Vendor Rules & Guidelines
VialTalk welcomes vendors who want to engage transparently with the peptide research community. These rules exist to keep the forum authentic and trustworthy for everyone.
Forum Access by Tier
Read-only. You can browse the entire forum and read all threads. Free-tier vendors cannot reply to reviews publicly — the reply composer is unlocked at Verified and above. You also cannot post or reply in forum threads. The free tier is capped at 25 approved vendors — if we're at capacity, you can join the public waitlist from /apply.
2 posts/month in the Vendors category only. Cannot post or reply in regular forum threads. COA uploads enabled. Basic analytics dashboard. JSON-LD structured data for your listing.
Full access — 8 posts/month. Create new threads and reply anywhere. Post discount codes. Up to 2 active sidebar ads. Advanced analytics. Dofollow backlink and review rich snippets in Google.
Unlimited access. Post threads and replies with no monthly limit. Homepage featured placement. Up to 5 active ads (sidebar + category banners). Full analytics suite with data export. Maximum SEO boost with top sitemap priority.
Post counts reset on the 1st of each month. All vendor posts display a "Vendor" badge so the community knows who's speaking.
One Account Per Person
VialTalk enforces a strict one-account-per-person policy. When you apply as a vendor, your existing account is automatically converted to a vendor account. You do not get a separate personal account.
Your role switches automatically. When you submit a vendor application, your account role changes to "vendor" immediately. This means your forum access is governed by your vendor tier, not regular member permissions.
No dual accounts. You cannot maintain both a personal account and a vendor account. If you already have a member account and apply as a vendor, that account becomes your vendor account. Creating a second account will be detected and shadow-banned automatically.
If your application is rejected, your account role is restored to a regular member and you regain full forum access.
Progress Journal Access
Progress Journals are a member-only feature where community members document their personal peptide research. Vendor participation is limited to keep journals authentic and member-driven.
Vendors cannot create progress journals. Journals are reserved for members documenting their own research. This applies to every tier.
Free-tier vendors cannot reply in journals at all. Free listings have read-only access — you can view public journals but cannot comment.
Paid vendors can reply only when @tagged. Verified, Featured, and Elite vendors can post a comment on a journal only if the journal owner has mentioned them by username (@yourname) in the journal description or any entry. Otherwise, journal replies are blocked.
Stay relevant when you do reply. If a member tags you, keep the reply helpful and specific to their journal — not promotional.
Vendor Conduct Rules
Be transparent. Always post from your vendor account. Your vendor badge is visible on all your posts so the community knows you represent a business.
Add value. Share useful knowledge, answer product questions, and participate in genuine discussion. The community respects vendors who contribute without constantly selling.
Respond to reviews (Verified and above). Paid-tier vendors can reply to any review on their vendor page. Use this to address concerns professionally. Free-tier vendors cannot reply publicly — the reply composer unlocks at Verified.
No sockpuppet accounts. Creating additional accounts to post fake reviews, upvote your own content, or circumvent posting limits is strictly prohibited. We use automated IP, browser fingerprint, and email detection — duplicate accounts are caught and shadow-banned automatically.
No spam or self-promotion. Don't use your forum posts to advertise. Post discount codes through the official Deals system, not in forum threads.
No manipulation. Asking friends, employees, or customers to post fake reviews or upvote your content is a trust violation. We verify review authenticity.
No unsolicited messaging. Vendors cannot initiate direct messages to users. Users can message you first, and you may reply. This prevents spam and protects the community from unwanted vendor outreach.
Anti-Sockpuppet Policy
VialTalk enforces a strict one account per person policy. Every signup is automatically checked against existing accounts using IP address matching, browser fingerprinting, and email analysis. If a new account shares signals with an existing vendor account, it is flagged and shadow-banned automatically — no manual review required.
What happens if you're caught:
Automatic detection: Duplicate accounts are shadow-banned on signup. You won't receive a notification — your posts simply won't be visible to anyone else. Our system matches IP addresses, browser fingerprints, and email patterns in real time.
First confirmed offense: The sockpuppet account is permanently removed and a formal warning is placed on your vendor listing. Our moderation team is notified.
Second offense: Your vendor account and all associated accounts are permanently banned. Your subscription is cancelled with no refund. Your vendor page displays a trust violation notice.
If you believe you've been incorrectly flagged, contact our moderation team. We review all flags manually before taking permanent action on your vendor account.
Your Reputation is Protected Here
VialTalk monitors behavioral signals across all accounts — creation timing, activity patterns, and review clustering. If multiple accounts suddenly target the same vendor in a short window, our system flags it automatically for staff review before those reviews reach your listing.
Every review from a new or low-activity account goes through an automatic 48-hour verification hold before it appears on your listing.
If a review appears that you believe is dishonest or part of a coordinated attack, Verified-tier vendors and above can formally dispute it — submit your reasoning and any evidence, and we investigate. The review is marked as under investigation during that process.
We apply the same rules to everyone — fake positive review stacking is caught the same way fake negative attacks are. The goal is a Verdict score the community actually trusts, which is worth more to your business than a perfect score nobody believes.
Free tier note: Free listings receive automatic protection from coordinated attacks and fake account holds. Upgrade to Verified to access the full dispute process.
COA Submission Guidelines
All vendors can submit Certificates of Analysis (COAs) to earn COA Verified status. Paid tiers also receive a public quality grade and score. Submitting thorough COAs builds community trust.
Provide complete data. Include product name, batch number, lab name, purity percentage, test date, and method of analysis. The more fields you fill out, the higher your quality score.
Use accredited labs. COAs from accredited laboratories score higher and carry more weight with the community.
Include additional testing. Residual solvent analysis and endotoxin testing are optional but significantly boost your quality score.
No falsified documents. Submitting fake, altered, or misleading COAs will result in immediate removal of your verified status and potential account suspension.
All COA submissions are reviewed manually by our team before approval. Quality scores are calculated automatically based on the data you provide.
Listing Accuracy
Keep shipping coverage accurate. If you ship domestically only, internationally only, or both, set this correctly in your listing. Incorrect shipping information erodes community trust.
Maintain your business description. Keep your description current and accurate. Describe what you sell, how long you've been operating, and what sets you apart.
Use a real business logo. Upload a clear, professional logo or image that represents your business. No misleading imagery.
Why These Rules Exist
VialTalk is a community-first platform. Our members rely on honest reviews, authentic discussions, and transparent vendor interactions to make informed decisions about peptide research. These rules ensure that vendor participation enhances the community rather than undermining it. Vendors who engage authentically earn real trust — and that trust translates to real business.