Our Methodology — AboutThatVendor

How We Calculate Ratings

At AboutThatVendor, our rating system combines both direct user reviews and social media sentiment to create a comprehensive vendor score. Here's how it works:

1. Direct User Reviews

Users can submit detailed reviews directly on our platform, including:

Star ratings (1-5 stars)
Written feedback about their experience
Recommendation status (would/wouldn't recommend)
Experience date for temporal tracking

2. Social Media Integration

We monitor social media mentions and allow users to connect their social posts to vendor profiles. This includes:

Twitter/X mentions and threads
Instagram stories and posts
Facebook reviews and comments
LinkedIn recommendations

3. Verification Process

Every review goes through our verification system to ensure authenticity:

Account verification to prevent fake reviews
Purchase or interaction verification when possible
AI-powered fraud detection for suspicious patterns
Manual moderation for flagged content

4. Rating Calculation

Our final rating is calculated using a weighted average that considers:

Recency: Recent reviews have more weight
Verification level: Verified purchases count more
Review quality: Detailed reviews are weighted higher
User credibility: Established reviewers have more impact

Transparency Commitment

We believe in complete transparency. Vendors cannot pay to remove negative reviews or boost their ratings. Every review is publicly visible, and our algorithms are designed to resist manipulation.