Vendor Criteria

[dazedconfused_]

I’m curious what criteria you guys personally use when choosing a vendor?

(This isn’t meant as a source discussion or a request for recommendations. Also, apologies if this has been covered somewhere already. I did search but couldn’t find a clear thread on it)

As a newbie the amount of information can be pretty overwhelming, so I’m interested in how people evaluate vendors. Things like price, shipping time, product range, test results, community size, reputation over time, communication, and so on. What makes a vendor trustworthy enough to purchase from in your opinion?

Also curious: if you initially stuck with one vendor and later switched to another, what made you change?

I know this obviously varies depending on individual preference & risk tolerance, which is exactly why I’m interested in hearing different perspectives

 

[ThatOneLady]

Good question…..I’m curious about this too. There is so much information here, I feel lucky to have found this forum….but as a newbie it’s a little intimidating. So much to learn!

I’ve followed a couple of the vendors discords to see what people say about them there too so hopefully that helps when it comes time for me to make my switch.

 

[Calm Logic]

Things like price, shipping time, product range, test results, community size, reputation over time, communication, and so on. What makes a vendor trustworthy enough to purchase from in your opinion?

Well, Chinese vendors (especially) can disappear tomorrow. So you never know. Could have 10,000 people on their TG and be gone the next day, with your money and nothing shipped. So I never spent more than I could lose with any vendor.

I never had an issue, but I have known people who lost $400+ on uncompleted orders when SRY, SSA, and QSC went down. Each was like the Walmart of Chinese peptide vendors, but they also sold steroids, which got them in trouble possibly with the their government.

I have also used a US warehouse of a Chinese vendor and domestic resellers who are similarly priced. But the US warehouse I used (SRY) no longer exists (or has been reincarnated into other vendors). The EU warehouses of Chinese vendors often ship from Germany?

Going forward, I plan to mostly use US warehouses and certain domestic resellers.

 

[dazedconfused_]

Good question…..I’m curious about this too. There is so much information here, I feel lucky to have found this forum….but as a newbie it’s a little intimidating. So much to learn!

I’ve followed a couple of the vendors discords to see what people say about them there too so hopefully that helps when it comes time for me to make my switch.

Yeah I did the same. Currently in a couple of discords and TG and just observing haha. I have one vendor I'm leaning most towards to and besides reading all the reviews and test results I feel like it's a lot based on gut feeling for me

 

[Dos-Dox]

My only other rec besides what has been mentioned is that, if purchasing 3rd party tested material is important to you, then join one of the 3rd party testing servers like FTTP or STG’s discord when it’s back and see which vendors are frequently tested. That will make it more likely that you can find a group to split testing costs with you.

Alternately, which I what I mostly do, you can purchase from resellers that conduct 3P testing before offering it for sale. (Some of these were former group buy models that have moved to away from that and now just purchase larger stocks, send a few vials from each batch off, and then sell kits when the results come back.) These usually aren’t going to be the absolute lowest price you can find your for particular pep, but most are US-based, so they’ve already handled the crypto and have taken all the risk with importing.

 

[byefatlicia]

For me, I kind of have a method.
1. Reputation or lack of a bad reputation. No struggles for folks to get what they paid for.
Allot of times it's okay to follow the herd (when the herd is having success)
2. Testing: I look for reasonably recent testing that has good results for purity and no underfill.
I like to find redundant cap colors from different vendors and check those test results too.
3. Price: After all that, who doesn't like a deal? I look for specials that from vendors that I already have added to my "safe" column and when they have what I'm looking for at a good price, I go for it.
At the end of the day, Research is your best friend. Read, pay attention, read some more. Information is free but mistakes can be expensive.

 

[dazedconfused_]

For me, I kind of have a method.
1. Reputation or lack of a bad reputation. No struggles for folks to get what they paid for.
Allot of times it's okay to follow the herd (when the herd is having success)
2. Testing: I look for reasonably recent testing that has good results for purity and no underfill.
I like to find redundant cap colors from different vendors and check those test results too.
3. Price: After all that, who doesn't like a deal? I look for specials that from vendors that I already have added to my "safe" column and when they have what I'm looking for at a good price, I go for it.
At the end of the day, Research is your best friend. Read, pay attention, read some more. Information is free but mistakes can be expensive.

