Everything you need to master Kratings

Step-by-step:

1. Head to /auth/signup and complete the registration form.
2. Check your inbox (and spam folder) for the verification email titled “Confirm your Kratings account.”
3. Click the verification link to activate your account, then sign in from any device.

Step-by-step:

1. Visit /profile and open the “Settings” tab.
2. Update your display name, add a short bio, toggle newsletter or notification preferences, then press Save.
3. Use the Reset button if you need to discard unsaved changes.

Step-by-step:

1. Apply for vendor verification through the contact form with proof of business ownership.
2. Once approved, sign in and open /profile — a “Vendor Dashboard” card appears under the Overview tab.
3. Follow the dashboard prompts to upload logos, manage inventory, and respond to customer reviews.

Step-by-step:

1. Click the bell icon in the header to view your notifications panel.
2. Unread notifications appear with a highlight and show the notification type (message, review, swap, etc.).
3. Click any notification to navigate directly to the relevant content.
4. Mark notifications as read by viewing them or using the 'Mark all as read' option.

Tips:

• The notification badge updates in real-time without refreshing the page.
• You receive notifications for: new messages, vendor/admin responses to your reviews, swap offers, trade completions, and system announcements.
• Configure notification preferences in /settings to control which alerts you receive.

Tips:

• MESSAGE NOTIFICATIONS: New direct messages from other users (swap offers, questions, etc.)
• REVIEW RESPONSES: When vendors or admins respond to your strain reviews or vendor ratings
• SWAP ACTIVITY: Offers on your listings, trade confirmations, feedback requests
• COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Helpful votes on your reviews, replies to your comments
• SYSTEM UPDATES: Important announcements, policy changes, or feature releases

Tips:

• The AI knows your review history, favorite strains, current stash, and usage patterns.
• It provides real-time recommendations based on actual community ratings, not generic advice.
• All responses include proper medical disclaimers and harm reduction guidance.
• The AI only uses real data from the database — it never makes up vendor names or ratings.

Step-by-step:

1. Look for the glowing green Sparkles button in the bottom-right corner of any page.
2. Click the button to open a compact chat window that stays open while you browse.
3. For a full-screen experience, visit /ai-assistant for the complete interface.
4. The chat persists across pages — ask for recommendations, then click the links without losing your conversation!

Tips:

• You must be signed in to use the AI Assistant.
• Non-authenticated users see a teaser showcasing AI features with a sign-in prompt.
• Minimize the chat window to a small button using the minimize icon.
• Your conversation is saved and continues where you left off.

Tips:

• STRAIN DISCOVERY: 'What's the best strain for pain relief?' or 'Show me green strains under $80/kg'
• PERSONALIZED RECS: 'What should I try next?' or 'Find something similar to my favorites'
• VENDOR INFO: 'Tell me about Kats Botanicals' or 'Which vendors are verified?'
• STASH MANAGEMENT: 'What's in my stash?' or 'What should I use today based on my inventory?'
• COMPARISONS: 'Compare Red Bali vs Red Borneo' or 'Which vendor has the best Green Maeng Da?'
• EDUCATION: 'Explain the 7-factor rating system' or 'What's the difference between red and green veins?'
• USAGE TRACKING: 'Log that I took 3 grams of Green Malay' or 'Add this strain to my wishlist'
• TOLERANCE: 'I'm on a tolerance break, what should I try?' (it knows your break status!)

Tips:

• COMMUNITY DATA: All vendors (5 currently), strains (14 canonical), vendor-specific strains (66 combinations), reviews, ratings, prices, and effect profiles.
• YOUR PROFILE: Display name, karma, tier, join date, and review count.
• YOUR REVIEWS: Last 5 reviews with your ratings and favorite effects.
• YOUR FAVORITES: Strains you've starred with your personal notes and ratings.
• YOUR STASH: Current inventory with quantities, vendors, and last-used dates.
• YOUR USAGE LOGS: Last 10 dosage entries with effects, mood, and consumption method.
• YOUR TOLERANCE BREAK: Active status, start/end dates, and recommended dosages.
• YOUR PREFERENCES: Learned from history — preferred colors, effects, vendors, and price ranges.

