Getting Feeback from buyers??

[Former_Member]

Several shops have just tons of feedback from customers. I have about 1/2 that have given feedback but have gotten emails of appreciation from the others buyers of how pleased they are with their purchase.

Is there an easy way to not seem pushy but get feedback too? I know some new to Etsy don't know where to find the feedback section but other than that I don't want to seem like I am begging.

What have you guys used or not to gain feedback?
Thanks!

[Former_Member]

Nothing really. It comes when it does. I think it is extremely tacky to ask for it.

[lippybrand]

It seems to me that any shop with more then 75% feedback, its because they buy alot on etsy. When you buy things and the seller leaves you positive it adds to your score.

[FenderGemsNCrystals]

I do ok. I think leaving short gracious feedback myself encourages happy customers to leave feedback. Also if they buy multiple items I leave one main feedback and just a thank you for the others. It takes the pressure off to try to find something to say. I am plenty happy with a positive with no words.

I have noticed some feedback in other shops that is so poetic. That is just too intimidating

[Former_Member]

I wouldn't worry about it too much - I've got way more sales than I have feedback in this shop. I'd say it's about 50 - 50 - some of my feedback is when I buy stuff. Not everyone is as Etsy-obsessed as we are. :D

[Former_Member]

I always send a message via etsy after purchase is made reminding them to kindly leave feedback (mostly letting me know they received the item)

I also add the same note to their shipping notification and the little thank you notes I add in with their purchase! :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks everyone. That is pretty much what I do too. I think the shops that have lots of feedback have probably been in business for a long time.

[HoookedHandmade]

When I figure it out, I'll let you know.

[Former_Member]

Some of my customers just leave me thank you notes in the convo but not on the feedback page.

Maybe it's a bit of hassle for them to find where the feedback button is. I was thinking it would be great if Etsy could automatically send them a feedback link a couple days after the purchase. That would make it easier for both buyers and sellers.

[Former_Member]

i think asking for feedback is akin to wedding invitations in which the bride and groom flatly ask for money - that is to say - tacky! don't do it!

[PebbleCreekStudio]

I agree with Shermin!

[Former_Member]

I dont have any feedback from clients in this shop. The feedback is from others for me, I think, only 2. I get emails stating that they were happy. I dont worry about it. As long as theres nothing negative, im okay. My other shop has 287 at 100% positive. Alot of it is for me as a buyer and many are from clients. Not many from clients though but if they werent happy, you would either receive an email about it or a neutral or negative.

Im just as grateful for none actually, because its not negative! I say in my shop that shared feedback is appreciated but I do NOT ask for it. I dont mention it again. If they dont read that portion then okay. If they do but dont feel like leaving any, thats okay. Regular websites dont even do feedback. My actual website doesnt, so its not that big of a deal.

:)

[Former_Member]

I think most people are either too busy to leave written feedback, or they don't appreciate how much it could help a shop owner to improve. I don't ask for it anywhere, but I try to write at least a few words to explain my rating. If I rated positive, I'll say something about why I thought so. I don't like leaving negative feedback, but when I do I leave a thoughtful explanation.

Basically, I think that it's best to leave feedback for others if you'd like it yourself. Eventually it'll balance out.
:)

[Former_Member]

What Tiffany said: I was thinking it would be great if Etsy could automatically send them a feedback link a couple days after the purchase

I never remember to automatically give feedback, but on eBay and Amazon, they send you a reminder, and that's when I take a minute to leve feedback. Maybe shoppers on Etsy are expecting the same thing, and they never get a reminder, so life goes on and it's forgotten.

Personally I would love feedback, because I think people are intimidated to buy handmade products until they see what others have written (eg; that the products are well made, fit well, etc). I've received some lovely emails and just wish they were feedbacks!

[LoveJewelryByJ]

usually if they email me telling me how happy they are, I tell them how happy it makes me that they're happy and that i would love it if they left me positive feedback on etsy =)

[Former_Member]

I had a client tell me that she left feedback because she had an email that talked about feedback. She said she left it directly from the email. I believe they also have the link at the top of their screen that says how many items they need to leave feedback for. Its on mine in all of my shops and I havent gone in to do alot of them yet, haha.

