How Reputation Works
Every member profile shows two separate stat blocks: Reputation and Member-reported deals. They look similar — both have "Positive" and "Negative" tiles — but they measure different things. This page explains each number in plain English so you can read a profile with confidence.
Two systems, on purpose
We keep these separate because the bar for evidence is different:
- Reputation only counts deals that both people confirmed actually happened. It is the strongest signal.
- Member-reported deals are one-sided statements — a single confirmed member describing a transaction they say happened. They add useful context, especially when the other party isn't on the registry or won't confirm, but they are not mutually verified.
Reputation (confirmed deals)
Built only from deals both members logged and finalized.
- Deals — total deals that reached an end state (completed, awaiting ratings, or marked no-show).
- Completed — subset of Deals that finished successfully (both sides confirmed delivery / receipt).
- No-show — subset of Deals where the other side stopped responding or never followed through.
- Positive — 👍 ratings this member received on those confirmed deals.
- Negative — 👎 ratings this member received on those confirmed deals.
- Endorsed — accepted endorsements from other confirmed members. Endorsements don't require a deal — they're vouches.
Member-reported deals (one-sided reports)
First-person reports filed by a single confirmed member. The named member is notified and has 14 days to respond — see the Trade Report & Dispute Policy for the full process.
- Total — every non-retracted report filed about this member.
- Positive — reports filed with a 👍 outcome.
- Negative — reports filed with a 👎 outcome.
- Disputed — reports the subject has formally disputed. Disputed items are excluded from the Positive total and sent to admin review.
Same word, different meaning
"Positive" in Reputation and "Positive" in Member-reported deals are not the same number:
| Tile | In Reputation | In Member-reported |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | 👍 rating received on a deal both sides confirmed | 👍 report filed by one member (no confirmation required) |
| Negative | 👎 rating received on a deal both sides confirmed | 👎 report filed by one member (subject may dispute) |
Why we show both
A profile with five confirmed Completed deals and clean ratings is the gold standard. But many trades happen with people who aren't on the registry, or with someone who simply won't log a deal after the fact. Member-reported deals give the community a way to share that experience without forcing the other party to participate — while still giving the subject a fair window to dispute or rebut.
FAQ
Why is my Reputation showing 0 but I have reports?
Reputation only counts deals where both people logged and confirmed the transaction here. Reports are one-sided. If nobody you've traded with has logged a matching deal on their side, your Reputation tiles stay at 0 even when reports exist.
Can a report become a confirmed deal?
Yes. If the other party logs the same transaction on their side and confirms it, the deal will start counting in Reputation. The original report stays in the Member-reported block as the source record.
What does "Disputed" mean for the count?
Disputed reports are excluded from the Positive total and sent to admin review. They are still visible (with a permanent "Disputed by member" note) so the community can see both sides.
Is any of this a "trust score"?
No. There are no scores, rankings, or stars. Every number on a profile is a literal count of something that happened (or was reported to have happened). You make the judgement call.
Questions about a specific report or dispute? Read the Trade Report & Dispute Policy.