Step-by-step:

1. Ask: 'What should I try next for morning energy?'
2. The AI checks your review history to see which energy strains you rated highly.
3. It finds similar strains in the database you haven't tried yet.
4. It respects your typical price range and preferred vendors.
5. If you're on a tolerance break, it suggests appropriate dosages.
6. You get 3-5 tailored recommendations with ratings, prices, and direct links.

Tips:

• The more you use Kratings (reviews, logs, favorites), the smarter the AI becomes.
• It remembers your conversation context, so you can ask follow-up questions naturally.
• Recommendations include vendor verification status and community review counts.

Step-by-step:

1. Say: 'Log that I took 4 grams of Red Bali using toss and wash'
2. The AI creates a dosage log with the amount, unit, method, and timestamp.
3. Ask: 'What's in my stash?' to see your current inventory with quantities.
4. Say: 'Add MIT45 - Green Borneo to my wishlist' to save strains you want to try.
5. Your usage calendar, streak stats, and stash levels update automatically.

Tips:

• The AI can note effects and mood when logging: 'Log 3g Green Malay, felt energized and focused'
• It tracks which strains you use most often for better recommendations.

Tips:

• SAFETY FIRST: All dosage and health-related responses include medical disclaimers.
• EMERGENCY DETECTION: The AI detects concerning content (medical emergencies, suicidal thoughts) and provides crisis resources immediately.
• HARM REDUCTION: Built-in guidance promotes responsible use, tolerance breaks, and strain rotation.
• NO PRESCRIPTIONS: The AI will never tell you specific doses for medical conditions — it refers you to healthcare providers.
• REAL DATA ONLY: The AI only uses actual database results, never fabricated vendor names or ratings.

Tips:

• EUPHORIA: Mood elevation, well-being, happiness
• PAIN RELIEF: Analgesic effects, discomfort reduction
• SEDATION: Relaxation, calming, sleep potential
• ENERGY: Stimulation, focus, alertness
• DURATION: How long effects last
• GRIND QUALITY: Powder fineness, texture, mixability
• PRICE/VALUE: Cost-effectiveness, worth the price

Tips:

• BEGINNER: 'I'm new to kratom, what should I start with?' → AI explains vein colors, suggests mild green strains, provides dosage disclaimers.
• SPECIFIC NEED: 'Find me the highest-rated red strain for pain under $90/kg' → AI searches by effect, color, and price, returns top 3 with vendor links.
• PERSONAL: 'What should I use today?' → AI checks your stash, sees what you haven't used in a while, considers time of day, recommends from your inventory.
• COMPARISON: 'How does Green Maeng Da compare to Green Malay?' → AI pulls both strain profiles and compares effects, ratings, prices, and best vendors side-by-side.
• TRACKING: 'Log 3.5 grams of White Borneo, capsules, felt energized' → Creates usage log with effects notes.
• EXPLORATION: 'I love Green Bali, what's similar?' → AI finds strains with similar effect profiles you haven't tried.

Step-by-step:

1. Navigate to any vendor's strain page (e.g., /vendors/golden-monk/strains/red-maeng-da).
2. Click the 'Add to List' button and select which list to add it to.
3. Access all your lists from /my-journey/strains to review, rate, and add notes.
4. Move strains between lists as your experience evolves (e.g., Wishlist → Tried → Favorites).

Tips:

• Add notes to Tried strains with dosage info, vendor batch quality, and personal effects.
• Use the Wishlist for strains mentioned in reviews or recommendations you want to remember.
• Your Tried list feeds directly into the Usage Log for quick dosage tracking.

Tips:

• Reviews and ratings are vendor-specific, so you can compare how different vendors source the same strain.
• Use the strain comparison feature on generic strain pages to see all vendors offering that strain.

Step-by-step:

1. Navigate to /vendors to browse featured vendors and filter by rating or review volume.
2. Click a vendor card to open their profile, catalog, shipping policies, and highlight reels.
3. Use the Favorite button to bookmark vendors for fast access under the Favorites tab on /profile.

