How VouchKart checks sellers

Last updated 21 October 2026

This page explains what VouchKart checks about each seller, what those checks can and can't tell you and how we build the numbers in our research.

Which sellers are on VouchKart

Sellers are added as we find public Instagram shops. They're also added whenever someone looks up a shop we don't have yet. We only use public information: what a seller shows on Instagram, on their website and in the other places they link to.

First, is it a public shop?

Before running any checks we confirm two things about the Instagram account.

  • It's public. If the account is private we stop there. We look again later in case it becomes public.
  • It's selling something. Personal accounts and other accounts that don't sell anything don't get seller checks.

What we check

Instagram

  • Whether the account is verified and still posting.
  • Whether comments are turned off. Comments are often where buyers complain.
  • The account's past handles. We track handle changes over time. That way reviews written under an old name can still be found.

Their website

  • Whether it loads and whether it's a real shop rather than a parked domain.
  • When the domain was registered.
  • Whether the website links back to the same Instagram account. Someone copying a brand can't easily fake links in both directions.
  • Business registration numbers such as a GSTIN, when the site lists one. We show what the site says. We don't check it against a government register.
  • Return, cash on delivery, shipping and unboxing-video policies, read from their own policy pages.
  • Which ways to pay their checkout offers.

Contact details

  • Phone numbers from their Instagram bio, website, Google Maps listing and WhatsApp. We check whether they match.
  • Whether a number is a WhatsApp Business account.
  • How often their contact number changes.
  • Other stores that list the same number.

Google Maps

  • Whether a listing linked from their bio really belongs to them, by matching its website, phone number and address.
  • Whether Google marks it as closed or has flagged suspicious reviews on it.

Other places they sell

  • Marketplace stores linked from their bio. Ordering through a marketplace usually gets you its return and refund protection.

Buyer reviews

  • Reviews written on VouchKart by people who bought from the seller. Reviews with proof of purchase are prioritised.

What our checks can and can't tell you

  • Each finding is a snapshot. It shows what we saw on the date next to it. Sellers change their websites, numbers and policies.
  • We report evidence. We don't certify sellers. A seller page isn't a guarantee that a seller is safe or unsafe. It's what we found, explained.
  • No complaints isn't the same as safe. For many small sellers there's very little public information either way.
  • We only attach information that's provably about this seller. Many shops have similar names. Something only counts if it contains a detail unique to the seller, like their handle, phone number or website.
  • Normal isn't the same as risky. An exchange-only policy, a small booking fee for cash on delivery or a request for an unboxing video is everyday practice for many honest sellers. We explain these calmly and keep warnings for real, evidenced problems.

How we build research numbers

  • The sample is sellers we've checked. It isn't every Instagram seller in India. Our reports say "among sellers we've checked" because that's what the numbers describe.
  • Each report uses a fixed, dated snapshot. VouchKart adds sellers every day. Each report states the date and the number of sellers it covers. Its figures don't change after publishing.
  • We publish counts, not just percentages. You can always see how many sellers a figure is based on.
  • We don't publish figures for small groups. Each report states the minimum group size it uses for category and city breakdowns.
  • We say what we measured, not every step of how. Some details of how we collect data stay private. Publishing them would make our checks easier to game.

Questions or corrections

Email [email protected]. Our about page explains how we handle corrections.