Why does my star seller message response rate include messages from purchases I made as a buyer?

[TheBlackLotusVintage]

I noticed my star rating dropped because of message response rate. I downloaded the data to see what it was, and it was a single message sent to me from another seller I purchased from just updating the order to "shipped". Not someone messaging me about my shop, my item, or order. And that message did not merit a reply anyway. This in my opinion should not affect MY SHOPS rating as I WAS THE BUYER!

[hopeandjoystudios]

Because that is how it works. You can avoid that by having a buyer only account to make purchases then you don't need to answer that sort of thing. You can put it in your spam folder and it should come off your total in a day or 2. It IS irritating. I missed a message by an hour last month because it was the weekend, I was busy with a birthday and I just didn't see it in time. Lost my star for the whole shop as I don't get many messages.

[CarpetCollectionAU · Accepted solution]

Because this is clearly highlighted in the Star Seller Help Centre Information?

"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." 

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403058372503-How-to-Become-a-Star-Seller?segment=selling

[NanaLetha]

How would the automated program know the difference?

[SugarTaffySoap]

@TheBlackLotusVintage  the following has been posted in the forums by Etsy Staff: It's self-explanatory: "

"The Message response rate counts initial messages from all Etsy members, both buyers, and other sellers. This is because fellow sellers could be potential buyers for your shop. If it's not a spam message it requires a response within 24 hours. If it is a spam message you can mark it as such and it won't count towards your score."

[UppNorthCo]

It's not just your message response rate.  It's everybody's.  Perfectly level playing field.