Step-by-step:

1. Open /strains/finder and select the effects or attributes you care most about (e.g., energy, pain relief, duration).
2. Adjust optional filters for vein color, vendor availability, or grind quality.
3. Review the ranked results and click into any strain for detailed tasting notes, dosage feedback, and vendor sourcing.

Tips:

• Check /leaderboards weekly for the top scoring strains and most helpful reviewers.
• Follow favorite vendors to receive notifications when they add new catalog entries.
• Use the Journey dashboard to log strains you plan to revisit.

Step-by-step:

1. Visit /swap and click “Post a Listing.”
2. Fill in strain names, lot sizes, desired trades or pricing, shipping options, and upload clear photos.
3. Publish the listing — you can edit or pause it later from the same dashboard.

Tips:

• Use high resolution images and accurate weight measurements to build trust.
• Set expectations around payment methods or proof of purchase to avoid last-minute confusion.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Messages tab to reply — you can send photos of packaging, labels, or receipts as attachments.
2. Confirm shipping method, tracking number, and expected delivery date.
3. Mark the trade resolved by closing or updating your listing so others know it’s no longer available.

Tips:

• Check the respondent's profile for karma, reviews, trader feedback badges, and prior swap history.
• Request timestamped photos and shipment receipts when dealing with a new trader.
• Escalate issues quickly via the report option in the conversation toolbar.
• Look for feedback badges (Reliable Trader, Fast Shipper, etc.) on user profiles to gauge trustworthiness.

Step-by-step:

1. Once you receive your item, navigate to the swap listing or your messages thread.
2. Click 'Complete Transaction' on the listing (available to both the poster and the trader).
3. Select the other user you traded with from the dropdown.
4. Rate your experience (1-5 stars) and choose feedback tags: Reliable Trader, Fast Shipper, Good Communication, As Described, or Would Trade Again.
5. Optionally add a comment explaining the experience (visible to the recipient and on their profile).
6. Submit — your feedback appears as a badge on their profile and contributes to their trader reputation score.

Tips:

• Leave honest feedback to help protect the community from bad actors.
• Positive feedback increases the trader's reputation score and displays badges on their profile.
• Negative feedback (1-2 stars) flags the user for moderation review without publicly shaming them.
• Both parties can leave feedback independently — you don't need to wait for the other person.
• Feedback is permanent and cannot be edited or deleted, so be thoughtful and fair.

Tips:

• RELIABLE TRADER: Consistently receives 4-5 star ratings from multiple trading partners.
• FAST SHIPPER: Known for quick shipping and providing tracking promptly.
• GOOD COMMUNICATION: Responsive, clear, and courteous in swap negotiations.
• AS DESCRIBED: Items match the listing description accurately (strain, quantity, quality).
• WOULD TRADE AGAIN: Partners indicate they'd happily trade with this user again.
• Check a user's profile to see all their feedback badges and read detailed comments from past trades.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to /messages and click “New Message.”
2. Select the recipient (or follow the shortcut button from their profile/listing).
3. Compose your message, attach relevant photos, and hit Send. The conversation stays accessible under the same thread.

Tips:

• Use the emoji picker to clarify tone when discussing sensitive topics like potency or issues.
• Remove preview images before sending if you attach the wrong file — the composer supports quick deletion.

Tips:

• Archive resolved trades by closing the underlying listing so the thread moves out of your active queue.
• Use concise subject lines in the first message to identify the strain or trade quickly.

Step-by-step:

1. Click the Review button in the header or go to /submit-review.
2. Choose the vendor and strain, then rate each factor such as euphoria, pain relief, and duration.
3. Add tasting notes, dosage context, and upload optional batch photos before publishing.

Step-by-step:

1. Find your review on the vendor or strain page, or visit /profile and navigate to the My Reviews tab.
2. Click the 'Edit' button (pencil icon) on the review you want to modify.
3. Update your ratings (1-10 scale, whole numbers only), comment, or effect factors as needed.
4. Select a reason for editing from the dropdown: Fixed typo, Added details, Updated experience, Corrected rating, or Other.
5. Submit your changes — the review displays an 'Edited' indicator with edit count (e.g., 'Edited 2x').

