Watch Out, Ebay: Google Base Reputation System Grows

TechCrunch has exclusive screenshots of the reputation system on Google Base. Nothing out of the ordinary here -- pretty much what you'd expect:

The rating system is very simple with the user giving the seller a rating between 1 to 5 stars, as well as a comment that Google says should be about “how did the seller handle your order and communication with you”. Other buyers are then able to check comments that other users have left as well as a sellers overall rating.

It's not clear yet if other information that Google has on its account holders will be factored into the reputation system, although the current screenshots do not indicate that there will be any such integration.

Ebay has had lots of problems with its reputation system being gamed. Is this a problem that Google can realistically address? Is it not a harder problem to stop than SEOs trying to bust search algorithms?