Multiple messages from same buyer come in under separate messages, losing my star seller status.

[BoopiesCloset]

Three months ago I was told I lost my Star Seller status due to not responding to messages within the time.  However, there were 2 threads from each of these buyers which I did not know about until I returned to the shop after the weekend. So I lost it.  I said, fine, not fair but I'm not one to complain.  Now its happening again.  I answer from my Etsy Seller app, and then come into the shop the next day to find there are 2 threads from the same buyer.  I'm close to getting my status back, until now. So I contacted Etsy CS, and have been asked to note it here for the technical dept.  Of course, this does nothing for me, just for Etsy to note.

Technical issues damage our businesses, whether it be negative impacts of status (which Etsy created), searching, sales, etc...And while dealing with this from Etsy, I'm battling USPS for delays in service, services paid for and not received like Express Mail, Priority, etc...its making it very hard to continue is this market.

[AnniebelloPaper]

Is it an Etsy issue or are the buyers starting a new thread? They might just be clicking the 'contact seller' button every time and not realising it starts a new thread. Perhaps you could send a message letting them know what's happening and advise them on how to stay on the same message thread for all their conversations.

[GlassyFields]

I've had a single buyer message me using different accounts ... it's a lesson learned. Pay attention to whether or not the thread is new ... Etsy flags first messages. It used to be buyers could start new threads but now it seems all messages from a buyer's account get lumped into one thread. Drives me a bit nuts because I have threads that go back years making it difficult to zero in on something within that thread ... like a request for a repeat custom order similar to something I did a year ago for them.

You could try to mark the extra thread as spam ... but be careful because you won't see messages from that thread anymore unless you go into the spam folder.

[dayspringcollectible]

This doesn't sound like a technical issue.  If a buyer is starting multiple messages, they all must be answered, even if just with a "."  You can also enable automatic messages so none of them slip by you if unnoticed.

[PlatypusDream]

If you don't look at your messages over the weekend, set an autoreply. 

That way you won't miss any messages, no matter the circumstance.