FAQ
Questions, answered plainly
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The basics
What is Zatar?
Zatar is a customer and conversational commerce platform for African businesses. Customers scan your QR code or open your link and land in a chat built around what you sell. They ask questions, browse, order or book, and pay. You run everything from one dashboard, with your team.
Who is Zatar for?
Any business that talks to customers to make a sale: restaurants and kitchens, barbers and salons, beauty studios, fashion and clothing shops, pharmacies, electronics and gadget sellers, grocery stores, professional services such as photographers and cleaners, and general stores.
Is Zatar a website builder or an online store?
No. Zatar does not build you a website. It gives you a QR code and a link that open a chat with your catalog, menu or services inside, plus the dashboard to run it. You can use it alongside Instagram, WhatsApp and a physical shop.
Is Zatar a company?
Not yet. Zatar is built and run by an independent founder in Nigeria. We say so plainly because you should know who is behind the software that handles your customers.
MAY and AI
What is MAY?
MAY is the assistant your customers chat with. By default she is rule-based: every word comes from your own Templates and FAQs, and prices, stock and opening hours are read live from your data. She hands over to you when a person is needed.
Does Zatar use AI?
By default, MAY does not write her own sentences. If you choose, the owner can connect their own AI key and decide, topic by topic, whether the AI only drafts replies for you to approve or replies on its own. Prices and bank details are always added by the system, and complaints and refunds always go to a person.
Can MAY say something wrong about my prices?
She reads prices live from your catalog, so she does not guess or remember them. If you change a price, her next answer uses it.
Can I take over a conversation?
Yes, at any time. Use the MAY | Me switch in Messenger, and hand the chat back when you are done. MAY also hands over by herself for complaints, requests for a person and anything she is unsure of.
Does MAY understand Nigerian Pidgin?
Yes. MAY recognises Pidgin, and her built-in messages come in English and Pidgin.
Customers and orders
Do my customers need an account?
They sign in with their phone number and a one-time code the first time, and add their name. There is no password to remember.
How do customers pay?
On a secure Paystack page, by card, bank transfer or USSD. Zatar never sees or stores card details.
How do I know an order was really delivered?
The customer confirms delivery with a code given to the rider, so the business cannot mark it delivered alone. After that there is a short window for the customer to report a problem.
Can customers book appointments?
Yes, for businesses that offer services. Customers see only the times that are really free, can pay a deposit to hold a time, and get reminders.
What if a booked customer does not show up?
You decide: keep the deposit or refund it, and whether customers who missed before pay a higher deposit next time.
Money
How much does Zatar cost?
Plans start at ₦5,000 a month. Early supporters pay less, from ₦3,000, until 4 May 2027, and keep that price for as long as they stay subscribed. See the pricing page for every figure.
Is there a free plan?
No free plan, but setting up your workspace is free and private. You can add items, write Templates and try MAY before you pay. A business opens to customers once it has a paid plan and a verified owner.
What happens if I use all my conversations?
You get a 10% buffer, then you choose: buy a pack of extra conversations, or agree to a small per-conversation charge to your card. Without either, new customers get a short message that your team will reply, and the chat comes to you. Nothing is ever deleted.
Who holds the money from my sales?
Paystack processes every payment. With Zatar Payments, Paystack pays out to your own bank account. With your own Paystack account, the money goes straight to you.
Trust and data
Is my customers’ data safe?
Your customers’ details belong to your business; Zatar processes them for you and never sells them. Owners verify their identity, teams only see what you give them access to, and every important change is logged. The Privacy Policy and Security page explain the details.
Why do owners have to verify their identity?
So that customers can trust a business before they pay it, and so that a payout account is in the owner’s own name.
Where can I read the legal terms?
The Privacy Policy, Terms of Service and Security pages are linked in the footer of every page.
Getting started
How long does setup take?
A few minutes for the first version: four short steps, then you add your items. You can fill the workspace with sample data first to see how it looks.
Can I try it before customers see it?
Yes. Your workspace is private until you open it, and the Test Inbox lets you ask MAY your customers’ questions without anyone being contacted.
Who do I contact if I need help?
Email support@zatar.cc. Inside the dashboard there is a Help button too.
Still have a question?
Write to hello@zatar.cc. Or create a workspace and try it, which answers most questions faster.