1. A real legal notice
A shop that sells in Germany or the EU has to say who it is: company, address, contact. If the legal notice is missing or only lists an email address, you won't know who to turn to if something goes wrong.
For German companies you can look up the name in the commercial register. If the company is not there, that is a warning sign.
2. Lab reports per batch
Good shops show a lab report with date and batch number for each product. If your vial has a different batch than the report, the report says little about your vial.
Be careful with one report for all sizes or reports that are years old. How to check a report yourself is in our second guide.
3. Payment you can reverse
With crypto or bank transfer your money is gone if the goods never arrive. With card or PayPal (goods and services) there is usually a way back. Many peptide shops only offer crypto or bank transfer. That alone is not a bad sign. For a first order, though, start small.
4. Prices that are too good
A vial at half the usual price is rarely a bargain. Either it contains less than stated or the shop doesn't plan to be around long. Our price comparison shows what a milligram usually costs.
5. Where the goods come from
Shipping from within the EU is usually faster and has no customs risk. Parcels from outside the EU can get stuck at customs. Reliable shops say openly where they ship from.
6. Reading reviews
Lots of five-star reviews within a few days, all worded alike, are suspicious. Read the bad reviews instead and see how the shop responds. A shop that solves problems is worth more than one without any criticism.
7. No healing claims
Research peptides are not approved medicines. A shop that promises a product cures something, or recommends doses for humans, is not taking the rules seriously. That is usually not a good sign for the rest either.
If you only check three things
Legal notice, a lab report with the matching batch and a small first order. That already puts you ahead of most buyers.