Need Advice on How to Fix a Probable Mistake of Mine

[Former_Member]

Hello all,
I have an issue that I've been wrestling with and that has been how to address customers leaving feedback after their transactions are complete. I have noticed that very few customers leave feedback. I've had 50 sales and only 15 reviews. For just a few of my customers that I've developed good relationships with, I have asked if they'd like to and they are happily willing to do so. But for one recently, I think I might have pushed away. We were communicating very well and she even sent me an email to tell me that she had received the bracelet and loved it and was asking about another one of my bracelets. The way the conversation was progressing made me feel like I could ask and I am pretty sure that I ended up pushing her away. Then recently, I read somewhere that etsy has a new policy to not converse with customers regarding feedback and I'm feeling like the biggest fool. I want to honestly apologize to her but I don't know if I should just leave it and let it lie or be honest and genuine and apologize to her. Clearly, I'm quite confused on the whole matter of feedback anyhow! Any advice?

[Former_Member]

I'd just let it be. Feedback is a strange thing and some people get really touchy about it especially if they've ever been pestered be Ebay and their exceedingly irritating system.

I've also found that I'm overly sensitive to customers stopping communication. It's entirely possible that she's just busy or that your most recent message got lost in the shuffle and she's not offended in the least. Hang in there.

[MICETTESGARDEN]

I agree with Sabra. Most of my customers til now were Etsy buyers, not people with an Etsy shop. Therefore they do not understand the importance of giving a good feedback.
I usually ask for a feedback when I send my shipping note, and once again if/when they inform me that they received the item.
But it's the second time that the customer writes me 'I cannot leave the feedback until next week!!' and then they simply forget or do not bother to come again to Etsy just to leave a feedback..

[SpangGangDesigns]

I have the feedback link and a little statement in my out-going shipping notification. That's all I do to ask for feedback. IF a customer contacts me via convo or email and has great things to say, I'll converse back and also ask if they have a minute, to please click this link to leave feedback for future customers. I don't find this off-putting or offensive. I've never heard of anyone being offended by being asked for feedback. I don't pose it as a question that I expect a reply to - it's simply a closing statement. Some leave it, some don't. Don't get worked up about it. I would NEVER initiate contact asking for feedback though.

[ShadeTreeNaturals]

In my auto message when a package ships I say "....I hope you love your order! I appreciate your feedback..." I leave it at that. I find you only get about one in three or one in five people that leave feedback.

[SageNThymeDesigns]

When a customer tells me in an email or a convo they loved the item, etc. I always respond saying "I'm so glad that worked out for you! Feedback through Etsy is always appreciated." and then I let them know how to access that.

Etsy has made it more noticeable for the buyer to leave feedback. There's a number on the smartphone app that tells you how many items are ready to leave feedback, and something similar when you use the computer. As a seller, I love feedback.

As a buyer this whole push for feedback is now starting to piss me off! I get email reminders too- from Etsy. Sometimes the app tells me I need to leave feedback for an item that hasn't even arrived yet! If I don't leave feedback it's because I'm not ready to, I don't have anything terribly positive to say, or I just don't want to- and that should be okay.

We all need to just Let It Go.

[Former_Member]

I'd leave it alone. If she was a bit put off before, she may be even more so if you were to contact her again.

[Globalfindings]

I will just let it go, i have something similar happen to me i have the same situation 2 times after they convo me saying how happy they were with their item i felt comfortable enough to ask for a review when ever they have a chance,one did and the other one did not, I've never contacted him again I just let it go and learn not to do that again ! I read on a blog about the link for feedback here it is you can include it on your note https://www.etsy.com/your/purchases
Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Thanks for that link, I was just about to ask, and thanks Jennifer for posing the question!

[JudyStalus]

I don't think there is an Etsy policty about not conversing about feedback, people in the forums talk about policies a lot - but rarely can they actually point to a rule.
But Etsy does send out its own email requesting feedback to all buyers, duplicating this would likely annoy a buyer.
Also I personally leave feedback when I'm very happy with an item and don't if I don't like it as well. You always risk pushing someone into leaving poor feedback if you pester them, though it doesn't sound like you're doing that.

[PorcelainJazz]

I used to ask for feedback in my regular correspondence with customers until someone did leave negative feed back after a request. It took allot of work and time and feather soothing to get them to change their feedback. So I don't request feedback anymore.