Delivering to customers from your Dakar shop

Offering delivery attracts customers who do not have time to visit the shop in person, from Ouakam to Keur Massar and Guédiawaye. But a poorly organised delivery service, with vague timelines or surprise fees, can hurt a business's reputation more than help it. Here is how to set up a reliable delivery service, whether you work alone or with a team.

Choosing between a motorbike courier, a delivery company or an in-house rider

An independent motorbike courier works well for occasional deliveries in a nearby area, while a delivery company brings more consistency for a business that delivers every day. Some businesses prefer to train their own rider, which gives better control over the service but means taking on a fixed salary. The right choice depends on delivery volume and the area covered, not just the apparent cost of each option. Testing more than one option for a few weeks, before committing to a single partner, often reveals which one truly fits the shop's rhythm.

Display clear zones and fees

Nothing annoys a customer more than a delivery advertised as free that turns out to cost money at the last moment. Defining delivery zones in advance, by neighbourhood rather than exact distance, and clearly displaying fees per zone, avoids this kind of misunderstanding. For farther neighbourhoods such as Rufisque or Diamniadio, planning a longer timeframe and stating it at the time of order keeps customer trust, even if delivery takes longer than expected.

Organise payment, packaging and tracking

Cash on delivery remains common, but also offering mobile payment before or during delivery makes life easier for the rider, who no longer needs to handle change. Careful packaging, suited to the product being transported, reduces the risk of breakage or damage along the way. Informing the customer by WhatsApp when the order leaves and when it should arrive, rather than leaving them without news, clearly reduces worried calls and repeated messages. A short confirmation message once the parcel is delivered also closes the loop and builds confidence for the next order.

Set realistic timeframes and handle returns

Promising delivery within minutes anywhere in the city almost always ends in disappointment. It is better to announce a slightly wider timeframe and stick to it, than to promise speed and deliver late. For returns, whether a damaged product or a wrong order, having a simple rule known in advance, rather than deciding case by case, avoids tension with a customer already unhappy about a delivery problem. Writing this rule down somewhere the whole team can see it also keeps answers consistent, whoever happens to take the call.

Recommended addresses on SeneFinder

• Adex service de livraison: Dakar
• CHRONO EXPRESS DELIVERY: Dakar
• Le Livreur Du Mapane: Dakar

To compare more options, see all addresses in this category and explore the Dakar directory. The directory of delivery services in Dakar helps find a partner suited to your area.

Useful tools

• List your business for free on SeneFinder to promote your delivery service.
• Recommend an address whose delivery service satisfied you.
• Route planner to estimate trips between your shop and the areas you deliver to.

Read our selection of couriers and express delivery in Dakar and delivery services in Dakar.

Frequently asked questions

Should I hire a rider or use an outside company?

It depends on delivery volume: low volume rarely justifies a fixed salary, while a business delivering daily often gains consistency from a dedicated company.

How do I set fair delivery fees?

Calculating fees by zone rather than case by case, and displaying them clearly before the order, avoids disagreements at payment time.

What should I do if a product arrives damaged?

Having a return or refund rule decided in advance, and applying it without lengthy debate, reassures the customer and protects the business's reputation.