upload a logo and banner. These appear on your public shop and on invoices buyers print or save as PDF. Use clear, high-resolution images that represent your brand.

Buyers pay you directly by card (when you turn on card payments) or by EFT. Handsy does not collect the sale amount. Card-paid orders can mark as paid automatically. For EFT, mark the order as paid only after the money is in your account.

Yes. Card payments are free on every plan. Open Seller → Card payments to add a payment link or connect card checkout. Buyers then see Pay fast & securely on your shop and listings. The buyer still pays you, not Handsy. Card fees charged by your payment provider are between you and that provider.

Seller → Store covers name, bio, logo, banner, and (on eligible plans) website, WhatsApp, and social links. Weekend deal catalogues are available from Seller → Catalogues. Keep your shop information honest and up to date.

You may post external character or customer references. You must have the referee’s consent to share their name, testimonial, and any contact details (POPIA). Do not invent references. Handsy does not verify them; they are labelled as not verified.

Coupons and promotional tools are available on Growth and above (see Subscription Plans). Under Seller → Discount codes you can create shareable promo codes, and on Growth+ you can send a thank-you coupon after payment that is redeemable only on your products for the buyer’s next order. Promotions sit under Seller → Promotions. Discount amounts appear on the order and invoice.

Five monthly plans: Free (R0, 3 listings), Starter (R50, 20 listings), Growth (R120, 50 listings), Pro (R200, 100 listings), and Business (R350, unlimited listings). Handsy does not take a commission on sales. Subscription fees pay for platform features only.

A shop profile, up to 3 listings, buyer messaging, weekend deal catalogues, on-sale prices and drafts, standard search visibility, and card payments (payment link or card checkout). Bank details and invoices still work on Free.

Everything on Free, up to 20 listings, and improved search visibility so your shop is easier to find.

Up to 50 listings, next-order thank-you coupons for your shop, promotional tools, basic analytics, bulk import (up to 200 rows), website / WhatsApp / social links, and higher visibility. Card payments are already included on every plan.

Up to 100 listings, next-order thank-you coupons, a full analytics dashboard, featured seller badge, priority messaging, priority support, bulk import (up to 500 rows), and higher visibility. Card payments are already included on every plan.

Unlimited listings, everything on Pro including next-order thank-you coupons, plus team members, inventory sync (Shopify, WooCommerce, API), unlimited import, and top visibility.

Open Seller → Subscriptions, choose a new tier, or cancel so you return to Free at the end of the current billing period. Downgrades take effect after the period you have already paid for. If you drop below a listing limit, unpublished extra listings until you are within the new cap.

No. Subscription fees are for platform access during the billing period and are not refunded if you cancel mid-cycle. See Seller Subscription Terms for full billing rules.

No. Handsy does not take a commission on sales. You keep the full sale amount the buyer pays you. The only platform charges are optional subscriptions, credits, or promotions you choose to buy.

Placed (buyer checked out) → Confirmed (seller accepted) → Shipped (seller sent the parcel and may add tracking) → Delivered. An order can also be Cancelled. Payment status (unpaid / paid) is separate from fulfilment status.

Open Seller → Orders, select the order, and update status to Confirmed when you can fulfil it. The buyer is notified by in-app bell, email, and SMS (if enabled). Confirm only if you can actually supply the item.

Open the order. A Payment card shows Mark payment received (or Confirm payment received if the buyer already marked it sent). Use it only after the funds appear in your account — including payment-page card payouts. Automatic card checkout can mark paid on its own. Never confirm from a screenshot alone if you have not seen the money.

When you hand the parcel to a courier or the buyer, update status to Shipped (add a tracking number if you have one) or Delivered. Buyers get email, in-app, and SMS updates. You can also bulk-mark selected orders as shipped from the orders list.

Yes. On Seller → Orders, Export pick list downloads the selected rows (including buyer address, tracking, and payment status). Export all downloads every order in the current filter with order number, invoice number, amounts, statuses, and addresses.

Buyers and sellers get in-app notifications for the full lifecycle. Transactional email covers placed, confirmed, shipped (with tracking), delivered, cancelled, and payment confirmed. SMS is used for critical events when the user has SMS enabled in notification preferences.

Buyers need the full account number to pay by EFT. The invoice also shows store branding, both addresses, invoice number, and any custom payment instructions the seller set. Print or save it as PDF for your records.

If you paid by card, the order can mark as paid automatically. If it does not, stay on the order and try card again, or message the seller. For EFT, message the seller with your proof of payment and order number and allow a reasonable time for the bank to clear. If there is still no response, open a dispute from the order. Handsy can help with the recorded order but cannot reverse a seller’s card or EFT payment.

You may talk and pay off-platform, but independently arranged sales are not recorded as Handsy orders. Marketplace support, reviews, and disputes may not be available for those sales. Asking someone to skip or hide a Handsy order to avoid the recorded system is not allowed.

