Seller/buyer rating and review system installed

**vinz** · 15th Jun 2010, 00:26

We have installed the iTrader rating and review system.

This system will allow buyers and sellers to rate (positive/neutral/negative) each other and leave review comments after a deal is done. The ratings and reviews are visible in each members profiles and will serve as a easy to access permanent record of each member's ratings/reviews, both positive and negative. In the longer term, this system will allow members to see who are trustworthy and who are not, and who are the new ones. Members will be able to decide who to trust and who to deal with.

We are hoping this will motivate members to behave scrupulously when dealing with each other.

There is a new menu in the menu bar called iTrader. It is quite straight forward and we'll leave you to explore it yourself. Below the post count of each user in each post is their 'Feedback Count'. This shows the number of feedback the poster has gotten and the percentage of positive ratings he/she has gotten.

This system will only work if everyone who has ever done a deal takes the trouble to rate the other person. This is a tool for the community self-regulate and make trading on AQ safer and more pleasant.

**vinz** · 15th Jun 2010, 00:28

Obviously, this system can be abused. Such as creating fake accounts to give oneself positive ratings or to give a competitor negative ratings. There are built in controls to detect suspicious behaviour and anyone found abusing the system will face harsh consequences.

**eviltrain** · 15th Jun 2010, 12:05

the marketplace has to be monitored every now and then. but its a good way to know how the buyer or seller do their trades.

**vinz** · 15th Jun 2010, 12:25

We will definitely continue to monitor the marketplace. But there is only so much we can do. This system just adds a new structure for the community to get involved in the regulation of the market place. I am also hoping it will help the regular sellers/buyers improve themselves after the feedback they get.

**insider** · 15th Jun 2010, 23:05

This is a very good way to improve the forum. Thanks

**barmby** · 17th Jun 2010, 12:41

Hi Vinz, I cannot rate more people I think. FYI - Most people I dealt are mostly "just joined". Therefore, it will be nice that I can rate these people . Also, Moderators can monitor their IP addresses and etc. to prevent flippers, moles and etc. from surfacing.

**vinz** · 17th Jun 2010, 20:15

Colin,

You can rate a maximum of 3 people per 24hr period.

**|squee|** · 3rd Jul 2010, 11:48

A humble suggestion: the current WT-Buy and WT-Sell tags are not easy on the eyes, makes it hard to distinguish between the buy and sell threads.

Possible to colour code it?

**vinz** · 3rd Jul 2010, 18:13

Not at the moment.

**bbpippen** · 9th Jul 2010, 13:27

Originally Posted by |squee|

A humble suggestion: the current WT-Buy and WT-Sell tags are not easy on the eyes, makes it hard to distinguish between the buy and sell threads.

Possible to colour code it?

yeah i agree with it. maybe not just colour coding but add a distinctive measure to differentiate it ?

**blue33** · 15th Jul 2010, 20:04

Looks like this system is not working, rather abuse by the opposition if the other party decided to give you a negative score also, i rate one of the chap for delay and flying aeroplane, not only i got aeroplane by him and another chap also got aeroplane by him. He has being denying on what he has done. Yet he can still gave me a negative score.

So he gave me i gave him negative score, is this how it works?

**vinz** · 15th Jul 2010, 23:12

I was expecting this.

It hasn't got a chance to work yet. This only works with time, when active traders have garnered enough ratings for a reasonably accurate rating.

If a person has received 1 rating only and that rating is positive, his average rating will be 100% positive. But, as a potential buyer, would I trust that rating? I shouldn't because it is only one rating.

Vice versa, if someone has 1 rating only, and that rating is negative, his average rating will be 100% negative. As a potential buyer I might be a little more cautious, but I might still decide to trade with him. Now, of course, this guy with 1 negative rating is at a disadvantage, but it is not major. Other factors can redeem him, like his past posts in the forum will serve as a gauge of his character as well.

Now, lets compare:
- Person A who has 30 ratings, but 90% positive, and
- Person B who has 3 ratings, but 100% positive.

Which one are you likely to trust?

AQ is not going to get involve in "I said", "he said". Each person has their own point of view and the resources needed to clear these things are not feasible. Anybody who feels they have been wrongly rated need not worry. As long as they carry themselves with integrity and honesty, any negative ratings received will be overwhelmed by positive ratings.

AQ will only step in cases of fraud. For example, a member getting their friends or creating fake accounts to rate someone negatively or rate themselves positively.