Community Guidelines

1. Product & Service Listings

Your listings are the first thing buyers see. Well-structured, honest listings build trust, attract serious inquiries, and help you close deals faster.

1.1 What to List

• Specific products or services only. List individual items or defined service offerings — not broad business categories. For example, list "50HP Submersible Pump" rather than "Pumps and Valves."
• Genuine offerings. Every listing must represent a product you currently stock or a service you can genuinely deliver. Do not list items you do not have access to or cannot source within a reasonable timeframe.
• Relevant to B2B. Spronet.ng is an industrial B2B marketplace. Consumer-oriented products with no legitimate industrial application are not permitted.

1.2 What Not to List

• Broad category pages (e.g., "All Types of Pipes", "Generators and Accessories").
• Duplicate or near-identical listings for the same item. If you have different variants, list each variant separately with specific details.
• Listings used as advertising for your company rather than describing a specific product or service.
• Products or services that violate Nigerian law or our Acceptable Use Policy.

1.3 Listing Type

• Choose "Physical Product" for tangible goods (equipment, materials, spare parts, consumables).
• Choose "Professional Service" for service offerings (maintenance, installation, consulting, fabrication).
• Select the correct condition for products: New, Refurbished, Used, or Scrap/For Parts. Misrepresenting the condition of an item is a serious violation.

2. Image Standards

Images are critical for buyer confidence. Every listing should have at least one clear, representative image. Listings without images will have reduced visibility on the Marketplace.

2.1 Required Standards

• At least one image is required for your listing to be publicly visible.
• We recommend a 1:1 square ratio (minimum 800×800px) for the best presentation across all devices.
• Images must accurately represent the actual product or service being offered. Do not use stock photos of a different model, brand, or variant.
• Images should be well-lit, clear, and in focus. Blurry, dark, or heavily filtered images reduce buyer trust.

2.2 What Images Must NOT Contain

Why? Spronet.ng provides dedicated sections for your phone number, email, address, and website on your dealer profile. Embedding contact information in images clutters the marketplace, makes it harder for buyers to compare products, and can facilitate off-platform transactions that bypass the protections we provide to both parties.

2.3 Best Practices for Images

• Show the product from multiple angles when possible.
• Include a reference object or dimensions for scale where relevant.
• For services, upload portfolio images of completed projects, your team at work, or your equipment.
• Use a clean, neutral background when photographing individual products.
• If the product has specific markings, serial numbers, or certifications visible, include a close-up.

3. Titles & Descriptions

3.1 Product Titles

• Be specific. Include the brand, model, size, or key specification. "Caterpillar 320 Excavator" is better than "Excavator."
• One product per title. Do not combine multiple products with "and" or "&" (e.g., avoid "Pumps and Valves" or "Generators & Alternators"). List each item separately.
• Measurement symbols are fine. You may use industry-standard symbols like " (inches), ' (feet), mm, kg, etc.
• No contact information in titles — no phone numbers, emails, or URLs.
• No ALL CAPS. Write titles in normal sentence or title case.

3.2 Descriptions

A good description helps buyers understand exactly what they're getting and reduces back-and-forth questions.

• Focus on the product or service. Describe its features, specifications, condition, capacity, material, and intended use.
• Be honest about condition. If an item is used, describe any wear, defects, or limitations clearly.
• Include technical specifications where relevant: dimensions, power ratings, material grade, certifications, compatibility.
• Mention delivery terms if applicable: lead time, shipping availability, installation included or not.

Our system automatically detects and flags contact information in descriptions. If flagged, you will be asked to revise the content before your listing can be published.

3.3 AI Description Assistant

We provide an AI-powered "Suggest Description" tool to help you write professional product descriptions quickly. Simply enter your product name and category, then click the button — the AI will draft a description based on your product details. You can then review, edit, and expand the suggestion to add your specific details and specifications.

• AI-generated descriptions are suggestions, not final content. Always review and customise before publishing.
• Add your own details — specifications, dimensions, certifications, and delivery information that the AI may not know.
• The AI will never insert contact information into descriptions.

4. Pricing & Availability

• Price honestly. If you include a price, it should reflect the genuine cost. Do not list artificially low prices to attract clicks and then quote a higher price later.
• "Request Quote" is fine. If your pricing depends on quantity, specifications, or delivery location, you may leave the price field blank. Buyers will see a "Request Quote" option instead.
• Specify the unit. Always indicate what the price covers — per piece, per kilogram, per metre, per set, etc.
• Update availability. If a product is sold out or temporarily unavailable, update or remove the listing promptly. Do not leave stale listings active.
• Minimum order quantities (MOQ) should be stated clearly if applicable.

