Star Seller - affected by purchases?

[2MBowtique]

Question - I just checked my Star Seller Status, and it says I didn't respond within 24 hours. So I pulled the history and the reason is that I purchased an item from another seller - they sent me a message and said thank you for my purchase - and I didn't reply. So now I am losing Star Seller for December which is my most important month over something that has nothing at all to do with me as a seller. And there is no one I can talk to or dispute it - the only thing I can do is post on this forum? Is that right? 

Problem Solved. Yes, this is my error. Now I know I need to reply to every single message on every single topic. 

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft · Accepted solution]

There's nothing to dispute. We have always had to respond to ALL initial messages or mark them as spam in order to count towards Star Seller.

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. 

How to Become a Star Seller 

[2MBowtique]

Well that stinks!!! Just another thing I love about this program I guess. Thanks for responding! 

[mommawhazelsquilts]

I guess I don't understand - you have the SSB.

[2MBowtique]

I have it now, but I'm not on track for December because of it. 

[audreytherese]

Being that we're not even a week into the month, it's reasonable to think you still could have time to get enough new messages that you do respond to to offset it.

[BigXStudio]

All messages need to be responded to, including from other sellers. That's how Etsy designed the system to work. So no, they won't change your star seller status. 

[2MBowtique]

Thanks for responding. Now I've learned never to send Thank You messages as I don't want to put anyone else who sells/purchases in this position! 

[mommawhazelsquilts]

That's sad.  Has it really come to the day that we feel like we don't have to be polite with people.

[audreytherese]

I shop online for the convenience of not having to be polite. I just want to do my business, and move on, no need for extra pleasantries. Same as when I answer my business phone. I ask how I can help the person, and if they ask 'how are you?', I just repeat my question of how can I help. It's business. If I tell you how I really am it's going to take too long, and otherwise I'm going to lie, and I don't like feeling like I'm forced to lie. 

Plus, if a seller messages me about an order, I'm first going to assume there is a problem with the order, as a 'thank you' is unnecessary. Since you can put that in the email that I've already received as an order confirmation. 

[mommawhazelsquilts]

I suspect that there are not a lot of these messages out there - I have never received one over the course of 12 years and 3 shops so I imagine the time involved is very minimal.  If this happened over and over it might be a problem but one occasionally is "too much work" or "too much time" - I don't buy that.

[PillowDetails]

That's it.  It was in the rules from the beginning.  Etsy won't budge.  You could always open a Buyer-only account.  Luckily, now there is a blue banner (desktop) or a blue dot for mobile, on any messages that require a response (or mark as spam) - so this should not ever happen again.

I got caught out on this too, at the start of SS, so don't feel bad.

[audreytherese]

That's right, you can not dispute this as it was a mistake on your end. Unless you create a separate account for buying, Etsy has no way of knowing that the message was about a purchase and not from a potential buyer. 

[mommawhazelsquilts]

Do you ignore people in person when they say "thank you"?

Probably not as most people are innately responsive.

Just because you can't see that person thanking you doesn't mean they aren't there so they shouldn't be ignored either.  "You're welcome" is SO EASY to do.

So, on the other hand, is "thank you" when it applies.

Besides after 1-1/2 years or so, the rules for SSB should be familiar to everyone on Etsy.  It's always been there for us to read.

Edited to say;  Whether or not Etsy knows what the messages say, is almost moot.

To me, it's a question of common politeness:

If someone thanks you, you reply "you're welcome",

[2MBowtique]

In person, no, of course not. But yes, I do not reply to auto replies so that I can focus on filling orders instead. 

[mommawhazelsquilts]

How long does it take to say "thank you" or "you're welcome"?

I don't consider "thank yous" to be auto replies.

[AAANativeArts · Accepted solution]

It clearly says right on the Star Seller page that you have to respond at least once to ALL messages, regardless of what they are about, or else mark them Spam.

[2MBowtique]

Thank you. I have always interpreted that as messages to me as the seller. Clearly, I was wrong. 

[WitticismsRus]

@2MBowtique 

You can try marking it as spam now and it should recalculate in a couple days.