How to get more buyers to leave feedback?

[Former_Member]

I've been a seller Etsy for almost a year now and I have had (only) 8 sales, but only 3 of these buyers left feedback. I'm not sure why- I hope it's not a bad sign- but I'm wondering how others try to encourage buyers to leave feedback?

Is it a good idea to include something about it in the message to buyers that sends automatically when a purchase is made?

[Former_Member]

after I send the item (in my case only 4), I contact the buyer saying hope they got their item alright and ask nicely if they wouldn't mind leaving a feedback and thankfully they did :) as long as u don't seem pushy it's fine to ask for it ONLY once :)

[Former_Member]

Westlakedesigns, I've had the same problem. At first I wondered if it was a case of if you can't say anything nice say nothing at all but I've had one customer buy ten items over 3 months and she never left feedback. I even mentioned the feedback button to her and asked her if she could please leave some and still nothing. I think some buyers just don't see the importance of it. I write a little note on the packing slip all the orders I ship but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

[Former_Member]

You will never get them to all leave feedback and 3 on 8 sales really isn't bad. Mine picked up after I started send out a message. It goes something like this...

Thank you so much for your order. It shipped this morning and should arrive by ______. Please feel free to leave feedback for us. It is the best way for us to make our shop a pleasure for everyone who visits.

People like to know that you want to make your shop better! And even though I have rarely gotten the kind of feedback that would actually give me something to improve on, just getting the feedback makes people more likely to trust you : )

[BonniesSewCrazy]

I never ask my customers to leave feedback. I've had 162 sales and 138 feedback. The customers that don't leave feedback usually send a convo telling me how happy they are with their item. I guess I just feel it's kinda pushy to ask them to leave feedback.

[TheSnapDragonsLair]

On Ebay, Feedback is important. I'd guess it's the same with Etsy. I have read others say it's not all that important, but as a buyer, I'd like to see lots of positive feedback.

I have tried thecrazyelephant's idea and got zero response. I think if someone is going to leave feedback, they are going to do it automatically, and if they aren't, they just won't bother, no matter what.

[Former_Member]

Most people forget or don't know how. It has nothing to do with you.

Regular people don't log in to Etsy every darn minute like we do. . .

(I know, hard to believe. . .)

[Former_Member]

Ditto SilverSmack. I think it isn't meant as a snub, it's just that buyers that aren't serious Etsians consider it a done deal after the item is received. I mean, I don't leave feedback for my grocery store purchases, either. For many it is simply a business transaction. In a sense, no news is good news, I'd assume.

That being said, as a seller it can be a bit disappointing. I spent two months collaborating on a custom bridal order for a client, and never got any feedback after. It would have been really cool to see a picture of my jewelry on the bridesmaids. Que sera, sera.