Message response rate issue

[Galvaleos]

I always respond as soon as possible to messages. Usually within a hour yet my percent is at 94% for response rate. I believe this actually might be from a person I bought something from which is not a potentional buyer. Going to lose my star seller status for the first time over this. 

[Duckwells]

Unfortunately, Etsy doesn’t differentiate between buyers and sellers to qualify for the message badge.  You need to respond to all first time messages within 24 hours or send them to spam.  

[BootifulLabels]

The rules state that you must respond within 24hrs  to every new message regardless of who it is from or what it is about,  or mark it as spam where appropriate.   The program does not know who is the buyer or who is the seller in a transaction between two shop owners.  You can create quick reply snippets and apply them in just a couple of clicks,  or better still, create a buyer only account so that your purchasing activity does not mess with your Star Seller status.

[HazelsSewingSupplies]

This program is going on 3 - maybe 4 years?  The rules state something along the lines of "from buyer or seller" - meaning ALL first time messages are to be responded to in 24 hours or less.

ALL FIRST TIME MESSAGES - no matter who they are from - MUST BE ANSWERED IN 24 HOURS OR LESS.

Even if it's your Aunt Mary wanting to know if you are ---------------(fill in the blank).

[BagmakerSupply]

@Galvaleos: "I believe this actually might be from ..." You can find out for sure by checking the applicable CSV file available on your Customer Service page to see which new Message threads Etsy thinks were unanswered or answered late?

"... not a potentional buyer." Unfortunately immaterial. The Star Seller rules specifically state that "messages both from buyer and seller accounts" will be included in Star Seller calculations. As it says right on your Customer Service page and elsewhere, for Star Seller you need to reply to (or mark as SPAM) 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.