Bogus star seller calculations

[ClariVCrystals]

I was penalized for being a CUSTOMER who didn’t reply to shops message. Since I didn’t reply to this shop I was penalized for not replying within 24 hours. I didn’t get star seller for June. 
This had nothing to do with my own store and my own customers. This is completely bogus and needs review.

[mommawhazelsquilts]

You sure can tell it's the first of the month.

The rules are, and have been for over two years, that you must reply to the first message in a thread whether it's from a buyer or a seller.

It's not bogus and it doesn't need a review.  The rules have remained constant for the entirety of this program.

[TBQSC · Accepted solution]

What messages count towards the message response rate?

Your message response rate is based on just the first message in a conversation, not ongoing conversations. This means you just need to respond to the first message within 24 hours. This applies to messages both from buyer and seller accounts. Messages from Etsy staff do not count toward your response rate, and neither do messages that you mark as spam. You can also now find a breakdown of your message response rate score by downloading a CSV.

More SS info here 

[nineteen27]

on your star seller dashboard.

under... 

"questions? we've got answers"

What messages count towards the message response rate?

Your message response rate is based on just the first message in a conversation, not ongoing conversations. This means you just need to respond to the first message within 24 hours. This applies to messages both from buyer and seller accounts. 

https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/me/star-seller?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

[ChillwolfArt]

Sorry you were hit with this.  As others have said, any time you are not the Initiator of a Message, you must Respond or Mark as Spam.  You may receive a Message from another Seller ("How's it going"?)  That would still count because you did not Initiate the Message.

Hope this helps.

[BlueAgateFarms]

The star seller thing is triggering everyone.  Welcome to the first day of June.