What is a reputation score?

Your reputation score is a running total of the feedback ratings other users have given you after completing transactions with you. It is made up of three counts: Positive, Neutral, and Negative. There is no single combined number or star rating — just those three plain counts, which are shown on your profile page and on any listing you post.

For example, a user with 14 Positive, 1 Neutral, and 0 Negative ratings has a strong reputation built over multiple successful transactions. Anyone browsing that user's listing can see that history at a glance before deciding whether to make an offer.

Why does reputation matter so much here?

Market For The Blind is built specifically for blind and disabled users. Many members of this community have been targeted by scams and dishonest sellers elsewhere precisely because bad actors assume accessibility needs make people easier to deceive. This site was built with the opposite philosophy — accountability and transparency are built into every part of how it works.

Because there are no in-person inspections, no escrow service, and no platform-mediated payment between users, trust is the foundation of every transaction. Your reputation score is how that trust is established and maintained over time. A seller with a strong reputation built through honest dealings gives buyers the confidence to make an offer. A buyer with a positive history gives sellers the confidence to accept.

Without a reputation system, every transaction would be a leap of faith between strangers. With it, the community can hold each other accountable in a meaningful, transparent way. That is why feedback is not optional here — it is the mechanism that makes the whole community work.

How does the feedback process work?

The feedback process begins when a seller marks an item as sold. Here is the full sequence from that point:

First, the seller marks the listing as sold, either from their My Listings page or by clicking the link in their weekly reminder email. The listing is removed from active listings immediately.

Second, if the buyer submitted a formal offer through the site, they receive an email notifying them that the seller has marked the item sold and asking them to visit the site to confirm the transaction took place.

Third, both the seller and the buyer visit the confirm transaction page on the site and each checks a box confirming that the transaction was completed. Once both parties have confirmed, the feedback stage begins.

Fourth, both parties receive an email informing them that feedback is now required. Each person visits the submit feedback page and selects Positive, Neutral, or Negative for the other party, with an optional written comment. Each person's account restriction lifts the moment they submit their own rating — you do not have to wait for the other person to submit theirs.

Fifth, once both ratings are submitted the transaction is marked fully complete and both profiles are updated with the new feedback.

What do Positive, Neutral, and Negative mean?

There are exactly three rating options. There are no stars, no numbers, and no complicated scales. The three options are deliberately simple so every user regardless of experience can make a clear, honest choice.

Positive means the transaction went well. The item was as described, the payment was handled properly, communication was good, and you would deal with this person again.

Neutral means the transaction completed but something was not quite right. Maybe communication was slow, or the item had a minor issue that was not mentioned, but it was not serious enough to leave a negative rating. Neutral is the honest middle ground for transactions that were fine but not excellent.

Negative means something went seriously wrong. The item was significantly misrepresented, payment was not handled as agreed, communication broke down, or the person behaved dishonestly or unreasonably. A negative rating is a warning to other community members that this person may not be trustworthy to deal with.

Choose the rating that honestly reflects your experience. The ratings are only useful to the community when they are truthful.

Can I leave a comment with my rating?

Yes. After selecting your rating you have the option to leave a written comment of up to 1000 characters. Comments are entirely optional but are strongly encouraged, especially if you are leaving a Neutral or Negative rating. A brief explanation helps the person receiving the feedback understand what went wrong and gives other users useful context when they are deciding whether to deal with that person.

Examples of helpful comments include noting that an item arrived well packaged, that a seller responded quickly to questions, that a buyer paid promptly, or conversely that an item was not as described or that a buyer did not follow through as agreed. Keep comments factual and focused on the transaction itself.

Is feedback really required?

Yes, without exception. Feedback after a completed transaction is mandatory on Market For The Blind. It cannot be skipped, waived, or ignored. This is intentional and applies equally to every user on the site regardless of how long they have been a member.

The reason feedback is mandatory rather than optional is straightforward: optional feedback systems consistently fail because the users who most need to be rated — those who had a poor transaction experience — are the least likely to voluntarily return to leave feedback. Making it mandatory means the reputation system accurately reflects real experiences rather than only the positive ones that people felt like reporting.

What happens if I do not submit my feedback?

