With all these regulations, how do you know which online retailers are legitimate and which ones are sketchy? Here's what to look for:
Signs of a PACT-Compliant Retailer
| ✅ Good Sign | ❌ Red Flag |
|---|---|
| Asks for your date of birth at checkout | No age verification at all |
| Uses third-party age verification service | Just asks you to click "I'm 21+" |
| Charges tax based on your location | No tax charged or flat tax only |
| Requires adult signature at delivery | Offers "no signature" or "stealth" shipping |
| Clearly states which states they ship to | Says they ship "all 50 states" |
| Blocks sales to restricted states | Ignores state flavor bans and restrictions |
| Provides contact info and physical address | Anonymous site with no contact info |
| Accepts major credit cards | Only accepts crypto, Zelle, or other hard-to-trace payment |
For a complete guide to spotting legitimate retailers, see our article on how to tell if a vape brand is legitimate.
What About Vape Marketplaces?
You might be wondering about major e-commerce platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Shopify. Here's the short version:
- Amazon & eBay: Both prohibit the sale of vaping products on their platforms. Any vape products you find there are likely counterfeit, used, or listed by third-party sellers violating the rules.
- Shopify: Shopify has been cracking down on vape stores under pressure from state attorneys general. Many vape merchants have left the platform. For more, see our guide to the Shopify vape ban and merchant migration.
- Direct brand websites: Buying directly from the brand's official website is generally the safest option — brands like Vuse, JUUL, and Vaporesso run PACT-compliant online stores.
