Google is closing down Trusted Stores and replacing it with a Google Customer Reviews. The brand new program will be managed directly from the Google Merchant Centre. News of the closure of Trusted Stores began rolling out at the start of the month. Merchants were informed by Google that the program will be winding down soon.  The program made it easy for merchants to collect reviews to be used for their Seller Ratings. It was fully rolled out in the US back in 2012.

Merchants were informed by Google that the program will be winding down soon.  The program made it easy for merchants to collect reviews to be used for their Seller Ratings. It was fully rolled out in the US back in 2012.

Google Customer Reviews is Replacing the Program

Google Customer Reviews is the program that will be used in its place. The program will collect reviews from customers once they have made a purchase and received their goods. This is another free program available to merchants, but it isn’t a certificate program. Merchants will be able to sign up to Google Customer Reviews even if they aren’t already in Google Trusted Stores. The option to join the new program will be available in Merchant Centre Programs. To join, users need to click on the three-dot navigation icon that’s located in the top right-hand corner in the Merchant Centre. The merchants already using Google Trusted Stores will have their accounts automatically migrated. For these users, the Customer Reviews will be visible in the left-hand navigation of the Merchant Centre account.

In order to work, the merchant will need to turn on the survey opt-in module to their website. Customers that opt-in will be contacted by Google and they will be asked to rate their purchases. The opt-in module is essential and has to be shown to each customer to remain compliant with the program. Merchants will have the choice of displaying the Google Customer Review badge on their website. The badge can be customised and include seller’s star ratings.