Is whitemountainpuzzles.com a Scam?

Based on a thorough examination of the available evidence, whitemountainpuzzles.com is unequivocally not a scam. In fact, it presents all the hallmarks of a well-established, reputable, and legitimate e-commerce business. Scam websites typically exhibit a pattern of behaviors and characteristics that are conspicuously absent from whitemountainpuzzles.com.

Evidence Against It Being a Scam

Let’s break down why this site stands up to scrutiny, especially when compared to typical scam operations:

• Domain Longevity: Scam sites are almost always very new, often only a few months old, designed to quickly defraud and then disappear. Whitemountainpuzzles.com has been active since August 12, 1999. That’s over two decades of continuous operation. This extreme longevity is a near-definitive indicator of legitimacy. A scam wouldn’t survive this long.
• Transparent Contact Information: Fraudulent sites often hide their identity or provide fake, untraceable contact details. Whitemountainpuzzles.com provides:
  • A physical street address: 18 Black Mountain Rd., Jackson, NH 03846, which can be verified.
  • A toll-free phone number: 1-800-548-8009, with a claim of 24/7 customer support. Scammers rarely offer phone support, let alone round-the-clock.
• Professional Website Design and Functionality: Scam websites are often hastily put together, with poor grammar, broken links, and unprofessional layouts. Whitemountainpuzzles.com is clean, well-organized, and fully functional, indicating significant investment and maintenance.
• Clear Policies and Terms: Legitimate businesses provide comprehensive legal pages. Whitemountainpuzzles.com has readily accessible “Privacy Policy,” “Terms & Conditions,” “Return Policy,” and an excellent “Happiness Guarantee” which promises returns “for any reason.” Scams typically have vague or non-existent policies to avoid accountability.
• Positive External Reviews (Trustpilot): The site links directly to its Trustpilot profile and boasts “over 50,000 reviews.” Trustpilot is an independent review platform. While individual reviews can be faked, a large volume of overwhelmingly positive reviews on such a platform is difficult for a scammer to fabricate or maintain.
• Established Brand History: The claim “Proudly Made in the USA since 1978” speaks to a long-standing business that predates its online presence. This history suggests a deeply rooted company, not a temporary fraudulent scheme.
• Secure Website (SSL Certificate): The presence of multiple SSL certificates (360 found) indicates that the site encrypts user data, protecting sensitive information like payment details. Scammers often neglect this critical security measure.
• Realistic Pricing and Offers: The prices for puzzles are consistent with market rates, and offers like “FREE Shipping Over $75” are standard, believable promotions. There are no “too good to be true” deals designed to bait victims.
• Diverse and Specific Product Offerings: The site’s detailed categorization by artist, piece count, and theme, along with specific product names and images, shows a genuine inventory, unlike scam sites that might list generic or non-existent items.

Considering these robust points, there is no indication whatsoever that whitemountainpuzzles.com is a scam.

It appears to be a trustworthy and reputable online retailer of jigsaw puzzles.