Thanks for the input! Always interesting to hear about other people's process. That's pretty much how I've been looking at everything as well, so it feels reassuring others do it the "same" way and there isn't some hidden super secret aspect I'm missing haha

 

[byefatlicia]

Thanks for the input! Always interesting to hear about other people's process. That's pretty much how I've been looking at everything as well, so it feels reassuring others do it the "same" way and there isn't some hidden super secret aspect I'm missing haha

Learn the secret hand shake. And when you get to the door, the password is "New England Clam Chowder" 😂

 

[Chili777]

Two things that I want from my vendors is communication and honesty. It's a tall order for some of them.

I want them to pay for their own testing, and to know that the COAs are current for what I'm ordering. All of my vendors have a good reputation within their user/buying groups, so this helps maintain that.

I also want the tracking info sent to me when the shipment is made so I don't have to ask constantly.

I want a way to track the order and know when there is a problem, and if there is a problem that they see, I want them to tell me. I have a couple vendors that will tell customers, "This is stuck in Customs and we'll order a reship by the end of the week, if the status is the same". That's good service.

I also want them to stand behind their products. My primary vendors will replace any product that doesn't match the quality on their provided COAs. The good ones will do that when a buying group provides a Jano COA to them as evidence.

They could be gone overnight but when they're in business, these are the things I look for.

 

[Calm Logic]

Vials sometimes do arrive broken or are misdelivered. The Chinese vendors and their US warehouses will reship, but not some small domestic vendors like some domestic group buy resellers.

Part of the reason I have distanced myself from GBs on TG and Discord is they are not usually big enough to just reship if something goes wrong in the last mile of delivery. They may offer shipping insurance, but who buys shipping insurance on illicit items?

And I went from loving TG to hating TG itself overnight. Just bad vibes since it is used for fent distribution to minors among other things. Of course, the Internet itself is like that.

 

[DjJoshua]

Jumping on a 3rd party testing group would be nice.
I TRY to get a COA with what I am buying. Then I can have one vile tested on my end and compare. I just want to double check that im not injecting my kangaroo with crushed up TOP RAMA

 

[Peptidedudez]

I want them to pay for their own testing, and to know that the COAs are current for what I'm ordering. All of my vendors have a good reputation within their user/buying groups, so this helps maintain that.

I disagree. COAs from vendors are useful but not gold standard. They can send in multiple vials and cherry pick the good ones and post ir

 

[Chili777]

I disagree. COAs from vendors are useful but not gold standard. They can send in multiple vials and cherry pick the good ones and post ir

They are useful for a buying decision. That's why we have the testing groups run their own tests. We've only had one vendor test below their provided COA on one product, so far. My main vendor has provided quality product for so long that many don't even test at all anymore. I don't go that far.

 

[Calm Logic]

There are some Chinese vendors that don't test at all, lol. And yet they usually come out fine with third party testing.

 

[Xkolln]

Yeah I did the same. Currently in a couple of discords and TG and just observing haha. I have one vendor I'm leaning most towards to and besides reading all the reviews and test results I feel like it's a lot based on gut feeling for me

exactly, how to know for sure that the lab test are really from that product sell by that vendor...

 

[Senorlocos]

For me it’s personal been reading this forum and entering the discord the supplier has. I read what everyone thinks about the products and they usually have someone who wants to coordinate a group testing for certain peps. I made my first big purchase this way. I think it’s ultimately a gut feeling. I have heard story from this forum of suppliers starting off good and then getting hype and orders coming in and after that they start to fall off and sending lesser quality stuff. I’d always be careful and I wouldn’t inject myself without getting test done first. It may cost more but it’s the best way to insure your safety

 

[CMA Pooky]

Vials sometimes do arrive broken or are misdelivered. The Chinese vendors and their US warehouses will reship, but not some small domestic vendors like some domestic group buy resellers.

Part of the reason I have distanced myself from GBs on TG and Discord is they are not usually big enough to just reship if something goes wrong in the last mile of delivery. They may offer shipping insurance, but who buys shipping insurance on illicit items?

And I went from loving TG to hating TG itself overnight. Just bad vibes since it is used for fent distribution to minors among other things. Of course, the Internet itself is like that.