Tips:

• Both strain reviews and vendor ratings can be edited with the same tracking system.
• Edit reasons are saved permanently but not shown publicly — they're for moderation transparency.
• Your edit count increases each time you modify a review, visible next to the 'Edited' label.
• Editing updates the vendor's average rating immediately for vendor ratings.
• You cannot edit reviews indefinitely to manipulate rankings — excessive editing may trigger moderation review.

Step-by-step:

1. After you submit a review, vendors receive notifications and can respond from their Vendor Dashboard.
2. Vendor responses appear in a green-highlighted box labeled 'Response from [Vendor Name]' with a timestamp.
3. Admin responses appear in a blue-highlighted box labeled 'Kratings Team Response' for official clarifications.
4. You'll receive a notification when someone responds to your review.
5. Both vendors and admins can edit or delete their responses if needed.

Tips:

• Vendor responses help clarify batch variations, address concerns, or thank customers for feedback.
• Admin responses typically provide context for flagged reviews, policy reminders, or safety warnings.
• Responses cannot change your rating — they're purely informational.
• Vendors cannot respond to negative reviews with promotional content or incentives (per community guidelines).

Tips:

• Check /leaderboard/karma to monitor your rank and available badge milestones.
• Maintain weekly contributions to keep streak bonuses active.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to /my-journey/usage and click 'Quick Log'.
2. Select a strain from your Tried list (you must mark strains as Tried first).
3. Enter dosage amount and unit (grams, teaspoons, or capsules).
4. Choose consumption method (toss & wash, tea, capsule, etc.) and optional mood/effects.
5. Submit to save — your log appears in Recent Logs and updates your usage calendar.

Tips:

• Log entries as soon as possible for accurate timestamps and patterns.
• Add effects notes to remember which strains work best for specific situations.
• The calendar heatmap shows your daily activity — click any day for detailed logs.
• Average daily dosage is calculated automatically and displayed in your stats.

Tips:

• Navigate between months to review historical patterns.
• Hover over any day to see log count and total dosage for that date.
• Use the calendar to identify trends like increased usage during stressful periods.

Tips:

• Deleting a log updates your stats and calendar immediately.
• Be careful when deleting as this action cannot be undone.

Step-by-step:

1. Navigate to /my-journey/stash to view your stash dashboard.
2. Click 'Add Stash Item' to create a new inventory entry.
3. Choose whether to link to existing vendors/strains in the database or create custom entries.
4. Enter initial quantity, unit (grams, ounces, teaspoons, capsules, etc.), and optional details like batch code or purchase date.
5. Your stash items appear on the dashboard with progress bars showing remaining inventory.

Tips:

• Link to existing vendors and strains when possible for easy navigation to reviews and ratings.
• Use 'custom' mode for strains not yet in the database or for private vendor sources.
• Add batch codes to track quality variance across different purchases from the same vendor.
• Purchase dates help you monitor freshness and rotation schedules.

Step-by-step:

1. Click 'Log Usage' on any active stash item.
2. Enter the dosage amount and unit (defaults to the stash item's unit).
3. Select consumption method (toss & wash, tea, capsules, extract, other).
4. Choose mood (positive, neutral, negative) and optionally add effects notes.
5. Submit — the usage log appears in your history and the stash quantity is reduced automatically.

Tips:

• Logging from stash creates a complete usage record with vendor, strain, and inventory tracking in one step.
• The system converts units automatically (e.g., logging in teaspoons from a gram-based stash).
• Your usage calendar and streak stats update immediately after logging from stash.
• The 'Last Used' field on stash items tracks when you last logged consumption.

Tips:

• Low Inventory alerts help you restock before running out of your favorite strains.
• Items show progress bars and percentage remaining for visual inventory tracking.
• Archived items don't count toward active inventory but remain in your history.

Step-by-step:

1. Click 'Adjust' on the stash item you want to modify.
2. Select adjustment type: Add amount, Restock (increase baseline), Remove (spillage/sharing), or Usage adjustment.
3. Enter the amount and unit (system converts automatically if units differ).
4. Optionally add notes explaining the adjustment (e.g., 'spilled 2g' or 'gifted to friend').

