← Online shopping in Tanzania, explained
Online shopping guide

Ordering from a shop by phone or WhatsApp

Many shops in Tanzania already deliver. You call or message, send your list, pay, and the shop sends the goods by its own rider or a boda boda. Here is how it works, how to pay safely, and what to watch for.

Updated October 2026

How it works

  1. Contact a shop you know by phone or WhatsApp and ask if they deliver to your area.
  2. Ask what they have and the prices. Some shops send photos or a price list.
  3. Send your list clearly: item, size or brand, and how many.
  4. The shop confirms what is in stock and gives you the total, including delivery.
  5. You pay, usually to the shop's Lipa number, and send them your location.
  6. The shop dispatches the goods by its rider or a boda boda. Check the items on arrival.

Paying a shop safely

Shops usually take payment to a Lipa number (a till number), which sends the money to a registered business rather than a personal phone. That is a good sign. With a shop you know, paying first is normal. With one you are trying for the first time, ask to pay when the goods arrive, or pay a part first.

  • Check the business name shown on your payment prompt before you confirm.
  • Confirm the total and the delivery fee in writing (a WhatsApp message is enough).
  • Keep the SMS confirmation and the chat.
  • If a shop asks you to pay to a personal number only, be careful.

Where it falls short

  • You must already know the shop, and its number.
  • The shop must know where you live, or you have to explain how to get to you.
  • It mostly works for shops close to you. A shop across the city may not deliver to you at all.
  • You cannot easily see the full range or compare prices with other shops without calling around.
  • You usually cannot see where your order is once it has left the shop.

See nearby shops without calling around

On Nunua Pro you can browse shops near you, see their products and prices, ask a question on a product page, then order for delivery or collect it yourself. The shop confirms what it has before you pay, and you can follow the delivery on a map. You can also open any shop on the web and order with just your phone number.

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Find shops near you

Browse the shops that take orders now, no app needed.

Browse shops How Nunua Pro works Get it on Google Play App Store

Common questions

What is a Lipa number?
A Lipa number (or till number) is a business number you pay through mobile money, so the money goes to a registered business instead of a person's phone. Always check the business name on the payment prompt.
Should I pay a shop before it delivers?
With a shop you know and trust, paying a Lipa number first is normal. With a new shop, ask to pay on delivery, or pay a part first, until you trust them.
Do all shops deliver?
No. Many only deliver nearby, some only with their own rider, and some do not deliver at all. Ask before you order, and ask the delivery fee.

Updated October 2026