This is going to be a post detailing the things I've learned in the past few years that I've been using DNMs, in the hopes that it might help someone (or maybe help me, if I get comments telling me what I'm doing wrong).
First of all, let me say that I'd like to think of myself as a pretty "well-rounded" DNM user. As in, I've both used Tails and not used Tails, I've used more than one different marketplace, I've used many different vendors, I've been scammed, I've used PO boxes as well as regular home mailboxes, I've ordered a variety of different types of drugs, I've been arrested (drug-related but not DNM-related), and I've ordered both domestically and internationally.
Here are the things I've learned, and the tips I have for you:
First and foremost, always use PGP. It's easy to learn how to do, and there's just no good reason not to do it. You never know when it might save you.
Read the vendor reviews. Just because they have a four-star rating doesn't mean they're trustworthy. Actually take the time to go through the reviews and see if you're willing to put your time and money into doing business with them.
You don't always get what you pay for. I've gotten hella fire heroin for dirt cheap and I've gotten absolute shit black tar for a pretty penny. Again, read the reviews to make an informed decision, but know that in the end, you just might end up receiving some shitty product. You're bound to have this happen at least once if you've been using the DNMs for a while. You win some, you lose some.
Get a MyUSPS (I think they might have changed the name to Informed Delivery now?) account. And pay the extra cash for priority shipping so you can track your package. Vendors don't like to hand out tracking numbers willy nilly, but if you have a MyUSPS account, you'll almost always get the tracking info sent to you automatically. Knowing exactly what the status is on your package at all times is a really nice luxury to have.
Don't count on overnight shipping, even if you shell out some big bucks for it. I'm not even sure why most vendors offer this option because hardly any of them actually make it a priority to get the package out ASAP, and therefore it ends up taking way longer than "overnight" for you to receive the package.
Leave vendor reviews, but don't write your review while you're high. I think this one is self-explanatory.
FE is not always a bad thing. Yes, it's safer not to do it, but if you really trust the vendor and you're willing to risk it, FE can sometimes save you a little money.
You can't know the potency of a drug, no matter how many reviews you've read or how many times you've ordered from the same vendor. My best friend is dead and he was the most careful person I've ever known in regards to drugs, so if it can happen to him, it can happen to you. Always, always use less than you think you'll need. You can always use more, you can never use less.
I've seen terrible stealth, and I've seen impeccable stealth. If you don't like a particular vendor's standards when it comes to stealth, use a different vendor. You can always find a vendor who uses better stealth, and you shouldn't settle for less than what feels safe to you.
PO boxes can be great, but aren't necessarily important. If you don't share your mailbox with anyone, you should be fine using your home address, but if you want to keep your mail from wandering eyes, a PO box is always an option. PO boxes are also nice because they usually have mail delivered to them by a certain time every day (mine was 11am), so you know exactly when to expect your package.
If you're wondering whether to stick to domestic vendors or to venture out to using international vendors, it really just depends on what you feel comfortable with. Some things to take into account: 1) No USPS priority shipping when ordering internationally, so your tracking options will be limited, 2) Customs are always an area of sensitivity when it comes to package inspections, which is why most people try to avoid international ordering if possible, but if your vendor has good stealth it should be fine (I've never had an issue), 3) Shipping overseas generally takes longer than shipping domestically, so keep that in mind if you want your package in a timely manner. 4) You are going to be restricting your choices if you're limiting yourself to domestic vendors; you have access to a lot more options if you open yourself up to ordering internationally, 5) A package coming from a foreign country may look more suspicious than a domestic package, not only to LE, but to parents, roommates, etc., especially if you don't normally receive international packages
If you don't know what a package is or don't recognize it, that's a big clue that it's probably your DNM order. If you're expecting a DNM order and you get some random junk mail, for instance, look through it thoroughly to ensure you don't mistakenly throw away your product!
Don't psych yourself out by worrying about nothing. If you've made an actual mistake, like forgetting to encrypt your address or shipping to a known flagged address, then it may be reasonable to worry, but in most cases, if you've followed all standard safety procedures, you should be fine.
All right, that's all my advice I currently have for using DNMs successfully! I hope this was helpful or informative for some of you and not too repetitive of what you've already heard!
but some are so much fun :(