One Star Review

[LMichelDesigns]

I have 13 pages of 5 star reviews for my shop. I only have one review that is one star, but my page says my average star rating is one star. How can I change this?? Very frustrating.

[TheVintagePineapple]

A shop's star rating is based on the last 12 months of reviews.  Since there's only one review within those 12 months and it's a 1 star, that's the rating until you get another review.  Hopefully, the next one will be a 5 star one.

[LMichelDesigns]

Seriously?? That is so ridiculous. Why is it not based on all-time sales? The one star customer didn't provide any feedback and I've reached out to her with no reply. My sales are all automatic downloads, so I'm not sure how I'm supposed to rectify the problem...

[AnniebelloPaper]

@LMichelDesigns Imagine if you will a shop that starts off fabulously, great product, great customer service. That might continue for years and then they let their standards drop. If ALL reviews were counted, it might take years for those 'old'  5-star reviews to be overtaken by the recent not-so-stellar ones.

Then imagine the other end of the scenario. A shop that struggled in the beginning because they were new at online seller, maybe they had a bad patch of whatever. Then they get their act together, and become a wonderful seller with great product and customer service. It might take a while to undo the 'damage' caused by earlier mistakes and they can't show that they have improved.

Shop stars should reflect the most current standard of the shop, seller and product. By only allowing the last 12 months' reviews to count, it allows shops who have improved to benefit from their efforts and stops older shops from sitting back and allowing their standards to slip.

[BagmakerSupply]

Excellent points @AnniebelloPaper  and regardless of what time period Etsy used someone would be unhappy.

[LMichelDesigns]

I understand that perspective @AnniebelloPaper. It’s just truly unfortunate for those of us who do work hard and who have put more time and effort into their productsas time has progressed they’ve learned. My shop is a hobby, I don’t generatea ton of sales, and from those sales not everyoneleaves a review…but my efforts have only increased to create wonderful products.

[ThePurplePuppy]

@LMichelDesigns   "Why is it not based on all-time sales?"

You would need to ask Etsy that question as we are only other sellers here and have no way of knowing how/why etsy makes the decisions that they do.

[LMichelDesigns]

I’ve been trying to contact Etsy, but haven’t figured out how. Is it just a rabbit hole or self help questions, or is there actually a way to talk to someone?

[TheVintagePineapple]

The 12-month rating system has been this way for as long as I can remember.  Contacting Etsy about it or about the review will be a waste of time.  The buyer wrote nothing, so there's nothing in it that would warrant removal.  As I said, when you get another review, your rating will improve.  

[LMichelDesigns]

There have been a lot of changes since I first started selling on Etsy in 2009. I don’t believe it’s always been this way…however,it is possible that I wasn’t aware because it had never affected me negatively. Either way, I appreciate you taking the time to help and inform me! I received two more reviews this morning,so the rating has gone up somewhat since my original post yesterday, which is good news. Hopefully I will be back up to 5 stars soon! Thanks again.

[PieceByNumberQuilts]

@LMichelDesigns   This is not related to your question, but I hope it might be helpful.  With instant download products, you can set the quantity available to anything up to 999.  You won’t be billed the 20 cents for each of that quantity when you create the listing; you will only pay it when one of that item is sold and the listing is automatically renewed.  This means you can set a high number and not worry about relisting each item manually.  You will only be charged for the quantity sold, when it sells.  Hope that’s clear!

  Of course you may prefer your method, which is another thing.  I like not having to worry about whether all my designs are still available week to week - I check and adjust quarterly (or so).   

[LMichelDesigns]

Oh that’s great advice! I didn’t know that, thank you!

[mommawhazelsquilts · Accepted solution]

Looks like you got a new review just today changing it to a 3 star shop.  In January the 1 star will drop off and I'm sure by then you will have plenty of good reviews to bring your average up.

[LMichelDesigns]

Thank you, this is very exciting news!