Until you submit your feedback after a completed transaction, your account is restricted. Specifically you will not be able to browse listings, view individual listing pages, post new listings, send messages, or make offers. The restriction applies to every part of the marketplace that involves interacting with other users or their content.

You will still be able to log in, visit your own profile, submit your pending feedback, and contact the site administration. The restriction exists purely to ensure feedback is submitted and lifts the moment you submit your rating.

You will also receive a reminder email every three days until your feedback is submitted, so you will not forget about it.

When does my account restriction lift?

Your restriction lifts the moment you personally submit your feedback rating. You do not have to wait for the other party to submit theirs. If you rate the seller but the seller has not yet rated you, your account is fully unrestricted immediately. The other person's pending feedback only affects their own account, not yours.

This means you are never held waiting by someone else's delay. Your responsibility is your own rating. Submit it promptly and you can continue using the marketplace right away.

Will I be reminded to submit feedback?

Yes. Once a transaction is confirmed and feedback is required, you will receive a reminder email every three days until you submit your rating. The email includes a direct link to the feedback submission page so you can complete it in one click. You will keep receiving reminders until the feedback is submitted — they will not stop on their own.

Where can I see someone's reputation score?

A user's reputation summary — showing their total Positive, Neutral, and Negative count — appears in two places. It is shown on their profile page, which you can visit by clicking their username anywhere on the site. It is also shown on individual listing pages next to the seller's name, so you can check a seller's reputation before deciding to make an offer without having to navigate away from the listing.

The profile page also shows the 25 most recent individual feedback comments left by other users, so you can read what people actually said about their experience dealing with that person. Older feedback beyond the 25 most recent is not displayed, but the counts in the summary include all feedback ever received.

How do I build a good reputation?

Building a good reputation on Market For The Blind comes down to the same things that make any transaction go well: be honest, be communicative, and follow through on what you agree to.

As a seller, describe your items accurately and completely. Mention known defects. Ship promptly once payment is received. Respond to buyer questions in a timely manner. Package items carefully. Provide a tracking number.

As a buyer, make offers only when you genuinely intend to follow through. Use a reputable payment method. Communicate clearly about your shipping address and any special requirements. Pay promptly once an offer is accepted.

For both roles, submit your feedback promptly after every transaction. Users who consistently submit feedback on time signal to the community that they are engaged, reliable, and take their responsibilities seriously. That itself builds trust over time.

New users start with no feedback which is completely normal and expected. Everyone on the site started there. Your first transaction will establish your first rating, and your reputation grows from there with every honest deal you complete.

What if I receive unfair or false feedback?

If you believe feedback left for you is false, retaliatory, or contains abusive language, you can contact staff and explain the situation. Include your username, the transaction in question, and why you believe the feedback violates the rules. Staff will review it and may remove feedback that clearly crosses the line.

However, feedback that simply reflects an honest negative experience — even if you disagree with the assessment — will not be removed. The integrity of the reputation system depends on ratings being genuine.

Feedback conduct rules

All feedback must reflect your honest experience of the transaction. The following are violations of the Terms of Service and may result in a strike on your account:

• Retaliatory feedback — leaving a negative rating specifically to punish the other party for feedback they left for you, rather than to honestly describe the transaction.
• Threatening language — any language in a feedback comment that constitutes a threat toward another user.
• Defamatory statements — making false factual claims about a person that could damage their reputation, beyond what your honest transaction experience supports.
• Abusive or harassing language — personal attacks, slurs, or language designed to intimidate or demean rather than describe the transaction.

All feedback is permanently logged. Even if feedback is removed from public display, the record of what was submitted is retained. Staff can review the full history when investigating disputes.

The best response to an unfair negative rating is to continue building positive feedback through honest dealings. One negative among many positives tells a clear story to anyone reading your profile.

I am new and have no feedback yet. Is that a problem?

No. Every user on the site started with zero feedback and everyone understands that. Having no feedback is not a red flag — it simply means you are new. What matters to other users is that you are an approved account member of the community who has agreed to the Terms of Service.

To build your first feedback as quickly as possible, consider starting as a buyer rather than a seller. Making your first purchase and receiving a Positive rating from a seller establishes your reputation immediately and signals to future sellers that you are a trustworthy member of the community.

If you have questions about anything on this page or about the feedback process in general, contact us and we will be happy to help.