Acceptable use policy

1How this policy works

This policy is part of our Terms of Service. It applies to every merchant, store and product that uses our services, including stores we build or host. Stripe's list of restricted businesses and the Stripe Services Agreement apply too; where they're stricter, follow them.

We review every merchant before approval and may review your store, products and marketing at any time. Not sure whether something is allowed? Ask compliance@thepepcompany.com before you add it.

2Products you can't sell

• Controlled substances, illegal drugs and substances designed to mimic them.
• Prescription drugs, compounded drugs, or anything else that legally requires a prescription or a pharmacy license, unless we and Stripe have approved it in writing.
• Research chemicals that are labeled incorrectly, or labeled or marketed for use in people or animals.
• Products a regulator has banned, recalled or told you to stop selling, and supplements made with ingredients that can't lawfully be sold in supplements.
• Unsafe, counterfeit, adulterated or misbranded products, or products sold as something they aren't.
• Anything that's illegal where you sell it or where you ship it.
• Anything else Stripe prohibits.

We may also decline particular compounds or product types because of regulatory guidance, Stripe's requirements or risk. We'll tell you during review, or as soon as something changes.

3Research products

If you sell peptides or other compounds for research:

• Label every product, product page and package for research use only and not for human consumption.
• Don't give dosing, injection, cycling or other usage guidance, or link to it.
• Don't market products for personal use: no before-and-after photos, personal testimonials, or images or wording that suggest people use them.
• Show a current certificate of analysis for every batch on its product page.
• Use an age check so only adults can buy.
• Don't sell to anyone who says they plan to use a product on themselves or others.

4Skincare and supplements

• Skincare and other cosmetics can make claims about appearance, not claims that a product treats a condition or changes how the body works. Follow the FDA's cosmetic labeling rules.
• Supplements can use only ingredients that can lawfully be sold as dietary supplements. Keep structure and function claims truthful and supported, show the FDA disclaimer wherever you make them, and list ingredients and amounts accurately.

5Claims and marketing

For every product and everywhere you market it, including your store, emails, ads and social media:

• Don't claim that a product diagnoses, treats, cures, mitigates or prevents any disease or condition.
• Don't call a product FDA-approved, “clinically proven” or “pharmaceutical grade” unless that's true and you can show it.
• Keep product names, photos, descriptions and prices accurate.
• Don't post fake reviews, pass off paid reviews as independent, or imply endorsements you don't have.
• Follow email and text message laws: get consent before you send marketing texts, and include an unsubscribe link in marketing email.

6What your store needs

Stripe and the card networks look for these on every store, and stores we build include them from the start:

• A refund and return policy, and a shipping and delivery policy.
• Customer service contact details, and your business address and country.
• A privacy policy and terms for your customers.
• Research-use labeling, batch certificates of analysis and an age check, where they apply.
• A statement descriptor your customers will recognize on their card statements.

7Payments

• Take payments only for your own approved business and products, on the stores we've reviewed. Never take payments for another business.
• Don't split one sale into several charges, or charge anyone without their permission.
• Honor your refund policy, answer customer complaints and respond to disputes on time. High dispute or refund rates can lead Stripe or the card networks to limit your account.
• Add a surcharge or fee to a payment only where the law and card network rules allow it, and show it clearly before the customer pays.

8When something needs to change

When we find a problem, we'll tell you what needs to change and by when. For serious problems, such as prohibited products, marketing research products for human use, or anything illegal, we may suspend services or take down pages we host right away.

Problems that aren't fixed, or that keep coming back, can lead us to suspend or end your services under our Terms of Service. Stripe may also act on its own under the Stripe Services Agreement, for example by holding payouts or closing your account. We cooperate with regulators, card networks and law enforcement when the law requires it.

9Reporting a concern

To report a store, product or claim that breaks this policy, email abuse@thepepcompany.com. Tell us what you saw and where, and we'll look into it.

10Changes to this policy

Laws, card network rules and Stripe's requirements change, and we'll update this policy as they do. For material changes, we'll email merchants and give them reasonable time to comply, unless a change has to take effect sooner.