4-Star Review Despite Item Quality, Shipping, and Customer Service All Being 5-Stars Respectively

[TottlemeyersCorner]

I had a buyer leave a 4-star review with only positive things to say about the product as well as the three review categories, quality, shipping, and customer service respectively rated 5-stars each. Is this a glitch with the Etsy review system, or is it possible to leave 5-stars for each category and have the overall review still show up as 4 or less stars? I am upset about this considering the buyer also had no negative criticisms, and she wrote quite a bit. I will be even more upset if it jeopardizes my star seller badge…

[NanaLetha]

It all depends on how many stars the buyer clicked.

[MoonstoneSaltsSpirit]

This one review shouldn't impact your star seller badge unless you've had several 4 or less star reviews in a short period of time. Some people are just a tough crowd and can't be fully pleased no matter what. 

[LaRenaissanceGirl]

That is strange... I think it's possible to leave 5 stars for each category and then still leave less than 5 stars as your main rating. Weird though, almost makes you wonder if this buyer did that by mistake. But, I wouldn't bug her about it. 

Unrelated, I just spent 5 minutes browsing in your shop and it's awesome! I love it! I love your shop story especially. What a wonderful world you've created. I really like how your candles are based on the IP that YOU created as a fictional work. Very clever to link those ideas up encircled by your brand. It's so authentic and refreshing to see that on Etsy. Thanks for writing your story. It was so interesting to read. 

[TottlemeyersCorner]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I was having a bad day today and what you wrote about my shop has made me feel amazing. It means everything to me knowing that there are people out there who appreciate my work. 

[BootifulLabels]

If the buyer was using their phone to post the review, it is possible (even likely) that the initial review page only displayed 4 stars (the fifth is off the page and not visible) so without counting, they simply clicked the right most box thinking it was the top review.  The separate stars for each aspect of the sale probably show on the left side and it is indeed possible to leave a 4 star overall rating with all 5 star category ratings.  Not their fault, it is a technical issue with some devices.  

There is also the fact that some buyers never leave 5 stars, on principle, because it leaves no room for improvement.

[hbhill]

@BootifulLabels ^^this^^. Some buyers are still using the old Etsy app and cannot leave 5 stars reviews; only 4 stars. 

@TottlemeyersCorner   Even if it jeopardizes your star seller badge it would not prevent me from purchasing from a shop. I never pay attention to the badge only the reviews. 

[VintageRescueSquad]

THIS! I recently had a buyer leave 2 4-star reviews that were glowing, so chalked it up to this. I would never contact a buyer to ask

[StitchRoundabout]

It may be that your buyer chose four stars because they got fed-up with Etsy's constant pop-ups to force buyers into leaving reviews.  If a buyer wants to make them just go away but has not tried your product yet (if it's a pattern, for instance), then they may be more inclined to leave four stars, so it may not be a reflection on your shop at all.  It is hard on sellers though when we've worked hard to gain a star seller badge, and Etsy is pushing buyers so hard to leave a review.

[NoFrogsAllowed]

Maybe the 3 separate criteria were 5 star, but they were unhappy about something else.  Maybe it was an accident.  Maybe they never give 5 stars, some people just don't.  Maybe a glitch.  And it has been reported that sometimes the phone app won't allow 5.

[StitchRoundabout]

@NoFrogsAllowed:  Thanks for adding that about the phone app glitch.  Was not aware of that.