Marketplace Standards
This is the standards view of the shop handbook: what belongs on Shopville, what does not, and how we protect marketplace trust as the shop base grows.
Core principles
Original work and honest representation
Shopville is built for distinctive products from independent shops and creative businesses. Listings should clearly reflect what a buyer will actually receive.
Reliable fulfilment and communication
Customers should know when an item will ship, what will be personalised or made to order, and how to get help if something changes.
Trust, safety, and respectful commerce
We protect the marketplace by reviewing unsafe, prohibited, infringing, or misleading listings and by stepping in when customer trust is at risk.
What shops agree to
- Sell products that match the marketplace standards for originality, quality, legality, and safety.
- Use accurate titles, photos, pricing, dimensions, material details, and fulfilment timelines.
- Keep stock, variants, and lead times reasonably up to date so buyers are not misled during checkout.
- Respond promptly when a buyer needs clarification, an update, or help with an order issue.
- Respect intellectual property, consumer protection rules, and all applicable tax and compliance obligations.
What belongs and what does not
What belongs on Shopville
- Original, handmade, artist-led, custom, or clearly shop-designed products that fit the marketplace direction.
- Small-batch goods where the shop remains responsible for quality, description accuracy, and customer experience.
- Products whose category, materials, claims, and safety profile can be explained honestly and supported if reviewed.
What generally does not belong
- Counterfeit, infringing, or unauthorized replica products.
- Illegal, dangerous, recalled, or heavily restricted items.
- Listings that materially misrepresent origin, materials, production process, or what the buyer will receive.
- Unsupported medical, safety, or performance claims that create customer or regulatory risk.
How reviews and enforcement work
- Request corrections to listings, policies, shop details, or fulfilment settings.
- Temporarily hide or remove products that do not meet marketplace standards.
- Limit selling privileges while a risk, compliance, or service issue is being reviewed.
- Suspend or close a shop account for repeated, severe, or unresolved policy violations.
Want the quick-answer version?
If you mostly need short operational answers, jump to FAQ. If you need listing guidance, go back to listings and photos.