Not responding to messages from a shop I purchased from lowered seller rating

[CriticalHitEmporium]

I purchased some rubber stamps from a shop using the account linked to my Etsy shop. After delivery they sent a message thanking me, instructions on how to use the stamp and asking for a review. 

I did not respond to this message since there was no actual reason to. 

24 hours later I notice my message reply rating is at 90% because I didn’t respond to this message. I contacted support through the chat and they cannot do anything and just repeat the same thing over and over again like they are robots. 

How can I get my rating fixed since this seems like a bug in the automated system?

[JackisJustVintage]

All initial messages need a reply or be marked as spam. It does not matter who sent them or where they came from. It has always worked this way. Some set up a separate account for buying, but find it just as easy to reply "thank you."

[UniqueGiftOrnaments]

As Jack,... said, and Etsy won't fix it.

[TheVintagePineapple]

From the Dashboard/Star Seller Q & A section regarding 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.''

[TheBlueLionsDen]

You can still mark the message as spam and it won't count towards your star seller count. Your reply rating should go back to 100% by the next day.

[OmasFabricStash]

It sounds to me like responding because of the SS would be a good reason. Like others have said, all messages must be responded to not just the ones about your shop. 

[FabioMcMustache · Accepted solution]

Hello, and thanks for sharing your feedback. The Star Seller badge is our way of recognizing sellers with a proven record of providing a great customer experience. To become a Star Seller, your shop must meet certain criteria for messages, shipping, ratings, orders, and sales. 

If you’re looking for more guidance, we encourage you to check out our Star Seller Checklist for tips and advice. Here are some other helpful resources: 

• How Etsy shops are evaluated
• Tips for restoring your badges
• How can I tell which messages count towards my progress towards Star Seller?
  

Otherwise, since this thread does not pertain to a potential technical issue, we're now closing it per our Community Policy.