Shopping in Mauritania

Everyday purchases in Mauritania commonly use boutiques, marchés ouverts, commerces de proximité and seasonal Ramadan fairs or points of sale. Grocery availability and prices change with market conditions and seasons. Personal and household-care products are sold through boutiques, pharmacies and local shops; access and product choice are more limited outside the main urban centres. The MCT handles market observation, supply, price and consumer control, but no uniform nationwide retail schedule or return practice has been verified. Clothing is available from markets, tailors and artisans. In Nouakchott, the Marché des melhafa and the central market are relevant places for garments and textiles. Local terms include melhafa and dra'a. Ready-made goods can usually be taken immediately, while tailored items require additional time. Bargaining is common in markets, and sizes, alterations and returns are not governed by one verified nationwide standard. Local products also include textiles, jewellery, carpets, leather goods and palm-fibre goods. Technology and household equipment come from specialist shops, small retailers, importers and informal sellers. Products may include electronics, electrical goods, machines, tools and spare parts. For import categories such as electronics, textiles, cosmetics, furniture and toys, the importer may need a certificate under the Programme de Vérification de la Conformité (PVCM). This certificate concerns the import process; it is not automatically an end-customer warranty. Ask the seller about the invoice, warranty, spare parts and after-sales service, often called SAV. Repair and warranty coverage are not uniformly available across Mauritania. Online shopping has a legal basis under Law 2018-022 but remains at an early and fragmented stage. eT Ready data recorded online purchasing by fewer than 2% of people aged 15 and above in 2021. Internet use reached 58.8% in 2021, while 4G coverage was reported at 53% in 2022. Local platforms and delivery services remain limited. Because formal street addressing is not consistently available, sellers may use a neighbourhood, telephone number, geolocation, pickup point or post office. Cross-border purchases also involve customs, taxes and international logistics. Cash remains central. An eT Ready business survey from 2023 recorded mobile payment for 37% of payments made when ordering, bank transfer for 25% and cards for 20%. For payment on delivery, the survey recorded cash for 51% and mobile payment for 34%. Delivery was the selected fulfilment method for 83.8% of consumers, compared with 16.2% who prepaid. The BCM regulates payment services, while GIMTEL supports payment interoperability. RASSIDY is a BCM-approved wallet that can store, transfer and make payments without a bank account. Moov Money operates under BCM licence 23GR2023 and offers app and USSD access; opening an account is free, and the provider accepts an NNI or residence permit. Other charges depend on the provider. Some merchants accept QR payments and can use mobile payment for invoices or taxes. For online purchases, the seller should identify the business and address, describe essential product characteristics, show a TTC price including taxes, charges and delivery, state the payment and delivery method, and provide information about warranty, SAV, complaints, returns and refunds. The buyer can review and correct an order before confirming it. The law generally provides a withdrawal period of 10 working days from receipt of the product. The consumer normally pays the return shipping cost. A refund is due within 10 working days after the returned product reaches the seller, subject to the general legal limit of 30 days. Exceptions include personalised goods, perishable products and unsealed software or media. A buyer does not have to pay for an unsolicited product. Non-conforming goods or a delivery that misses the agreed period can support a return and refund. If a seller cannot supply an ordered product, the seller should notify the buyer no later than 24 hours before the agreed delivery. Send a complaint first to the seller and keep the order, payment and delivery records. If the seller does not resolve the issue, contact the consumer-protection or economic-control services; the MCT maintains regional reporting points. No private shopping ombudsman has been verified. The import, manufacture, sale and use of flexible plastic bags are prohibited under Decree 2012-157. Reusable alternatives exist, but availability is uneven, and Mauritania has no verified nationwide eco-label, repair, second-hand or take-back system. Local handicraft policy and market access are associated with the MFPAM.