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What Every MESHER Should Know About Lipa Pole Pole

Visual of triangles & a lady & screenshot of Shortlist lipa polepole

Niaje MESHERS,

Thanks for the feedback on the device prices — we hear you loud and clear.

Some of you said the “0% interest” label feels off, especially when you see the same device selling for less elsewhere.

You're right to ask questions — so let’s break it down for real.

What’s Going On?

When you buy a phone on Lipa Pole Pole (or Lipa Mdogo Mdogo), you almost always pay more than someone who pays cash upfront.

Why? Because the seller is taking a risk.

If a bunch of people don’t finish paying or don’t return the phone, the seller loses out — so to cover those losses, they add a bit to the price for everyone.

Example:

● Cash payment at a local shop: You buy a Tecno Pop 8 for KSh 11,000. You need all that cash now.

● Shortlist payment plan: you pay 2750KSH each month for 6 months → that adds up to KSh 16,500.

Over time, you pay KSh 5,500 more for a phone on credit than you do if you pay cash.

But here’s the thing — not everyone has KSh 11,000 lying around.

With the plan, you still get the phone, use it to grow your hustle, and pay as you go.

We want to make sure this is clear to everyone though, so you can choose what is right for you.

So What Are We Doing About It?

We want to keep our communications 100 with you. So from now on:

● We will stop using the 0% label

● We’ll keep communicating the full price (the total that you’ll pay over the course of the 6 month loan) so you can compare with other shops and decide what’s best for you

● We’ll show you the monthly payment breakdown

Just remember:

● Credit = more flexibility, but usually more expensive

● Cash = cheaper, but you need it all at once

● Always compare prices before you commit

● Make sure you compare all device specifications! For instance: compare the price of a Tecno Pop 8 with 4GB memory to the same model and specs elsewhere. A device might look cheaper elsewhere, but that could be easy to find lower prices when there is a smaller storage, a slower processor, or less RAM.

Prices change often — new models drop, promotions come and go. So if you ever have questions, ask us before you buy.

We’re here to help you make smart moves with your money.

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