Trust badges
Trust badges help you quickly understand whether a seller or member has built a consistent record of verified, reliable activity on the platform. Trust is earned through verified transactions, recent reviews, seller feedback, and behavior over time. A badge is not a guarantee, but it is a useful signal when you are deciding who to contact, buy from, or sell to.Trust is based on verified marketplace activity. A member who is new, has not completed enough verified transactions, or has mostly older activity may show Not yet rated even if they are a legitimate user.
Where trust badges appear
You may see trust badges in a few places:- listing pages
- seller profiles
- member profiles
- other reputation surfaces tied to a verified transaction history
- Trusted Seller
- Trusted Buyer
- Trusted Member
What the badges look like
Use the icon shape and the label together:| Badge | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Filled badge with checkmark. This is the trusted badge style used for Trusted Seller, Trusted Buyer, or Trusted Member. | |
| Outline badge. This is used for lower-trust states such as Earning trust or Not yet rated. Read the text label next to it for the exact status. |
What trust is based on
Trust is based on verified activity and recent behavior, not only on the average star rating. We look for patterns such as:- reliable follow-through
- clear communication
- accurate listings and descriptions
- respectful transaction behavior
- consistent positive reviews or feedback over time
How trust is evaluated
The trust system reviews verified marketplace activity after a buyer leaves a seller review or a seller leaves buyer feedback. At a high level:- The platform checks whether there is enough verified recent activity to evaluate.
- Star ratings and transaction history set the basic trust limits.
- Written review text may be summarized and screened for behavior patterns.
- The resulting status is saved and shown on public trust surfaces.
Trust updates may not appear instantly. Reviews and feedback can trigger trust evaluation in the background, so a badge or summary may update shortly after the review is submitted.
Trust statuses
Trusted
This person or seller has consistently met trust standards through verified activity and positive follow-through.Earning trust
This person has enough recent activity to be evaluated, but has not yet met trust standards consistently.Not yet rated
There is not enough verified activity yet to evaluate trust.Sellers, buyers, and members
Trust can be shown in different ways depending on the profile:- Seller trust reflects buyer reviews left about a seller
- Buyer trust reflects seller feedback left about a buyer
- Member trust can combine both directions for an individual user profile
How reviews connect to trust
Verified reviews and feedback help shape trust over time. Examples of qualifying activity include:- a completed purchase through the platform
- a completed cash deal confirmed with a seller’s confirmation code
AI review summaries
Some profiles may show an AI-generated review summary. These summaries are based on verified reviews or feedback and are meant to help you scan patterns faster. Summaries may be missing when:- there is not enough verified activity
- the activity has ratings but no written comments
- the trust evaluation has not run yet
- the profile is not eligible for a public summary
Can trust change?
Yes. Trust is dynamic.- Positive recent activity can improve trust
- Poor follow-through or negative verified experiences can affect trust
- New members may begin as not yet rated until enough verified activity exists
FAQ
Does a Trusted badge mean a transaction is risk-free?
Does a Trusted badge mean a transaction is risk-free?
No. A Trusted badge is a reputation signal based on verified activity. You should still read the listing, ask questions, use the platform’s safety tools, and make decisions that fit your situation.
Why does someone with good reviews show Not yet rated?
Why does someone with good reviews show Not yet rated?
They may not have enough recent verified activity for the trust system to evaluate, or their qualifying activity may be too old. Reviews can still appear on the profile even when the badge is Not yet rated.
Why does a member have different seller and buyer trust?
Why does a member have different seller and buyer trust?
Seller trust comes from buyer-to-seller reviews. Buyer trust comes from seller-to-buyer feedback. A person can have a strong record in one direction and less activity in the other.
Can a badge change after a new review?
Can a badge change after a new review?
Yes. Verified reviews and buyer feedback can trigger a new evaluation. The badge may improve, stay the same, or move to Earning trust depending on recent activity.
Can I ask The Animal Traders to manually change a trust badge?
Can I ask The Animal Traders to manually change a trust badge?
Trust badges are based on verified platform activity. If you think a review or feedback entry violates our standards, report the content so it can be reviewed.
