Red Flags to Avoid When Sourcing Peptides

Major Red Flags

🚩 No Certificate of Analysis (COA)

A legitimate vendor will always provide batch-specific COAs showing:

• HPLC purity results (should be >98%)
• Mass spectrometry confirmation
• Batch/lot number matching your product
• Testing date

If a vendor can't provide a COA, do not purchase. Generic or template COAs that don't match your specific batch are equally concerning.

🚩 Medical Claims or Dosing Instructions

Research peptides legally cannot make medical claims. Red flags include:

• "Cures," "treats," or "prevents" language
• Specific human dosing instructions
• Before/after photos implying medical results
• Testimonials about disease treatment

Legitimate research vendors sell products "for research purposes only" and avoid medical claims.

🚩 Prices Too Good to Be True

Quality peptide synthesis is expensive. Significantly below-market prices often indicate:

• Lower purity than advertised
• Incorrect or substituted compounds
• Degraded or expired products
• Contaminated products

Compare prices across reputable vendors to understand fair market rates.

🚩 No Third-Party Testing

In-house testing alone creates conflict of interest. Trustworthy vendors:

• Use independent labs for verification
• Name the testing laboratory
• Provide verifiable test results

Vendor Website Red Flags

🚩 No Contact Information

Legitimate businesses provide:

• Email support
• Phone number or chat support
• Physical address (at minimum, registered business location)
• Responsive customer service

Vendors hiding behind anonymous websites are concerning.

🚩 Poor Website Quality

While not definitive, these can indicate lack of professionalism:

• Numerous spelling/grammar errors
• Broken links and missing pages
• No SSL certificate (http vs https)
• Copied content from other sites

🚩 No Return or Refund Policy

Reputable vendors stand behind their products with:

• Clear return policies
• Replacement for damaged shipments
• Purity guarantees with recourse

🚩 Only Cryptocurrency Payment

While some legitimate vendors accept crypto, vendors that ONLY accept cryptocurrency and refuse standard payment methods may be:

• Avoiding chargebacks from dissatisfied customers
• Operating outside legal frameworks
• Planning to disappear with funds

Product Red Flags

🚩 Pre-Mixed or Pre-Reconstituted Peptides

Peptides should ship lyophilized (freeze-dried). Pre-mixed peptides:

• Have significantly shorter shelf life
• May have degraded during shipping
• Cannot be verified for proper reconstitution
• May contain unknown additives

🚩 Improper Packaging

Quality peptides should arrive:

• In sealed vials with intact stoppers
• Protected from light (amber vials or opaque packaging)
• With cold packs if required for the peptide
• With clear labeling including batch number

Damaged seals, missing labels, or warm shipments are red flags.

🚩 Unusual Appearance

After reconstitution, quality peptides should be:

• Clear and colorless (most peptides)
• Free of particles or cloudiness
• Completely dissolved

Discoloration, precipitates, or inability to dissolve indicate problems.

Community Red Flags

🚩 No Online Presence or Reviews

Established vendors typically have:

• Discussion in research communities
• Reviews (both positive and some negative - all positive is suspicious)
• Track record over time

A vendor with zero online footprint is higher risk.

🚩 Astroturfed Reviews

Watch for fake review patterns:

• Multiple reviews posted on same day
• Reviewers with no other post history
• Overly enthusiastic language
• Reviews that read like advertisements

🚩 Aggressive Marketing Tactics

Be wary of:

• Unsolicited DMs promoting products
• Spam in research forums
• "Limited time" pressure tactics
• Influencer promotions without disclosure

What Good Vendors Look Like

In contrast, trustworthy vendors typically demonstrate:

• ✅ Batch-specific COAs with HPLC and MS results
• ✅ Third-party testing from named laboratories
• ✅ "Research use only" labeling
• ✅ No medical claims
• ✅ Responsive customer service
• ✅ Clear return/refund policies
• ✅ Proper packaging and shipping
• ✅ Consistent positive reputation over time
• ✅ Fair (not suspiciously low) pricing
• ✅ Multiple payment options

What To Do If You Suspect a Problem

1. Don't use suspicious products - Your research depends on quality
2. Request COA verification - Ask for batch-specific documentation
3. Consider third-party testing - Send samples to independent lab
4. Document everything - Keep records of communications and products
5. Report to communities - Help others avoid problematic vendors
6. Request refund - Use payment protection if available