Honest & Helpful: Guide to Product and Vendor Reviews
Sharing your experiences with reptile products, gear, and breeders is incredibly valuable to our community. However, reviews must be fair, factual, and constructive to protect both buyers and sellers.
This guide outlines how to write a high-quality review and what is strictly prohibited.
1. 
Reviewing Products and Gear
When reviewing an item—such as a specific enclosure, lighting fixture, or substrate—we need objective details.
What Your Product Review Must Include:
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Product Name and Manufacturer: Be specific! (e.g., Repti-Zoo 4x2x2 PVC Enclosure, not just a PVC tank).
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Duration of Use: How long have you used the item? (e.g., 6 months or I just opened it today).
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The Specific Issue/Praise: Describe the performance, construction, or flaw in detail.
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Photos: Include clear photos showing the product in question, especially if you are describing a defect or a clever modification.
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Verdict: End with a clear recommendation (e.g., I recommend this product or I would avoid this product).
Focus on the Product, Not the Company:
If you had a shipping issue or bad customer service, save that detail for a Vendor Review (see section 2). Keep product reviews focused on the item’s performance.
2. 
Reviewing Breeders and Vendors
Reviewing a breeder or store often involves sensitive financial and personal details. We hold these posts to a very high standard.
What Your Vendor Review Must Include:
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Vendor/Breeder Name: The official business or forum name.
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Date of Transaction: When did the purchase/trade take place? (e.g., Purchased January 2025).
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Transaction Type: Clearly state if you are reviewing the animal quality, communication, shipping, or TOS adherence.
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Factual Account: Stick strictly to the facts. Describe what happened, referencing dates, emails, and invoices. Do not speculate about the vendor’s intentions.
Zero Tolerance Policy:
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No Libel or Slander: Do not post inflammatory, untrue, or overly sensationalized claims designed purely to harm a business’s reputation.
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No Personal Attacks: Do not mention or attack the breeder/vendor’s family, appearance, or personal life. Keep the entire discussion focused on the business transaction.
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Include Evidence: If your review involves a serious dispute (e.g., wrong animal shipped, DOA claim), you must be ready to privately provide the admin team with verifiable evidence (invoices, photos, email chains).
3. Moderation of Reviews
We reserve the right to edit or remove any review that violates the Community Code, contains inflammatory language, or lacks factual evidence.
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If a vendor disputes a review, our team will investigate using the provided evidence. If the review cannot be substantiated, it will be removed.
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The goal is transparency, but we must protect both parties from unfounded attacks.
Let’s keep the reviews honest, helpful, and professional!