How verification works
Every badge on this directory is earned, not claimed. We review documented evidence against a fixed rubric, assign a metal tier by the strength of that evidence, and only then award the credential. Companies cannot pay for a badge.
The credentials we award
The process
Reviewed before it’s awarded
Gather evidence
We collect inputs from the company’s site, certifications, public records, and third-party sources — never a single self-reported claim.
Review & grade
A reviewer checks each input against the rubric below and assigns gold, silver, or bronze by how strong the evidence is.
Award & re-check
Approved companies receive the master ✓ Verified mark. We re-review when something material changes — a domain move, an ownership change, a downgrade.
The master Verified mark
The green seal means a company has passed reviewer approval. It’s the top-level trust signal — and it sits alongside the individual credential badges below, each graded on its own evidence.
The rubric
What earns gold, silver, and bronze
Each credential is graded independently. A blank cell means that tier doesn’t apply to that credential.
| Credential | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made in USA Where products are made — independently reviewed, not self-reported. | Products made in the USA | Mostly U.S.-made, some imported parts | A mix of U.S.-made and imported |
| U.S. Support Customer support is based in the United States. | Customer support based in the U.S. | — | Support partly based in the U.S. |
| Human Support Support is handled by people, not only automation. | Reachable humans, not only bots | A mix of people and automation | — |
| Fast Support Typical response time to customer inquiries. | Typically responds within 24 hours | Typically responds within 1–3 days | — |
| U.S. Labor Standards Meets U.S. labor standards across operations. | Meets U.S. labor standards across operations | — | Partially meets U.S. labor standards |
| Warranty Coverage backing the product. | Lifetime coverage on the product | Limited / time-bound coverage | — |
| Eco-Friendly Environmental practices and commitments. | Strong, documented environmental practices | — | Some environmental practices in place |
| Gives Back Gives back to the community or charitable causes. | Documented community or charitable giving | — | — |
Ownership
Ownership credentials
These are present-or-absent — confirmed against documentation, with no metal tier.
What we look at
Evidence sources
Company-provided
Official website, product documentation, certifications, and warranty terms.
Independent records
Better Business Bureau, public filings, and recognized industry certifications.
Third-party signals
Reputation and review platforms such as Glassdoor and Trustpilot, plus relevant news.
See something wrong?
A credential is only as good as its accuracy. If a badge looks unearned or a detail is out of date, tell us and we’ll re-review.