The seller. Handsy is not the courier. Sellers set shipping options and costs on listings and in Seller → Shipping. Buyers pay shipping as shown at checkout unless the listing is digital or collection-only.

Open Seller → Shipping (and courier settings if you use them). Define rates, collection options, and any courier preferences. Each listing should state whether it is shipped, collected, or a digital download.

When you mark an order as Shipped, enter the courier tracking number. It is stored on the order, included in the buyer’s shipped email and SMS, and appears on order exports.

Sellers can offer collection where they have set it up. The buyer and seller agree a collection point and time through the order and messages. Record the arrangement on the order notes so both sides have a trail.

Photograph the packaging and product, contact the seller immediately, and open a dispute if you cannot resolve it. Couriers have their own claims processes; the seller usually lodges those. CPA remedies for defective or damaged goods still apply.

Lead times are set by the seller on the listing. Handmade items may need making time plus courier time. If a seller misses the stated timeframe, message them first, then use the dispute process if needed.

No. Sellers may use any lawful courier or deliver themselves. Some plans include courier tools. Always give the buyer a tracking number when the courier provides one.

Contact the seller first with photos and a clear description. Follow the seller’s published return policy and this platform’s Return & Refund Policy. Change-of-mind returns are at the seller’s discretion unless the CPA or their policy says otherwise.

Goods must be safe, of good quality, and fit for purpose. Defective or misdescribed goods may be returned within 6 months for repair, replacement, or refund (CPA s56). Direct-marketing purchases may have a 5-business-day cooling-off right (CPA s16), with exceptions for consumed or custom-specified goods. Seller policies cannot take these rights away.

Open the order and choose Raise a dispute, or go to Disputes. Describe the issue and attach evidence (photos, proof of payment, messages). Handsy may ask both parties for more information and suggest a fair outcome consistent with the CPA.

Both parties can reply on the dispute thread. Provide evidence promptly. Handsy may recommend repair, replacement, partial refund, or full refund. Because Handsy does not hold the money, any refund is paid by the seller to the buyer.

No. Handsy never holds buyer funds, so it cannot reverse, refund, or recover a payment made to a seller (card or EFT). Refunds are between buyer and seller. Handsy’s role is to record the order and facilitate the dispute process.

Open Support (or Help Centre → Still need help) and create a ticket under general, orders, payments, or account. You can also email support@handsy.co.za. For privacy questions use privacy@handsy.co.za.

You may contact the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO) or the National Consumer Commission (NCC). For suspected fraud, report it to the South African Police Service. Handsy will cooperate with lawful investigations.

Once access is granted, change-of-mind returns may be limited. CPA rights still apply if the file is defective, incomplete, or not as described. Sellers should state any limits clearly on the listing.

An automated, opinion-based metric based on orders, reviews, disputes, verification, and similar behaviour. It can affect visibility and perks. Negative events may stay pending for 48 hours before they fully affect your public score. You can view your ledger and appeal with evidence in-app.

Open Trust Score in your account, find the event, and submit an appeal with evidence (waybill, chat screenshot, proof of delivery). If we cannot resolve it, you may take the matter to the CGSO or NCC.

ID, address, or bank confirmation means the seller supplied documents that appeared valid at the time of checking. It is not a guarantee of honesty, quality, or future performance. Buyers should still use reviews, messages, and their own judgement before paying.

Open Seller → Verification and follow the steps for ID, proof of address, and bank details. Uploaded files are stored privately during review and destroyed once you are verified (POPIA). An approved selfie may be kept as your profile photo.

Use the in-app Report flow on the product, shop, or conversation. Provide facts and evidence. Handsy acts on credible reports (remove listings, suspend accounts) but does not pre-screen every listing.

After a recorded Handsy order is completed, buyers can leave a review. Reviews help other shoppers. Fake reviews, review manipulation, or harassment in review text are against the Code of Conduct.

Open Notifications / Account settings to choose email, in-app bell, and SMS for different event types. Critical order events are emailed by default. SMS is used for high-priority updates when you have a verified number and SMS enabled.

Open Account settings and request deletion, or contact support. We retain some records as required by law (for example dispute history). Seller verification files are already destroyed after approval. Inactive accounts are typically removed after 3 years of no activity.

Email privacy@handsy.co.za or open a support ticket. You may request access, correction, deletion, or a portable copy of your personal information. Complaints can also go to the Information Regulator (informationregulator.org.za). Our POPIA officer is at compliance@handsy.co.za.

Handsy uses essential cookies for sign-in and preferences, and limited analytics to improve the product. We do not use third-party advertising cookies. See the Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy for details.

Yes. Households, offices, campuses, and mobile networks often share a public IP. A shared IP alone is not a ban. What is not allowed is one person holding multiple Handsy accounts.