Star Seller not received because of messages from the same buyer in three different threads

[UncommonCords]

Etsy is penalizing me because the same buyer had three different threads of messages going on at once and although I replied to two of them one was apparently left unnoticed by me, so now I don't get the Star Seller designation.   It is extremely unfair that Etsy creates these badges and attaches such importance to them, but even when you do everything "right" you can't appeal to fix an obvious algorithm foul-up by Etsy.    If not for this I would have Star Seller status....not that I care, but my customers might.    This is a terrible way to treat your sellers, Etsy.    

[CraftyCornishMaids]

etsy says reply to each new message thread, they highlight them, so you can't miss them.

you did not do everything right, you did not reply to each new message thread

It's all in your hands

[BootifulLabels]

Three different threads count as three different conversations, and they all need a reply or to be marked as spam.

It only takes a few seconds to type "see other thread", or to mark the message as spam.

[Silverwhimsies]

I am a shop owner and I lost my star seller badge as a buyer. I bought an item from another Etsy shop and sent a message to the shop with a question, the seller responded with the answer and I thought that was that. Well apparently I needed to respond back with a thank you or something. There are so many instances that AI can't understand and because of that shops lose their badges for no reason. I lost my badge last year because a seller was sending messages to other Etsy shops trying to drum up business. I didn't respond so I lost my badge. I now know that I should have marked it spam but I didn't know that then. Shops should not message other shops trying to drum up business for themselves, it's wrong just like building an emailing list with your buyers email addresses without their permission. Whenever possible I try to buy from other Etsy sellers and NEVER look to see if they're a Star Seller, reviews yes, badges no. That being said it is still frustrating as hell when you lose something but did nothing wrong.

[vintageNCtreasures]

If you contacted the seller with a question and they answered it, then you did NOT have to reply back and have the last word as long as it was on the same message thread.

Now if that seller sent you a "new" message answering your question, then YES you had to reply to it.

You ONLY have to reply once to a new message thread.

You don't have to get the last word in (if that was true, then everyone would try to get the last word in and the messages would never end).

[vintageNCtreasures]

How to Become a Star Seller – Etsy Help

You’ll see the percentage of messages that received a response to the initial message within 24 hours. “Initial message” means the first message in a single conversation with another member, also known as a “thread.” 

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. 

[Silverwhimsies]

The seller did not reply with a new thread, they replied to my initial question. Like I said, AI is not always right.

[BagmakerSupply]

@Silverwhimsies: "The seller did not reply with a new thread, they replied to my initial question." Agreed that something is wrong as only the the FIRST Message of a NEW INCOMING thread should count for Star Seller. Have you checked the applicable CSV file available on your Star Seller page (previous period for June Star) to confirm which new Message threads Etsy thinks were unanswered or answered late? There is a link to the actual Message thread so you can verify if the data is correct or not.

[Adorabilities]

Did you include your first question with the order? That doesn't start a convo thread. So if the seller answers, it starts a thread, and that would be the first message.

Asking a question in the "note to seller" box while placing an order is not a convo.

[PrimFun]

@Silverwhimsies   Check the CSV to see which message is actually the problem.  You may be assuming but it may be a different message.

You asking a question and getting a reply back does not count.  And it is no AI contrary to what people are thinking.  This is a simple message system with no AI involved. 

[UncommonCords]

I do see that from now on, I have to check all incoming messages and reply even though the reply is redundant.   My customer started three different threads for the same order but different items in the order.   So I thought by consolidating all my answers in one reply it would be more efficient, certainly for me, if not for her.    Bad call on my part, I now know, but I do think that I should have the ability to appeal to a human Etsy worker to have this corrected.   I mean, what am I paying for with Etsy's cut,  if not some occasional assistance.   

[CelestinaMarieDesign]

My star seller for responses to messages was removed even though I did in fact have a new message 6 days before the end of May in which I answered very promptly. Is there a set number of messages before they are included in star seller. 

Thank you for any updates and answers on this subject. Last month the same thing happened.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

the response to the messages is calculated over the messages for the last 3 months

If you've missed 1 in less than 20, (95%) you won't get the badge

check the csv to see what is the problem - check "LAST review period", not current review period