Is paintwithnumber.com Legit?

When evaluating the legitimacy of paintwithnumber.com, several factors come into play, pointing towards it being a legitimate operation, albeit one that could improve its transparency.

The foundational elements of an online business are present: a registered domain, active DNS records, and robust website security.

The domain has been active since September 2020, with a future expiration date in September 2025, which suggests a sustained commitment rather than a fly-by-night setup.

The use of HTTPS across the site and the presence of numerous SSL certificates through Certificate Transparency logs indicate that the website takes data security seriously, encrypting sensitive information like payment details during transactions.

This is a fundamental requirement for any legitimate e-commerce platform.

Furthermore, the website clearly outlines its product—paint-by-numbers kits—and provides a wide array of options, including customizable kits.

The pricing is transparent, showing both original and sale prices.

They mention reliable shipping partners like FedEx and a “100% Money Back Guarantee,” which, while lacking immediate specific terms, implies a policy of customer satisfaction.

The business appears to be focused on a specific niche, which is common for legitimate online retailers.

They also actively encourage sharing on social media with a specific hashtag, suggesting they are building a community around their product, a hallmark of many authentic brands.

However, the lack of immediate, prominently displayed links to detailed legal policies (Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, detailed Refund Policy) and verifiable third-party reviews (like Trustpilot or Google Reviews) slightly detracts from a perfect score on legitimacy.

While the components are there, making these crucial trust signals more readily accessible would enhance their perceived legitimacy significantly.

Domain Registration and Longevity

A key indicator of an online business’s legitimacy is its domain registration details.

• Creation Date: paintwithnumber.com was created on September 22, 2020. This means it has been active for several years, which is a positive sign. Many scam websites have very recent creation dates.
• Expiry Date: The domain is set to expire on September 22, 2025. A future expiration date suggests a long-term plan for the business, rather than a temporary setup.
• Registrar: The registrar is Tucows Domains Inc., a well-known and reputable domain service provider.
• Domain Status: The status clientTransferProhibited and clientUpdateProhibited are standard security measures, not red flags.
• Conclusion: The WHOIS data generally supports the site’s legitimacy, showing a stable and established online presence.

Website Security Measures

Security is paramount for any e-commerce site, and paintwithnumber.com demonstrates good practice here.

• HTTPS Protocol: The site uses HTTPS, which means all data exchanged between your browser and the website is encrypted. This is crucial for protecting personal and payment information.
• SSL Certificates: The Certificate Transparency logs show 212 certificates found, indicating regular updates and maintenance of their SSL encryption. This suggests continuous attention to security infrastructure.
• Secure Payment Claims: The website explicitly states “100% Secure Payments” and claims to use “the most secure technologies in the world.” While a general statement, the underlying HTTPS support lends credibility to this.
• Conclusion: The strong emphasis on security protocols like HTTPS and active SSL certificates aligns with legitimate online businesses that prioritize customer data protection.

Product & Service Transparency

Legitimate businesses typically provide clear and accurate information about their products and services.

• Clear Product Description: The website clearly defines “What is Paint By Numbers?” and lists the contents of their kits (canvas, paints, brushes).
• Transparent Pricing: Each product listing shows both a “Sale price” and “Regular price,” indicating pricing transparency and current discounts.
• Shipping Information: While general, the mention of “Express Shipping” and FedEx partnership provides some clarity on delivery methods.
• Conclusion: The information provided about the products and their pricing is straightforward, which is typical of a legitimate retail operation.

Customer Service and Policies

This is an area where paintwithnumber.com could improve its immediate transparency, though the existence of certain policies implies legitimacy.

• Money Back Guarantee: The website states a “100% Money Back Guarantee,” which is a positive sign for consumer confidence. However, the instruction “Please contact customer service for refund” means the specific terms (e.g., return window, eligibility, process) are not immediately visible on the homepage.
• Missing Direct Policy Links: Critically, direct links to comprehensive Legal Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, or a detailed Refund Policy are not readily apparent from the provided homepage text. Legitimate businesses typically place these in the footer for easy access. This forces users to search or infer their existence.
• General Contact: While “customer service” is mentioned, a specific email, phone number, or physical address is not provided on the homepage.
• Conclusion: While promises of guarantees exist, the lack of immediate access to detailed policy documents and direct contact information on the homepage slightly impacts immediate perceived legitimacy compared to best-in-class e-commerce sites. It’s not a red flag for a scam, but an area for improvement in customer trust-building.

Online Presence and Claims

The website makes claims about its standing in the market and customer base. theliven.com FAQ

• “Top Paint-by-Numbers Brand”: This is a self-proclaimed title, common in marketing.
• “Trusted by 100,000+ artists”: This claim aims to build social proof.
• “5 Star Paint By Numbers Store”: Again, a self-assessment based on quality, service, and shipping.
• Social Media Engagement: The encouragement to “Share your masterpiece on social media and get featured #paintwithnumber” indicates an effort to build a community and leverage user-generated content.
• Conclusion: While these claims aim to build trust, the absence of prominent direct links to third-party review platforms (like Trustpilot, Yelp, or independent blogs) means these claims cannot be immediately verified by an external source from the homepage itself. This doesn’t make it illegitimate, but it means a user needs to take these claims at face value until they can verify elsewhere.