Reviews & reputation
How reviews work on MerkatoHQ, why they matter, and the rules that keep them honest.
Reputation is what lets strangers trade with confidence. On MerkatoHQ, that reputation is built from reviews left after real, completed orders.
How reviews work
- After an order completes — the buyer has confirmed receipt — the buyer can leave a review of the seller.
- Reviews are tied to real transactions, so they reflect actual deals, not opinions from people who never bought anything.
- A seller’s reviews add up into a reputation that every future buyer can see.
Why they matter
- For buyers: a seller’s track record is your best signal before you buy. Strong, consistent reviews mean past buyers got what they paid for.
- For sellers: good reviews are your most valuable asset. They’re what makes a buyer choose your listing over an identical one. Accurate descriptions and fast shipping are how you earn them.
Reviews are earned on the basics. Describe items honestly, ship promptly, and communicate. Do that consistently and your reputation compounds — the pricing tools on paid plans help, but reputation is what closes the sale.
Keeping reviews honest
Reviews are only useful if they’re genuine. These are not allowed:
- Fake or bought reviews, or reviewing your own listings through another account.
- Abusive, threatening, or discriminatory language.
- Retaliation or blackmail — threatening a bad review to extract something.
- Reviews used to work around a dispute instead of opening one.
Our moderation team can remove reviews that break these rules. If you see a review that does, report it.
A bad experience?
If an order genuinely went wrong, a fair review is legitimate — but if you haven’t received your item or it’s not as described, open a dispute first. A review doesn’t get your money back; a dispute can.