Tips:

• 'Add amount' increases remaining quantity without changing the initial baseline.
• 'Restock' increases both remaining quantity and the initial quantity baseline for accurate percentage calculations.
• 'Remove' is for non-consumption reductions like spills, gifts, or disposal.
• 'Usage adjustment' corrects previously logged consumption amounts.
• All adjustments are tracked in the stash event history for audit purposes.

Tips:

• Example: Create one item for 'Green Maeng Da - Vendor A - Batch #2401' and another for 'Green Maeng Da - Vendor B'.
• Add notes about potency, freshness, or flavor differences between batches.
• When both are linked to the same canonical strain, you can compare vendor-strain reviews side-by-side.

Tips:

• Archive empty containers or strains you no longer use to declutter your dashboard.
• Archived items still count toward your usage history and strain tried badges.
• You can filter to view archived items by toggling the 'Include Archived' option (feature coming soon).

Step-by-step:

1. Complete actions naturally — try your first strain, submit a review, log usage for 7 days straight.
2. Check /profile/badges or the My Journey overview to see earned badges and progress toward the next tier.
3. Each badge awards bonus karma points when unlocked.

Tips:

• Explorer badge: Try your first strain (mark one as Tried).
• Logger badge: Log your first usage entry.
• Reviewer badge: Submit your first strain review.
• Week Warrior: Login 7 days in a row for consistency.
• Collector: Try 10 different strains to earn this rare badge.

Tips:

• This system is the same one used by IMDb and other platforms to prevent review bombing or artificial inflation.
• The formula balances the number of reviews (v) against a minimum threshold (m) and global average (C).
• More reviews = more confidence in the rating, so scores stabilize over time.

Step-by-step:

1. Open /my-journey to view recent entries, goal progress, and streak performance.
2. Log daily usage details, mood, and outcomes to build a personalized history.
3. Review the insights cards for suggested rest days or strain rotations.

Step-by-step:

1. Navigate to /my-journey/tolerance-breaks and click 'Start New Break'.
2. Set your break start date, planned duration (e.g., 7 days, 14 days, 30 days), and optional end date.
3. Choose your break type: Full Break (complete abstinence), Taper (gradual reduction), or Partial (reduced dosage).
4. Add notes about your reasons, goals, or symptoms you're tracking during the break.
5. Your active break appears on the My Journey overview with progress indicators and days remaining.
6. The AI Assistant automatically knows you're on a break and adjusts recommendations accordingly.

Tips:

• The AI won't suggest high-potency strains or large doses if you're on an active tolerance break.
• When your break ends, the AI recommends starting with lower doses than your pre-break baseline.
• Track withdrawal symptoms, mood changes, or sleep quality in your break notes for future reference.
• Usage logs during a break are flagged so you can review compliance with your taper plan.
• Completing tolerance breaks earns you badges and bonus karma for discipline.

Step-by-step:

1. Navigate to the Tolerance section within My Journey or use the calculator component when logging a dose.
2. Enter your current daily dosage, desired goal, and time horizon to generate a tailored taper plan.
3. The calculator suggests a week-by-week reduction schedule to minimize withdrawal discomfort.
4. Export or screenshot the schedule so you can reference it during your reset week.
5. Log your actual consumption daily to compare against the taper plan and track adherence.

Tips:

• Combine the taper planner with tolerance break tracking for comprehensive support.
• The AI can remind you of your taper goals and suggest appropriate strains for reduced-dose days.

Tips:

• Remove personally identifying details before sharing outside the platform.
• Combine tolerance data with review history to understand which strains aligned with your wellness goals.

Tips:

• Confirm the trader’s email matches their Kratings account before sharing external contact information.
• Use tracked shipping and keep receipts until both sides confirm delivery.
• Save conversation transcripts in case moderators need context.

Step-by-step:

1. Click the Report option within the problematic thread or listing.
2. Provide a concise summary of what happened (include screenshots if helpful).
3. Our moderators respond via email or direct message with next steps.