I will be losing Star Seller status this coming month because of a ridiculous etsy glitch error!!

[EstrellaGiftColl]

I will have finally gotten back to star seller status on July 1st, except that it now says I have a 94% conversation response rate. I know that can't be possible so I check and it's literally because another shop sent me a coupon a week AFTER I purchased from them. It was a follow up email the other seller initaited to thank me, so I never responded to it. THAT'S IT. That took me from 100% to 94% in that category.

I have been trying to support other shops by purchasing from them in these very down times for Etsy sellers, while also working to get back to Star seller status. It is completely ridiculous that I am being penalized for a reason that we have been told repeatedly would not count against our stats. Is this correctable?

[FallenAngelBrass]

Sigh.....

Mark the message as spam and all will be forgiven.  

[BirdsongEmporium]

Big sigh @FallenAngelBrass  I have completely lost count of just how many threads I've seen about this since the beginning of the star seller program. 

More sellers would benefit from regularly following the forums even just to scan titles or read posts. I've always found the forums to be a great way to avoid pitfalls and learn about new things Etsy should have emailed me about but then I'm one who never gets those emails even though I'm signed up.

[lepropostedimari]

Try moving the conversation to SPAM. Within 24 hours you should be back to the right percentage. Good luck

[MidnightCreations]

It is not a glitch, this is how it is designed.  You must respond to every single first message or mark it as spam.  This is how it has been from the beginning, and Etsy has always said this...if I am remembering correctly.

[HazelsSewingSupplies]

It is a glitch - it's just not an Etsy glitch - it's a seller's glitch - ALL MESSAGES means ALL MESSAGES not just the ones that a seller considers important.

[EstrellaGiftColl]

It defies logic that I can buy from another shop on the platform, receive my item, leave a positive review and they send me a message to say thank you AFTER all of that and that I would have to respond to that. It's ridiculous. I would have never thought to mark a message from another seller as spam because I wouldn't want to negatively affect their shop over something like that. It's just frustrating and hopefully something that is fixed because it makes me not want to be a buyer anymore.

[mommawhazelsquilts]

How hard is it to say "you're welcome"?

The rules have been from the very beginning that we have to respond to "All Messages."

[ThePurplePuppy]

I always said "you're welcome" even before star seller--and no--after a lifetime of doing this it is just plain easy to continue!  I don;t se why this is so difficult.

One could even make it simpler and make a snippet.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

Etsy has always said you have to reply to EVERY message thread, whoever it is from,

It is not an error, it is not a glitch, it is working the way it says it works

.....

You’ll see the percentage of messages that received a response to the initial message within 24 hours. “Initial message” means the first message in a single conversation with another member, also known as a “thread.” Responding to 95% of all your initial messages within 24 hours will earn you the Speedy replies customer service badge.

[Arcalliq]

first, the programme has worked like that for almost a year,

second, let me tell you what happens when you lose the star: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

[PillowDetails]

It's really like a carrot on a stick, isn't it?  Except the "carrot" is just a cardboard cutout.

[Arcalliq]

@PillowDetails could not have put it better:)

[EstrellaGiftColl]

Clearly, but it is more the principle at this point. So much for supporting other etsy sellers.

[mommawhazelsquilts]

What does supporting other sellers have to do with this.  They thanked you.

My Mom and Dad taught me from an early age that when someone "thanked" me that I should say "you are welcome."

It's not fair to blame other sellers for your neglect in not following the rules set forth for the SSB.

[CatsWhiskersCurios]

From the star seller info in shop manager:

"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."

It's been like this since the start. If having the star matters to you, learning what the requirements are is helpful.

[MaynardMillinery]

"It is completely ridiculous that I am being penalized for a reason that we have been told repeatedly would not count against our stats."

Who, what, when, where now??

No, no one has ever said that nevermind repeatedly. 

[HazelsSewingSupplies]

Let's add How to that.  All I ever saw was ALL MESSAGES.

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

I was going to comment the same thing but you beat me to it. It has always said that we have to answer all messages.

Etsy's system can't differentiate between messages sent by a buyer or a seller. It's not that smart! 

[CuriosAnCollectibles]

It's not a glitch, you have to reply to every message no matter how mundane and seemingly pointless. Or mark as spam try and do it now.

It does point all this out in SS facts in the dashboard.

Get it, have it, lose it nothing makes any difference to sales. 

[HollystoneDesignsUK]

Hi there, Yes I am in the same situation. I have been a star seller for a few months now and have done everything in my power to keep that status. But now I found that I also have been knocked down to 93% on message response because I happened to respond to my customer very quickly but on a different thread. This is ridiculous and makes me feel like there's no point in trying.

[TheHomespunLoft]

@HollystoneDesignsUK 

The Star Seller badge does not mean a thing to your shop.. Nothing- it is a pretty purple star to- I think try to make you into a better seller-.. that is it. It doesn't affect your search or your rating. Buyers don't even see it on mobile.. and less even know what it is for. I have never had a customer tell me they bought from me because of a purple star.

So if you have it fine-- if you don't also fine. Stop stressing about this. Like was said- mark the message you forgot SPAM and your rating will go up again.

[SugarTaffySoap]

It's a tiny star that's bigger than life and has the power to piss you off, but teaches you not to ignore messages. Etsy says you can send the message to spam so your rate will re-adjust. 

[TickleYourWitch]

You haven’t done everything in your power to get the blinkin’ stars if you haven’t even read the program guidelines. Honestly if you can’t get 100% on the message badge by now you are not paying attention at all. 

[EstrellaGiftColl]

That's helpful. I've always had 100% until this issue, so I would say I am doing okay, but thanks.