Message Response Rate Dropped to 75% for No Reason

[MandyDesignStudioLLC]

Hello,

I just lost my opportunity to earn a star seller badge because my Message Response Rate just dropped to 75%. I reviewed the report and the only message that was not responded to was one where I was the BUYER not the seller. Further, the message required no response, it was an alert from the seller on delayed shipping.

Why would this affect my star seller rating? How do I get this reveresed?

[OwlAlwaysKnit · Accepted solution]

Sorry you were caught out by this but it clearly states in the SS section that ALL initial messages need to be replied to. 

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403058372503-How-to-Become-a-Star-Seller?segment=selling

The Message response rate only applies to the first message in a thread. Initial messages from both buyers and sellers on Etsy are counted towards the Message response rate. 

[MandyDesignStudioLLC]

Thank you

[NoFrogsAllowed]

You can't get it reversed.  The system worked the way Etsy set it up.  You have to reply to or spam ALL first messages no matter who they are from.  Etsy does not read the messages, so does not know who is a buyer and who is a seller or if the message needs no reply.

[Vintorious]

As above, Etsy bases message response rate on how quickly we reply to any messages, and not only those from potential or actual buyers. 

I can't speak for others, but as a buyer, I would reply with a quick "Thank you" to a seller who is reaching out to give me any information about my order. As a seller, I also like to have such messages acknowledged. 

[HazelsSewingSupplies]

@MandyDesignStudioLLC 

This might be the time to read the rules for SSB as there are other rules one can run afoul of without knowing what they are.

Also as @Vintorious states, I would have thanked them for the information.  I very seldom ignore people that speak to me.

[FallenAngelBrass]

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@MandyDesignStudioLLC wrote:

Why would this affect my star seller rating? 

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Because you used your shop account to buy something and you opted to not respond to a message in your shop account. 

Many shop owners have a separate buying account in order to keep the Etsy shop independent of the shop owner's buying activity. 

[BagmakerSupply]

@MandyDesignStudioLLC: "Message Response Rate Dropped to 75% for No Reason" Unfortunately there was a reason. As it says right on your Star Seller page and elsewhere, you need to reply to the FIRST message of EVERY NEW INCOMING THREAD within 24 hours. It does not matter who sent it, the subject matter, if it is a duplicate or blank or anything else. If it is SPAM or a SCAM then it should be marked as spam.

[AAANativeArts]

This has been posted hundreds of times. It says right on the Star Seller page that you must either answer ALL posts at least once, or else mark them as spam. You could answer with a simple "Thank You."

[OmasFabricStash]

A response was required if you wanted to keep the SS badge.