Sample Integrity Policy
11/25/2025
Summary
What is the purpose of the Sample Integrity Policy on TikTok Shop and how does it benefit creators and sellers?
- The policy incentivizes creators to post content after receiving free samples, protecting sellers from creators who request samples but don’t post. Consistent creators gain more flexibility, such as posting extensions, enhancing trust and collaboration.
What are the key obligations and options for creators after receiving free samples?
- Creators must post content within 14 days or risk a lower fulfillment rate affecting future sample eligibility. They can request one 7-day posting extension or appeal once if the sample is defective, both managed via the Manage Samples page.
How are creators penalized for failing to post content after receiving samples, and how does this impact their future participation?
- Creators’ fulfillment rates drop if they don’t post, visible to sellers who may reject their sample requests. Lower rates reduce eligibility for sample promotions and coupons, discouraging non-compliance and promoting accountability.
What visibility and control do sellers have regarding creators’ posting extensions and appeals?
- Sellers do not receive notifications about creators’ extension requests and cannot control or restrict these extensions; TikTok Shop fully manages this process to streamline creator support and maintain fairness.
What tools and information are available to creators to manage their sample posting obligations?
- Creators can view sample orders, request extensions, and submit appeals via Manage Samples. They receive reminders about posting obligations but cannot see their own fulfillment rate, though sellers can see creators’ posting performance levels.
Overview
The Sample Integrity Policy in our affiliate program incentivizes good behavior from TikTok Shop creators and protects sellers who are offering free samples. This policy aims to give well-intentioned creators more options when posting sample content, and limit the ability for creators who receive free samples and do not post content to request free samples from sellers. If you're a creator who consistently posts content after receiving sample products, you'll be able to enjoy greater flexibility with posting obligations, such as posting extensions.For creators
Images are for reference only (actual experience may differ)| Post reminders | Extension requests | Successful extension | Sample product issues | Only 1 appeal per sample |
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Reinforced sample posting reminders
When you receive a free sample from sellers, a campaign, or coupon, you'll be reminded in Manage samples that you're obligated to post content upon receiving the sample — failure to post content may impact your ability to receive samples in the future.Sample posting extensions and appeals
When viewing your free sample requests, or sample orders completed with sample coupons and campaigns, a support module will appear. There, you can request posting extensions, appeal your obligation to post if the sample you received is unsatisfactory, or request additional help.How to request an extension
- If you need additional time to post content, you can request an extension and receive an additional 7 days to post content.
- You can request an extension at any point after receiving a sample and before your 14 day window to post content expires. You can only request an extension once for a single sample.
- To do so, navigate to a specific sample order details page within Manage Samples and select Unable to post within 14 days.
- Once you've submitted your extension request, you'll receive confirmation that your request was successful on the order details page. If you try to request a second extension, you'll be reminded that you already requested one extension for the sample.
- If you still do not post content within the 7-day extension period after requesting a sample, that sample order is considered overdue. You can still post content, however the fulfillment rate may be negatively impacted.
How to appeal sample posting obligations
- If you receive a sample that's defective or unsatisfactory, you can appeal so that you're not obligated to post content for the sample. You can only appeal once for a single sample order.
- To submit your appeal, navigate to a specific sample order details page within Manage Samples and select Something wrong with this sample
- Once you've submitted your request for a posting exemption, you'll receive confirmation of a successful appeal on the order details page and the request will be closed. If you try to appeal for a second time, you'll be reminded that you already requested an appeal for that sample.
FAQs
- How will creators be penalized for not posting content? What's changing? We're providing more accurate metrics to sellers around creators' likelihood of posting content once they receive a sample. As a creator, your fulfillment rate will decrease when you receive sample content and do not post content. Sellers will be able to see this lower fulfillment rate, which could lead to reject ingthose creators' requests in Affiliate Center. Creators' eligibility to participate in TikTok Shop sample promotions and receive sample coupons will also be impacted as their fulfillment rate decreases, further discouraging creators from receiving samples and not posting content.
- Will sellers know when a creator has requested a posting extension? Currently, sellers won't receive any notifications when creators request a posting extension
- Can sellers control whether creators are able to request a posting extension? No. Posting extensions will be fully managed by TikTok Shop.
- As a creator, can I see my sample posting rate? While sellers are able to see whether individual creators have sample posting rates of Ok, Good, or Better, you aren't able to see your own sample posting rate. You can always check Manage Samples to see your samples and associated content