Which numbers mean something and which do not.
A vendor page shows several numbers and only some of them carry information. Knowing which is most of the skill.
A reputation built two years ago says nothing about this month. Read the last handful of reviews and their dates. A large lifetime total with nothing recent is a warning rather than a reassurance, because accounts change hands and a dormant profile suddenly listing heavily is a known pattern.
A vendor with hundreds of orders and a couple of disputes is normal. Zero disputes across a large volume is either excellent or a very new account with the history reset. Compare the dispute count against the order count rather than reading either alone.
Feedback describing a problem that was fixed properly tells you more than a wall of five star entries with no text. It shows what happens when something goes wrong, which is the only part you actually need to predict.
Clear descriptions with realistic handling times prevent most disputes before they start, because most disputes are expectation gaps rather than dishonesty. A vague listing from an otherwise good vendor is still a reason to ask a question first.
Selective fraud, where small orders are honoured and large ones are not, is the reason a feedback total alone cannot protect you. Start small with anybody untested regardless of how good their numbers look, and let your own experience rather than their profile decide the second order.
Nexus Market