Star Seller Message Response Time

[BluebellCottageGB]

Hi, I don't think it's very fair, my message response time rating has gone down below 95% because another seller messaged all their customers with a promotional message which didn't require a response. This has meant that now I can't get Star Seller, this seems very unfair considering all my other scores are really good and I always respond to actual customers well within the 24 hour deadline for swift response. I think the messages for my shop should be separate to those coming in for me personally. 

[cutebutton]

This is copied and pasted directly from etsy on the message requirements for star seller.  It has said this from the very beginning of the program.

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. Messages from Etsy staff do not count toward your response rate, and neither do messages that you mark as spam. You can also now find a breakdown of your message response rate score by downloading a CSV.

[SageGoods]

Well, there's a lot of things we all wish were different & more fair with Etsy. But reality is what reality is...

Every Message Counts.

[NanaLetha]

@BluebellCottageGB  You do realize the program is automated? No person is reading your messages.

[OmasFabricStash]

You received a message and didn’t respond or send it to spam, you thought it didn’t require a response. If you want the Star Seller then it did require a response or spam it, you decided to do neither so you got dinged for it. How is that not fair? All first messages you get must be responded to, why didn’t you respond if you wanted the SS?

[vintageNCtreasures]

@BluebellCottageGB 

You should have marked as spam so it wouldn't count against you. 
By not replying nor marking as spam, yes it counted against you. 

ALL new messages either need to be replied to or marked as spam.  Etsy doesn't care who the message is from, another seller, a customer or a friend.
The SS rules have been clear for over 2 years now.
Plenty of info posted on your dashboard and the help pages.

If you don't want to get messages from sellers you bought from, open another Etsy account just for buying, easy peasy!

[HazelsSewingSupplies]

"promotional message that didn't require a response."

Nowhere in the rules does it say that a promotional message doesn't require a response.  Instead, it says "All new messages....another seller"

@BluebellCottageGB  If you have not yet read the rules for SSB, it would be a good idea to do so to prevent running afoul of other rules that must be followed.

[WantableDesigns]

Another day, yet another person complaining about something they have total control over but didn't read the rules properly.

Tip - mark the message as spam and in a few days your percentage should go back up.

[PristinityJewelry]

We need to start sending (snarky?) replies to these sellers that "quasi" spam customers, customers that are also sellers.  Messages requesting that they "cease & desist" in the practice.  They know darned well it just makes more work for their fellow seller, and could affect Star Seller statuses.

[HazelsSewingSupplies]

@PristinityJewelry 

Sadly, these posters don't feel like they have to make ANY reply, much less a Snarky one...lol

Although even a snarky one would save their bacon....so to speak...