How to choose a reliable supplier in a Lagos market

A reliable supplier isn't just the cheapest, or the friendliest. It's someone whose goods match their description every time, who tells you when they can't deliver, and who sorts out problems instead of disappearing. Over months, that's worth more than a small discount on one order.

Keep those three things in mind as you judge anyone you might buy from: consistent goods, honest communication, and support after the sale.

Established dealers in Computer Village, Alaba and Saka Tinubu have a shop, a stall or an office you can visit. Go there. See the stock, meet the people, and note the address. A supplier who only ever meets you at a different spot, or only trades over the phone, is harder to go back to when something goes wrong.

Ask how long they've traded in the market and what they specialise in. A dealer who focuses on a few product lines usually knows them well, and knows where to source them.

On Dealrs, dealers verify their identity with a shop-front photo and a selfie, and stores can be verified too, sometimes with an in-person visit from a Dealrs field agent. Verified dealers show a badge on their profile. It doesn't guarantee every deal, but it tells you the person is who they say they are, trading where they say they trade. Read how verification works.

Markets run on reputation. Other dealers, repairers and regular buyers usually know who delivers and who doesn't. Ask people you already trust in the market, and listen for patterns rather than single stories.

Before a big order, place a small one. Judge it on everything, not just the goods:

• Did the goods match the description and condition you agreed?
• Did they arrive when promised, with the right quantity?
• Were questions answered quickly and straight?
• Did you get a proper receipt or invoice?
• If something was wrong, how was it handled?

The last question tells you the most. Every supplier has a faulty unit sometimes. A reliable one replaces it without a fight.

Talk through returns, replacements and warranty before money changes hands: which faults are covered, for how long, and whether you get a replacement or a refund. For used goods, agree what the condition grade means. Write it down on the receipt, or at least in a WhatsApp message.

Pay into an account in the supplier's own or business name, and keep every receipt. Our guide to buying electronics in bulk safely covers payment in more detail.

A supplier can do well on the first order and slip later. Keep an eye on each batch: are the grades the same, are the accessories genuine, do quantities add up? Simple records make this easy. In the Dealer Hub you can keep suppliers, purchase orders and your stock in one place (supplier tools are on the Standard, Pro and Premium plans), so you can see which supplier's goods come back as faulty.

Even your best supplier will run out of stock or raise prices at the wrong moment. For the products your business depends on, keep at least one other supplier you've tested. It protects you, and it keeps prices honest.

A short conversation tells you a lot. Good suppliers answer these easily; vague answers are worth noting.

• Where does your stock come from, and how often do you restock this item?
• How do you grade used goods, and what does each grade mean?
• Can I inspect and test before paying, and at what point?
• What happens if a unit is faulty (replacement, refund or repair), and within how long?
• Can you give me an itemised invoice with serial numbers or IMEIs?
• If you run short, will you tell me before I pay, or supply part of the order?

Write down the answers. When you compare suppliers later, it's the answers, not just the prices, that help you choose.

• Descriptions that change once you're ready to pay.
• Unwilling to let you inspect or test before payment.
• Asking you to pay a different person or account without a clear reason.
• No receipt, or a receipt without models and serial numbers.
• Pressure to decide immediately because "another buyer is waiting".

Post a buy request in the Dealrs app, and the Dealrs team finds verified dealers who have the goods and gets back to you. With an account you can also compare listings from different dealers. Each dealer's profile shows their store and whether they're verified. Explore what's traded on Dealrs and the markets we're live in.