Seller sent "Thank you" msg to me as a buyer. It's wrongly counting against my seller msg metric.

[ShortSnoutStudio]

I made a mockups purchase on Etsy. The seller sent me a direct message on Etsy thanking me for my purchase. I didn't reply because there was no need as the buyer to reply to a thank you for your purchase message.

I just noticed that it's wrongly counting against my 24-hour message response metric as an Etsy seller.

How can I get that corrected? 

Thanks!

[OneEyeCatStudio]

You can't.

Can't get it corrected.  That is how it is intended to work.

[michellepatterns]

That is how it works.  Every initial message to you--doesn't matter who sent it or what it's about--needs a reply.

[WitticismsRus]

@ShortSnoutStudio 

But it isn't "wrongly counting against" you. Its correct because you didn't reply or mark it as spam.

Etsy is pretty clear about how the message response rate is calculated in help center here https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403058372503-How-to-Become-a-Star-Seller?segment=selling

There is a highlighted bit under message response rate info that says "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. "

That means ALL messages. It also means each individual message thread so if someone sends you 5 different messages with 5 questions instead of putting them in the same message chain you need to respond to all 5 of them.

The system is completely automated and doesn't know if the message is from a buyer or another seller. It isn't reading every message and making a decision if it's from a seller or a customer or what it's about. It's a computer program that calculates data. It just sees a message and calculated the response time. That's just how it works.

The info is also right there on the Star Seller page in shop manager. Just go to shop manager > star seller. Once there scroll toward the bottom until you find "Questions? We've got answers." Then click messages. The very first question there says

"What messages count toward 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. Messages from Etsy staff do not count toward your response rate, and neither do messages that you mark as spam...."

If the star is important to you then it may be a good idea to read or review all the info Etsy provides about the star seller program.

Bottom line...you have to either reply or mark as spam.

It takes just a few seconds to send a simple 'Thank you'. Or you can set up an auto reply every 5 days. Etsy provides tools for sellers to use , it's up to us to use them.

[OmasFabricStash]

You state there was no need to respond to the message so you didn’t respond and then get upset because you got dinged for not responding. That’s the way it works, as others have said you need to respond to all new messages. 
If it helps any, at the beginning of each month there is often at least one thread a day from other sellers about the same thing. 

[dippeldiundscribble]

@ShortSnoutStudio 

Familiarize yourself with all the options provided by Etsy and use them to meet the criteria.

1. Set up auto-reply
2. Create and use saved replies
3. Mark as spam 
4. Set up a buyer account for your purchases
5. Purchase as a Guest

*1: How to set an auto-reply for Messages

*2: How to Use Saved Replies in Messages

[AnnaleasFinest · Accepted solution]

@ShortSnoutStudio 

it's actually a very frequent misunderstanding here to think we don't have to reply to a seller we purchased from.

But the Etsy rules say: Reply to ALL messages, and not "reply to all buyer messages".

I know you feel that replying to the thank you message wasn't necessary, - but it is for the SS. A smilie will do.

Also, if a message requires a 24 hours reply, a blue banner will appear on top, in your message.

Another blue banner appears, once you've replied, congratulating you.

So, always open all the messages you receive and check.

Etsy also says;

"Messages that are marked as spam will not be counted against you..."

You can also use auto-reply, and renew every 5 days.

Best wishes!

[ShortSnoutStudio]

Thank you. I'll chalk it up as lesson learned. I saw the preview on my phone that it was just a thank you and didn't even open it to see the banner. Replying with a smiley is a nice idea!

[ShortSnoutStudio]

Thank you for this response. I'll take it as lesson learned. I saw the preview on my phone that it was just a thank you and didn't even open it to see the banner. Replying with an emoji is a great idea!

[AnnaleasFinest]

@ShortSnoutStudio 

: ))) and there is a message from me in your inbox! Don't miss it !!!

You need to reply! ☻

[FallenAngelBrass]

@ShortSnoutStudio 

Many sellers have seperate buying and selling accounts.  This way, our buying activity does not get involved with our shops. 

[ShortSnoutStudio]

Thank you. That's a great idea!

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