But they do get the option in other places to leave feedback, its just if they actually take the time to do it or not.

[Former_Member]

I love the idea of the automatic email direct from Etsy not the seller. I haven't ever asked for feedback because I too think it is tacky. When I first started I wasn't sure where to go for the feedback and the only way I could see I needed to leave it was when I would completely sign out and then sign back in. I did have one customer ask me how to leave feedback.

I think I will be happy with the email replies that I get and know that my clients are pleased. That in-it-self is compliment enough and I have had a few referrals too which is even better.

Thanks everyone for the excellent feedback :)

[Former_Member]

Ok, I'll be the odd one out. I think it CAN be tacky but definitely depends on how you do it (like most things in life).

I always ask for feedback (I have another Etsy shop as well), but do so in my "thanks for ordering" email or the email where I send them their final draft. But make sure you slant it as a positive to the customer... something to the effect of, "I would appreciate you leaving positive feedback for me on Etsy. If for any reason you wouldn't leave positive feedback, please let me know what I can do to fix the situation." I once had a customer reply and say, "You know, it wasn't a big deal, and I wasn't going to say anything, but <issue>." I fixed it; she left glowing feedback, AND gave me referral business.

That being said, I would never email/convo someone to ONLY ask for feedback. I only incorporate it into conversations and it's proven beneficial to me.

[Porzana]

I usually put in the thank you card (after lots of thank yous, of course) "please feel free to leave feedback in my shop :) ".

I think the reason a lot of people don't do it is because they just don't think about it, or forget. This friendly reminder has proven to work well for me.

[Former_Member]

I have the same issue...when I have purchased from some shops I get a card with the package and it will ask for feedback - let us know how we are doing sort of thing or I have gotten a convo a couple of days after it arrived thank ing me for the purchase and nudging for feedback. I always give feedback but for my sho I am not so comfortable nudging prople.
Any other tips or ideas?

[Former_Member]

I don't think it's wrong to tactfully ask for feedback... I have a little note that I leave my buyers after I send the shipping notification that says something like, "If you get a chance to leave feedback, I'd love to hear about your shopping experience" or something like that, then I leave a link to my feedback page. It's not pushy, and I have gotten better feedback since doing that.

However, I don't really worry about it... thankfully, I've had good feedback so far, although not as much as I've had sales.

[Former_Member]

One thing I've noticed about shops that get a lot of feedback **specifically from their buyers**: they routinely have dialogues with their customers and fans on FB and Twitter already.

One shop I buy from has a ton of in depth feedback, but she also keeps her FB page updated daily, responds back to people's comments on her wall, and just generally engages the customer. That certainly makes one more inclined to use feedback as another tool to continue that dialogue.

If you're into FB or have a good Twitter following, it might be worth trying.

[Former_Member]

Something that has really worked for me recently is including the direct url for leaving feedback in my notes that I send with the package. You know, "thanks for your purchase," and "I hope you enjoy your new cuddly friend(s)," etc.... But then a little something about how it would really help me if they left feedback at www.etsy.com/feedback/awaiting.
Hopefully it has spurred them to leave feedback for other items they have purchased on Etsy too! :P

[Former_Member]

I seem to get a lot of people buying items as gifts between my shops so the person doing the ordering doesn't actually receive my item it gets shipped directly to the receiver instead. I get messages saying that their friends really liked my work but I don't get much "feedback" on the Etsy site itself.

[Former_Member]

Very little feedback here, and some stuff with folks sending lovely direct emails instead. I think the only way to get feedback regularly from buyers is to have Etsy remind the way eBay does. Without automatic reminders like that, the culture isn't going to develop the habit I don't think.

We may not have a lot of feedback, but what we have is really awesome and specific, so we're happy with that!

Joanne, MMM shop manager