5. Social Feed & Posts

The social feed is your space to share updates, showcase projects, and engage with the industrial community. Use it to build your professional reputation.

5.1 Good Posts

• Product announcements and new stock arrivals
• Project showcases and case studies
• Industry news, insights, and market updates
• Tips, tutorials, and technical knowledge sharing
• Team and company milestones
• Sourcing requests or industry discussions

5.2 Posts to Avoid

• Spam. Repetitive, low-effort promotional posts that add no value.
• Personal content unrelated to business or industry.
• Political, religious, or divisive content that could alienate community members.
• Trolling or deliberately provocative commentary.
• External advertising for products or websites unrelated to industrial B2B.
• Contact information harvesting — do not post asking people to "drop their numbers" or similar.

5.3 Comments

• Keep comments constructive, relevant, and professional.
• Do not hijack someone else's post to promote your own products or services.
• Self-promotion in comment sections may be removed.

6. RFQs & Negotiations

6.1 For Buyers

• Post genuine requests. RFQs must describe a real procurement need. Posting fake RFQs for price research without intent to buy is prohibited.
• Be specific. Include quantity, specifications, delivery location, and timeline. The more detail you provide, the more accurate quotes you'll receive.
• Respond to quotes promptly. Dealers invest time in preparing quotes. Don't leave them waiting without acknowledgment.
• Do not share confidential quote details from one dealer with another to drive down pricing, unless both dealers are aware of the competitive process.

6.2 For Dealers

• Quote honestly. Only submit quotes for products you can genuinely supply. Deliberately under-quoting to win a deal and then increasing the price is a serious violation.
• Disclose limitations. Clearly state lead times, minimum quantities, quality variations, or any conditions that affect the quote.
• Respond or decline. If you receive an RFQ you cannot fulfill, decline it rather than ignoring it. Persistent non-response affects your Handshake Score.

6.3 Negotiation Etiquette

• Negotiate in good faith — counter-offers should represent genuine willingness to transact.
• Keep all negotiations on-platform. Do not attempt to move conversations to WhatsApp, phone, or email to avoid platform fees.
• Be professional, even when disagreeing on price or terms.
• Do not share negotiation content (screenshots, messages) outside the platform without the other party's consent.

7. Communication & Messaging

• Be professional. All communication on the platform should maintain a business-appropriate tone.
• Respond in a timely manner. Buyers and dealers alike should aim to respond to messages, quotes, and inquiries within a reasonable timeframe. Consistent non-responsiveness erodes trust and affects your reputation.
• No harassment. Persistent unwanted contact after someone has declined or requested no further communication is not tolerated.
• No solicitation. Do not use the messaging system to send bulk unsolicited promotions or spam.
• Keep it on-platform. For your protection, conduct all deal-related communication through Spronet.ng. Off-platform communication bypasses the records and protections we provide for dispute resolution.

8. Profile & Account

• One account per business. Each individual or business may operate only one account. Creating secondary accounts for any reason is prohibited.
• Keep your profile current. Update your business name, location, phone number, email, and certifications whenever they change. Outdated information erodes buyer trust.
• Complete your profile. Profiles with a logo, cover image, business description, and verified credentials receive significantly more buyer engagement than incomplete profiles.
• Verification matters. Complete the business verification process to unlock the full range of dealer features, including receiving public RFQs and submitting quotes. Verified dealers are prioritised in search results and buyer recommendations.
• Do not impersonate. Do not claim to represent a business you are not authorised to represent. Submitting a claim for a dealer profile that is not yours is a serious violation.

9. Reviews & Reputation

• Leave honest reviews. Your reviews help other users make informed decisions. Rate your experience accurately and fairly.
• Do not offer incentives for reviews. Offering payment, discounts, or gifts in exchange for positive reviews is prohibited.
• No retaliatory reviews. Leaving a negative review solely because someone gave you one is not acceptable.
• No threats. Threatening a trading partner with a negative review to coerce them into unfavourable terms is a violation.
• Your Handshake Score reflects your behaviour. It is built from your response rates, deal completion, review ratings, and platform conduct. There are no shortcuts — the best way to build your score is to trade honestly and professionally.

10. What Happens If You Break the Rules

We want everyone to succeed on Spronet.ng. When guidelines are violated, we follow a graduated approach:

For full details on enforcement, appeals, and reporting violations, see our Acceptable Use Policy.

If you believe an enforcement action was taken in error, you may appeal to appeals@spronet.ng within 30 days.

Questions? Contact us at support@spronet.ng or trust@spronet.ng.