Didn’t respond to a message

[TheWarStars]

Hi. I pride myself in being a star seller. Recently someone sent me a message that was basically “these things are cool!” It wasn’t a request for help, or a question, just a statement. But because I didn’t reply within 24 hrs I’ve lost my star seller status. I think that’s unfair, they weren’t expecting a response or asking for one. Can I get this fixed? 

[ChillwolfArt]

Yes, that is the way the SS Metrics work.  Etsy won't adjust it, sorry to say. Any time a Message is not Initiated by you (regardless of what it is about), you must Respond or Mark as Spam.  

You may receive a Message from someone who is not a Buyer.  It could be another Seller (perhaps about your Order). Or a friendly "Hi, how's it going"? Message.  You did not Initiate the Message and  those rules still apply.  Should someone say, "Hey, buy my gems 30% off" for example, I would Mark as Spam.

Hope this helps.

[audreytherese]

How would Etsy know what the message was about and that it didn't deem a response? Or, you could have said 'thanks!'. The program rules are clear that all messages must be responded to or marked as spam. I'm just not understanding how it's unfair.

[VogueVixens]

You can mark the message as spam, and it will be removed from the calculations for May's Star Seller.

[JJewellerySuppliesUK]

The rule is you have to answer every single message no matter who sent it or what it is about as the bots can't distinguish the difference. 

[WitticismsRus]

"...because I didn’t reply within 24 hrs I’ve lost my star seller status...."

Yes, that is correct. That is how it works. 

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

Interesting shop name and items. 

[dianedowgill]

Yes, just what I thought!

[OmasFabricStash]

You got a message and didn’t respond, so you got dinged for it. That’s the way it works, unless you answer all messages, or send it to spam, your percentage gets lowered and you can lose your star. 

[RedDirtDogsVintage]

Do you think Disney, who owns the Star Wars franchise and Hasbro who owned the Kenner company would be very happy to see you are selling bootleg toys and using their name(s) to do it? 

[OneEyeCatStudio]

And this is why I think that the Star Seller Program is utter bullpucky.

[DKVintageandBeyond]

It's not automatic from missing 1 message. Look at the Star Seller criteria and it's a calculation on more than 1 thing and over the last 3 months. There likely something else over Jan, Feb and March.

[NoFrogsAllowed]

When someone compliments your shop the right and polite thing to do is say thank you, star seller or not.  Seriously, how long can that take?

[DKVintageandBeyond]

Wow some sarcasm tones in here. Play nice Customer service right? Happy Easter All!

[OneEyeCatStudio]

Thanks, mom.

[mommawhazelsquilts]

Re-sellers seldom get nice responses - 

[RedDirtDogsVintage]

@mommawhazelsquilts  I don't think its re-selling, it is the making & selling of bootleg  toys using a bootleg copy of the original packaging.  At least that is how it is explained in the listings.

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

@mommawhazelsquilts 

Or counterfeiters.

[mommawhazelsquilts]

@RedDirtDogsVintage and @PiecesOfMePaperCraft 

Semantics - my 87-1/2 y/o brain couldn't think of the right word at the moment...lol 

[BootifulLabels]

A "thank you" would have been polite, and enough to satisfy SS (not to mention more likely to bring you a new customer).  You must answer any new message within 24 hrs or mark it as spam.  Messaging is the one criteria for SS that we can all absolutely control.    

[CatsWhiskersCurios]

I suggest you contact Etsy and ask them to have a really good look at your shop for you 

[mommawhazelsquilts]

"they weren’t expecting a response or asking for one."

Maybe they thought you might be polite and say "thank you."