Star Seller Message Response Rate

[PearlsAndPeridotCo]

My response rate is at 50% because of this: 2 messages got a reply within 24 hours; 2 messages got a reply after 24 hours

The 2 messages that I did not respond to within the 24 hours were messages from purchases that I made as a BUYER and were where the Seller was either thanking me for the purchase or sending me a coupon. I have answered every message that was sent to me as a SELLER!

This does not seem to be accurately calculated for those of us who buy and sell on Etsy. I am being dinged as a seller for not answering messages pertaining to a purchase I made. So, from now on I definitely am answering every message regardless; BUT it is just the fact that as a buyer and also a seller on Etsy, we should not have to answer messages that really do not require a response if we are purchasing something as a buyer, just to obtain or keep a Star Seller status as a Seller. 

[NanaLetha]

And how would the automated program know the difference?

[Former_Member · Accepted solution]

Mark them as spam and your score should go back up within a few days.

Open a separate buyer account for purchasing or sign out and buy as a guest whenever you shop here.

[AAANativeArts]

You don't need a separate account for buying. Just make sure you either 1) Reply or 2)Mark as Spam on all messages you receive. If  you mark a message that needs no reply as Spam, the sender will not know you did that.

Even if you mark it as Spam at a later date, it will improve your Star Seller Score after a bit of time.

[TagTeams · Accepted solution]

Also, when receiving solicitor messages - unknown sellers asking you to buy their item since you've bought similar items from others, etc. 
If you trash the mssg, be sure to mark as spam 1st...then to the trash they go.  I learned the hard way.

[BagmakerSupply · Accepted solution]

@PearlsAndPeridotCo   :  There have been so many threads about this ...  At least for the time being, it appears that marking an unanswered message as SPAM (even after the 24 hour deadline has passed) will cause your reply percentage to change in a day or two if the original message was within the current star seller period.

For all we complain about Etsy they have been very clear and consistent about messages / convos from the very beginning. Just to clarify so people don't think they have to respond to every message and it will be a never ending loop: the FIRST message of a NEW thread must be replied to within 24 hours. It does not matter who sent it, the subject matter, if it is a duplicate or blank or anything else. If it is SPAM then it should be marked as such. Those have always been the rules. By the way, if you are creating a custom listing based on the message, you still need to reply to the message. Etsy is now putting a blue text warning / advisory on those messages they consider to be a "new message".

If you have not yet done so, you might want to read https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403058372503-How-to-Become-a-Star-Seller?segment=selling

[GoRetroVintage]

Maybe I missed where Etsy told me to how to become a Star Seller that I also had to become a star buyer? A thank you from a seller for my glowing review of my purchase just cost me a deduction in my star rating! (the message was a nice thank you but did not believe this required striking up a convo?) anyhow, after finding out this info on the forum, in future I will reply, and although it wasn't spam will mark it so and see what happens. 

Thanks to all who made it quite clear.

Maybe im putting too much emphasis on trying to be a perfect seller have a great day all..... 

[thePaperFramer · Accepted solution]

What everyone else said. If you think they are being hard on you; they are. We have had 7 zillion threads over exactly this same issue. RTFM before you post. Know the rules. It has happened to everyone........................................ONCE. Then we learn, read the forum and move on and don't do it again..........................................MAYBE.

[PearlsAndPeridotCo]

Thank you everyone, there has been a lot of great advice. Very appreciated. 

[FabioMcMustache]

Hello, and welcome to the Etsy Community Forums!

We suggest using the Forums' Search function prior to posting (just be careful to not bump an old thread that hasn't seen any activity in the last months/years), as questions regarding the Star Seller Program have been extensively covered by our fellow members since its launch, as well as our official Star Seller Guide, which contains in-depth answers to some of the more common questions regarding Message Response Rate, Shipping, Local Pick-Up, Digital Orders, and other topics. You can check it out here:etsy.com/starseller.

Having said that, and since this thread does not pertain to a technical issue, it will be closed to prevent it from going off-topic.

Thank you!

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