> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.theanimaltraders.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Trust badges

> How seller, buyer, and member trust badges work on The Animal Traders

# 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.

<Info>
  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.
</Info>

## 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

The label can change depending on context:

* **Trusted Seller**
* **Trusted Buyer**
* **Trusted Member**

For organizations, trust stays seller-focused. Organization profiles do not have a buyer-side reputation model.

## What the badges look like

Use the icon shape and the label together:

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Badge</th>
      <th>What to look for</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>

  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td style={{ verticalAlign: "middle", width: "140px" }}>
        <img src="https://mintcdn.com/joeklingamantheanimaltraderscom/7u_UlwZupKleBg7S/images/trust-badge-filled.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=7u_UlwZupKleBg7S&q=85&s=e7895ce308eab20c22d794a33e9243cf" alt="Filled trust badge with checkmark" width="96" data-path="images/trust-badge-filled.svg" />
      </td>

      <td style={{ verticalAlign: "middle" }}>
        <strong>Filled badge with checkmark</strong>. This is the trusted badge
        style used for Trusted Seller, Trusted Buyer, or Trusted Member.
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td style={{ verticalAlign: "middle", width: "140px" }}>
        <img src="https://mintcdn.com/joeklingamantheanimaltraderscom/7u_UlwZupKleBg7S/images/trust-badge-outline.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=7u_UlwZupKleBg7S&q=85&s=439d91357bb3b102fab6a57b6b1ac268" alt="Outline trust badge" width="96" data-path="images/trust-badge-outline.svg" />
      </td>

      <td style={{ verticalAlign: "middle" }}>
        <strong>Outline badge</strong>. 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.
      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

The filled badge is the strongest visual signal. If you see the outline badge, check the label beside it to understand whether the person is still building trust or simply does not have enough verified activity yet.

<Tip>
  Use the badge together with the profile details, recent reviews, listing quality, and your own conversation with the other person.
</Tip>

## 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

Recent activity matters more than old history.

## 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:

1. The platform checks whether there is enough verified recent activity to evaluate.
2. Star ratings and transaction history set the basic trust limits.
3. Written review text may be summarized and screened for behavior patterns.
4. The resulting status is saved and shown on public trust surfaces.

The platform does not rely on one written comment or one rating by itself. It looks for patterns across verified activity.

<Note>
  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.
</Note>

## 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

On an individual member profile, the **All**, **As seller**, and **As buyer** filters can show different reputation views. The member-level badge reflects the evaluated directions together, so it may be less favorable than one side alone.

## 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

To learn more about the review system, see [Reviews & reputation](/help/reviews).

## 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

See [AI review summaries](/help/ai-review-summaries) for more detail.

## 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

The goal is to reflect what other members can reasonably expect today.

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>