The Internet (originally called ARPANET) was invented by the military to exploit all of us and spread propaganda.

 

[Chili777]

exactly, how to know for sure that the lab test are really from that product sell by that vendor...

My primary vendor tells the group what tests are submitted to Jano for testing and when. Their name is clearly on the Jano test. Not blank or another name, and they can be verified on the Jano site. When the tests are complete, they are posted on the Test Results chat.

When the buying group places and receives their order, usually monthly, a vial or two is usually tested to compare to the vendor test. They will post them if it differs from the vendor's paid test. Is it foolproof? Probably not, but that's as close as we can get in the gray world, where nothing is certain.

Like I said above, many of the long time members in the group take the vendor's word because the vendor has built up enough trust over time. I know two groups like this and I don't think the vendors are going to squander that trust with a bad product, but who knows?

 

[Habibibi]

Vials sometimes do arrive broken or are misdelivered. The Chinese vendors and their US warehouses will reship, but not some small domestic vendors like some domestic group buy resellers.

Part of the reason I have distanced myself from GBs on TG and Discord is they are not usually big enough to just reship if something goes wrong in the last mile of delivery. They may offer shipping insurance, but who buys shipping insurance on illicit items?

And I went from loving TG to hating TG itself overnight. Just bad vibes since it is used for fent distribution to minors among other things. Of course, the Internet itself is like that.

Good decision to leave these groups. A GB with no reship is useless. You're better off buying by yourself with a vendor that reships. Because everyone thinks they can be a GB Vendor these days, there are no shortages of shutty GBs.

 

[jemifus]

I disagree. COAs from vendors are useful but not gold standard. They can send in multiple vials and cherry pick the good ones and post ir

COA from vendor is not just useful, it is essential in my opinion. Why would I buy from a vendor that doesn’t know what they are selling?

Testing your own product is the bare f’ing minimum.

 

[Peptidedudez]

COA from vendor is not just useful, it is essential in my opinion. Why would I buy from a vendor that doesn’t know what they are selling?

Testing your own product is the bare f’ing minimum.

Thats fine. All Im saying is you testing the product has far more weight than a vendor's COA. Some vendors weed out the bad samples amd post only the good ones

 

[Calm Logic]

Because everyone thinks they can be a GB Vendor these days

I did find some great GB vendors on TG, including testing for more than mass and purity without charging more. And I only do small orders (of less than $200 usually), so I never take big risks.

I am trying to avoid temptation anyway since the only thing I may actually need this year is just more BAC water.

 

[Airborne Daddy]

There are some Chinese vendors that don't test at all, lol. And yet they usually come out fine with third party testing.

Wbs

 

[Good-Heart6425]

I’m averse to cryptocurrency. I search for vendors that accept my favorite payment type.

 

[randompersonrandom]

My list is:
Has a US Warehouse
Has a chat area full of people who buy from them; a discord, a telegram, a zulip, whatever
Is more than one year old
No recent major scandals
A history of handling major and minor scandals in a way that made the scandal-IZED parties whole
Well known and well spoken of by people I "know" from here.

 

[MakeNoPeaceWithEvil]

I lucked out and picked one that simply accepted a non crypto payment method that I use AND had good things said them often after a quick TG search on STG. Only thing I don't like is that they don't have their own official TG or Discord so frequent flyers can communicate and put together testing a bit easier. So far tho they been top notch and I poked around STG enough and speculate that they aren't just a vendor, but actually manufacture the peps themselves. Many don't. Many just finish off the vials and go.

 

[Chili777]

I lucked out and picked one that simply accepted a non crypto payment method that I use AND had good things said them often after a quick TG search on STG. Only thing I don't like is that they don't have their own official TG or Discord so frequent flyers can communicate and put together testing a bit easier. So far tho they been top notch and I poked around STG enough and speculate that they aren't just a vendor, but actually manufacture the peps themselves. Many don't. Many just finish off the vials and go.

One of my vendors has no social media presence at all, just a Whatsapp number. She likes flying under the radar. With what's happening on Discord and TG, it's may not be a bad thing. Her customers have formed their own chat group. She's been in business for 5 years and the majority of the group don't even test anymore because the product has always been consistently good. There are occasional tests that back that up. That may change at some point, but I don't think she'll risk her clientele now.