FAQ
Quick answers to common questions. Don't see yours? Try contact.
The basics
What is Tableread?
A creative community platform — reviews, marketplace, video, and collaboration tools for the people who make and care about media. More on the about page.
Is it free?
Reading and basic participation is free. Some features (uploading video, going live, certain creative-pipeline tools) require a subscription once we're out of alpha. During alpha, most things are open while we figure out what works.
Who can join?
Anyone 13 or older. We screen for human signups (no bots) and new accounts go through a quick admin approval before getting full platform access.
Account
I forgot my password.
Use forgot password on the sign-in page. We'll email you a link. The link expires after one hour — if it expires, request a new one.
I'm not getting your emails.
Check your spam / junk folder first — Outlook in particular tends to file new senders there. Add noreply@tableread.com to your safe-senders list and that fixes it for future emails. Still stuck? Email support@tableread.com.
Can I delete my account?
Yes. Email support@tableread.com from the address tied to your account and we'll remove it within 30 days. Self-serve deletion in settings is on the roadmap.
Reviews & reviewers
What's the difference between Member Reviews and Pro Reviewers?
Member Reviews are quick takes (up to 400 characters) anyone can post. Pro Reviewers write longer, in-depth reviews (100+ words) and apply for the role after their account is approved. Pro Reviewers can earn Spots — the platform's reputation currency — and over time qualify for paid review work.
How do I become a Pro Reviewer?
After your account is approved by an admin, visit /reviewer/apply. You'll share a short statement and the genres / formats you want to cover. An admin reviews each application; if accepted, you can claim items from the open coverage pool, accept review solicitations from members, and start earning Spots toward the reviewer tier ladder.
Privacy & money
Do you store my credit card?
No. All payments go through Stripe — we only see a customer ID and high-level transaction metadata. Card numbers never touch our servers.
Do you sell my data?
No. And we don't use your content to train AI models.
Why do some pages show an "identity verification required" gate?
Features that involve money or strong reputation claims (creator payouts, certain marketplace flows, Pro Reviewer commissions) require Stripe Identity verification. It's optional — only opt in if you're using those features. The gov ID and selfie data go to Stripe, not to us.
Reputation & Spots
What are Spots?
Spots are Tableread's reputation currency. You earn them by contributing — posting reviews, getting helpful votes on those reviews, receiving endorsements from other members, and crossing milestones (account approval, first review, role grants). Lifetime Spots determine your tier on a ladder that runs Tin → Bronze → Silver → Gold → Platinum → Emerald → Diamond, which signals your engagement on profile pages and member cards.
Can I cash Spots out?
Not directly. Spots aren't money. Down the road, you'll be able to convert Spots into Reels — a related currency that redeems against rewards in the Tableread catalog. Some rewards are platform-only (cosmetic flair, featured placement, capability unlocks); higher-tier rewards may be cashed out via Stripe and are subject to tax reporting (1099-B once cumulative cash redemptions cross $600 in a calendar year). Reel redemption isn't live yet — we'll announce it on Glass when it ships.
Do Spots cost me anything?
No. Spots are earned through participation. There's no way to buy Spots with real money — and we won't add one. The whole point is that reputation is earned, not purchased.
The platform
Where can I see what you spend money on?
Glass is our transparency dashboard — revenue, costs, member-voted priorities, and a public suggestion board. Glass is a paid add-on, separate from a basic Tableread account.
Why are some areas locked or grayed out?
Tableread has a tiered access model: Registered → Screened (passed the creative-knowledge quiz) → Approved (admin reviewed) → Identity Verified (Stripe) → Subscriber. Different features unlock at each tier. The locks aren't paywalls — they're sequencing.
What's your AI policy?
Tableread is a platform built for human creative judgment. We don't use member data to train models, and Pro Reviewer applications include human verification steps. We're not anti-AI — we're pro-human-as-the-source-of-the-take.