Ethics Policy

Editorial independence

Sponsors, advertisers and affiliate partners never see stories before publication, never approve coverage, and never receive favorable treatment. Buying a placement does not buy editorial attention — and declining one never costs it.

Labeling

• Every paid unit is marked SPONSORED with the sponsor named.
• Branded content produced with a partner is labeled at the top and never appears in news rails as reporting.
• Affiliate outbound links carry rel="sponsored" and a visible disclosure.

Affiliate revenue

Some links to marketplaces earn HobbyWaves a commission. We link to the item a reader is most likely to want, not the one that pays best, and commissions never determine what we cover.

Gifts, comps and access

Staff do not accept cash, cards, slabs, or products of value. Show badges and review samples are disclosed in the story, and review product is returned or donated.

Personal collecting

Our team collects. Anyone with a material position in an item, company or market must disclose it in the story or hand the assignment to someone else. No one trades on unpublished reporting.

Questions

Something look off? Tell us through the contact form — ethics reports go straight to the editor.