Hello - My dashboard is saying I did not respond to a message within 24 hours when I actually responded in 6 minutes. The message was sent at 12:10 PM EDT on April 16th. I responded at 12:16 PM EDT on April 16th. I have both email confirmation of this communication (via a refund/message to seller) as well as proof in my message chain.
When you say you responded was this to the message in messages or was this the message system in refunds? The message system in refunds is not connected to the main message system. Did you respond to the message in the message system?
A message inside a refund doesn't satisfy Etsy's response requirements. They are different systems and don't communicate with each other. You have to respond to the actual message.
Good to know that refund responses don't qualify towards Star Seller status. I also had issues with the shipping component of the Star Seller. Etsy couldn't figure out why. I set up an auto-reply message. Those responses do help you qualify for Star Seller status.
