LHCOS Approved Store Logo
LHCOS Approved Store Logo

We believe in a positive community approach in that sellers support each other instead of aggressively competing against or attempting to undermine each other. We want you to be an active part of our community. If you are simply looking to expand your customer base, this is not the community for you.

You must be 18 years old or older to become an Approved Seller.

Approved Sellers are allowed to sell in our Facebook Buy/Sell group and will be listed on The Crab Street Journal  and in the Shopping Directory.  Please observe the Facebook group rules. The sale of live animals is prohibited by Facebook. You may not offer any animal for sale in our group. The status of selling isopods may be a gray area, as far as Facebook is concerned. Our rule will be to allow the sale of beneficial bugs like isopods and springtails so long as Facebook allows it. Check with a Facebook group admin before posting isopods or springtails for sale.

As an Approved Seller we expect you to have a solid grasp on what is safe or unsafe for hermit crabs based on our standards for care. It is impossible for everyone to know everything but we do expect you to do your research and to do your best to make a determination with the information available. It is acceptable to ask another Approved Seller for advice but if it appears you are abusing this and/or don’t understand safe/unsafe your status may be revoked or placed on hold for review.

If you are not currently selling food but decide to do so in the future you are required to re-apply for Approved Seller status so that we may review your new set up.

LHCOS has an additional Facebook group exclusively for Approved Sellers to collaborate or give/receive help from others. Most communication will happen here so we urge you to participate.

We believe in honesty and transparency and good customer service. Repeated, unresolved customer complaints may result in loss of approved status. As adults, civil conflict resolution between Approved Sellers is expected. You don’t have to be besties but you do have to be adults. 😀

Other unsavory behavior may result in a probationary status or revocation of approved status.

Any store that is inactive/not selling for 12 consecutive calendar months will be placed in RETIRED status. To be re-instated after retirement, the store must be re-opened and accepting orders for 6 consecutive months to be eligible for re-instatement. Re-instatement will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

What Makes a Great Approved Seller?

  • Solid knowledge of hermit crab’s dietary needs.
  • Basic knowledge of how to determine toxicity.
  • Sustainable, realistic pricing model
  • No under cutting other sellers
  • Original products – not copy cats of some one else’s product(s)
  • Good customer service and conflict resolution
  • Active in the LHCOS community – simply promoting your shop/items is not sufficient. Members are expected to give back to the community in some manner.
  • Team Player – we are here to UPLIFT each other so we can all succeed together and build our own retail universe for hermit crabs.
  • Participate in LHCOS events and contests.

We will provide you with a logo to display on your site.