warebywhat “verified local” means on wareby
every shop on wareby is checked by a real person before it opens. here’s exactly what we check, what local means, and why we do it.
in this post
1what we check2what local means3why we do it4if something goes wrong5report a shop6for shops7questionsit means someone on our team checked the shop before it opened: the owner’s id, the address they sell from, and the food license or cottage food registration for anyone selling food. every shop is independently owned (no chains, no franchises, no drop-shippers), and you only see shops within 25 miles of you.
what do we check before a shop opens?
a person reviews every application, usually within a couple of days. if something doesn’t check out, the shop doesn’t open.
what does “local” mean?
within 25 miles of you. wareby shows you shops whose address is within 25 miles of where you are, so “near you” means the same thing for everyone. each shop also sets its own delivery area, and only offers delivery inside it.
shops can ship things that travel well, like candles, pottery and prints. food, flowers and plants are pickup or local delivery only.
why does wareby verify shops?
we started wareby after selling our own baking at farmers markets in minneapolis. the bakers, florists, potters and candle makers in the tents next to ours were great, and almost impossible to find online. search for a gift or a loaf of bread, and you mostly get big brands and resellers.
so the rule from day one: everything on wareby comes from a real, independent business near you. when you buy here, your money goes to someone in your town. read more about us.
what if an order goes wrong?
the wareby promise covers every order. if an order never arrives, isn’t ready at your pickup time, or never ships, you get a full refund. if it arrives damaged, wrong, or not as described, the shop makes it right, and if it doesn’t, we step in. report a problem within 30 days of your order.
what if a shop isn’t what it says?
tell us. every shop page has a “report this shop” link, or you can reach us through the help center. we look into every report.
how does a shop get verified?
apply at sell on wareby. it takes about 10 minutes. have these ready:
- a photo id for the owner
- the address you make or sell from
- your food license or cottage food registration, if you sell food
it’s free to start, and a real person reviews every shop.
questions people ask
is every shop on wareby local?
yes. every shop has a real address, checked by our team, and you only see shops within 25 miles of you.
can chains or franchises sell on wareby?
no. wareby is only for independently owned businesses: no chains, no franchises and no drop-shippers.
how does wareby verify a shop?
before a shop opens, a person on our team checks the owner’s id, the shop’s address, and the food license or cottage food registration for any shop that sells food.
can home bakers sell on wareby?
yes, as registered cottage food producers. their food is pickup or delivery by the shop, never shipped.
what does 25 miles mean on wareby?
you see shops whose address is within 25 miles of you. each shop also sets how far it delivers.
we started tandoco, a small bakery in minneapolis, and sold under a blue tent at farmers markets before we built wareby. our story
