Feefo launches Trusted Merchant Awards… Discerning Collection are one of the first recipients, achieving Gold Trusted Merchant.

Feefo, the global feedback engine and Google Licensed Content Partner, has introduced certifications that recognise the hard-work of merchants that consistently deliver excellent customer service in the eyes of their genuine customers. Those businesses that annually meet the criteria, are certified as either a ‘Trusted Merchant’ or as a ‘Gold Trusted Merchant’.

They will have the ability to display the award on their website as a visible reassurance of their customer-generated Service Rating.

The Trusted Merchant award is only presented to Feefo merchants, and based upon the data received over the duration of 2013.

• To gain Trusted Merchant status, a business is required to receive an average 85% Service Rating, over a minimum number of individual feedbacks.
• To gain Gold Trusted Merchant status, a business is required to receive an average 95% Service Score, over a minimum number of individual feedbacks.

The ratings and reviews collated by Feefo are verified via sales data, which ensures that only those customers that have genuinely completed a transaction with a business are invited to provide feedback. This makes the Trusted Merchant certification highly desirable, as it is based upon the views of customers and not industry judges.

Beyond the award, the fact that all reviews can be traced back to a specific transaction, means that the data provided by the Feefo platform is incredibly valuable. Businesses can gain great insight into both the successes and pain points of their sales cycle, while consumers can be sure that they’re reading completely genuine reviews prior to making a purchase.

Discussing the Trusted Merchant awards, Feefo Managing Director Andrew Mabbutt explained that “Feefo is delighted to be able to present these awards to merchants that truly deserve them. These awards recognise the outstanding nature of customer service from organisations that buy in to social engagement and the power of peer influencers”.