I'm missing out on star sellar rating because of faulty algorithm r/t messages

[FilaMental3DPrinting]

The algorithm is penalizing me for not answering  a message within 24 hours, but the messages was from another store where I bought something.  I was the buyer and I didn't even have an active store at that time. 

[UniqueGiftOrnaments]

Information on the star seller is very clear. We must answer all messages regardless, or put them into spam

[FilaMental3DPrinting]

Yeah, as I stated very clearly above, I wasn't even a seller at the time.  The message sent to me was in regards to something I bought from another store.  It was sent on 4/19.  I didn't create my shop until 4/21.  That is a faulty algorithm.

[NanaLetha]

Did you read the criteria for star seller? It's not faulty as far as the need to reply to all messages.

[FilaMental3DPrinting]

Yeah, as I stated very clearly above, I wasn't even a seller at the time.  The message sent to me was in regards to something I bought from another store.  It was sent on 4/19.  I didn't create my shop until 4/21.  That is a faulty algorithm..

[TinTeddy]

Etsy can not tell why someone messaged you, only that they did.

This is why they say you must respond to ALL messages.

The algorithm is not faulty. It is working exactly as they have told us it will.

[FilaMental3DPrinting]

Yeah, as I stated very clearly above, I wasn't even a seller at the time.  The message sent to me was in regards to something I bought from another store.  It was sent on 4/19.  I didn't create my shop until 4/21.  That is a faulty algorithm...

[StitchyFrood]

When something functions exactly as it is described, there is no fault. Own your mistake, take responsibility for yourself, and move on. That missed message will drop off soon enough. 

[FilaMental3DPrinting]

Yeah, as I stated very clearly above, I wasn't even a seller at the time.  The message sent to me was in regards to something I bought from another store.  It was sent on 4/19.  I didn't create my shop until 4/21.  That is a faulty algorithm....

[cutebutton]

You can go back and mark the message as spam and it should update your stats.  But like others have said, etsy clearly states you have to answer ALL messages and it's been like that since the beginning of star seller.

They are making a change to where you only have to answer the first convo from a specific buyer so that is good but in this case if a person, whoever it is, sends you a message you either respond or mark it as spam.

[FilaMental3DPrinting]

Yeah, as I stated very clearly above, I wasn't even a seller at the time.  The message sent to me was in regards to something I bought from another store.  It was sent on 4/19.  I didn't create my shop until 4/21.  That is a faulty algorithm.....

[dippeldiundscribble]

@FilaMental3DPrinting 

Go to your Star Seller page and scroll down to the Q&A section.

https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/me/star-seller

Questions? We’ve got answers. -> Messages -> 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.