Webshop checklist: is this shop trustworthy?
A short checklist to see whether a webshop is trustworthy before you order: company details, contact, returns, payment methods, reviews and https.
A quick checklist for a shop you don't know. If you can tick every point, the risk is low. If two or more fail, look for another shop. For a longer explanation, read how to check if an online shop is safe.
- Company: a company name, street address and VAT number are on the site, and the VAT number is valid in the EU VIES register.
- Contact: there is an e-mail address and preferably a phone number, and a test question gets an answer.
- Returns: the 14-day right of withdrawal is explained, with a returns address.
- Terms and privacy: both pages exist and mention this shop, not another company.
- Payment: you can pay by card or another method with buyer protection, not only by bank transfer, crypto or gift cards.
- Reviews: buyers on independent sites report receiving their orders.
- Price: it is in line with other shops, not far below.
- Connection: the address starts with https.
Prefer not to do this yourself? Check the shop on CheckShop. It covers most of these points in 25 checks, looks up the VAT number in VIES, checks Google's malware and phishing reports and shows reviews from real buyers. Free, and every shop is checked again each week.
More guides
All guides- VAT number checks in the EU: why buyers look for itWhy a webshop shows its VAT number, how anyone can check it in the EU VIES register in a minute, and what a valid number does and does not tell you.
- Free trust mark for your webshop: what it shows and how to add itWhat the free CheckShop trust mark shows your buyers, what it does not promise, and how to add it to WooCommerce, Shopify or any other shop system.
- How to get more reviews without breaking the EU review rulesThe EU Omnibus rules on consumer reviews in plain language, and five ways to collect more reviews from real buyers that stay within them.