Etsy is a large marketplace with lots of visitors and lots of sales each and every month. Thousands of sellers are hard at work stocking their shops, creating pristine listings, and promoting like crazy. But what happens when we place an order only to be disappointed? How do we leave a review on Etsy?
Whether it’s the poor quality of the product, the shipping time, or the customer service. What do we do when we’re let down? Who ya gonna call? (My apologies for mentioning Ghostbusters here but I couldn’t resist). We don’t call Ghostbusters and we don’t call Etsy. We have to reach out to the seller. If you have no idea how to leave a review on Etsy, or what on earth to say when you do, keep reading. I have the answer.
Of course, our Etsy transaction can go the other way entirely. We may absolutely love the item we purchased and the customer service we received. In that case we should be sure to share the experience by leaving a positive review. Bad reviews spread fast and I think the good ones should too. Either way, leaving a review is easy to do.
When Should I Leave an Etsy Review?
This is very subjective, but I believe in sharing good news. If I receive a great product with great customer service I will always leave positive feedback. It’s important that sellers know what’s working so they can do more of it. Even if the product or service isn’t out of this world, if it’s received as stated in the listing, that’s enough for me to leave a positive review.
On the other hand, bad service and subpar products also warrant a review at times. While it’s certainly everyone’s right to leave feedback, good or bad, I tend to only leave a negative review if I believe I’ve been scammed or cheated. If, for example, I paid for a product or service that I never received and was ignored by the seller, I might leave feedback to help other people from becoming a victim.
What To Do Before Leaving A Negative Review On Etsy
Before we talk about leaving a negative review on Etsy we should first see what we can do before leaving a negative review at all. Regardless of the issue, it’s almost always a good idea to reach out to the seller first.
Etsy allows customers to reach out to the seller directly and it’s often sufficient to contact them with questions or concerns about your purchase. A good seller will not only respond quickly but will try to help resolve the issue. If they do make an attempt or do in fact resolve the issue, it’s up to the customer to decide whether a bad review is still warranted.
As an Etsy seller myself I have to say, while there is a very popular expression that says “the customer is always right”, this is far from the truth. Before leaving a bad review on Etsy be sure you’ve read the listing carefully. Many negative experiences can be avoided by reading the listing title, description, and shipping information before placing an order.
If you’re clear on the listing and you’ve tried to resolve the issue with the seller and you’re still left feeling like your sale wasn’t handled as it was supposed to be, and you want to let the seller and other prospective customers aware, you may want to leave a review.
Who Sees Negative Etsy Reviews?
When you leave a negative review on Etsy anyone who visits that seller’s shop can see the review. If an Etsy customer clicks on an item they will be taken to a page where you can see the item description and the entire listing. On that page will be a list of all the shop’s reviews. You’ll see reviews for that item and reviews for other items. You will also see a star rating that ranges from zero to five.
If the seller decides to respond to a negative review (a seller can only respond publicly if the customer leaves a star rating or 3 or fewer stars) publicly, that’s also visible.
Which Items on Etsy Are Eligible for a Review?
Any Etsy item may be reviewed as long as the following are true:
- You purchased the item. You can only leave reviews on items you have purchased.
- The item has been purchased using an Etsy account
- The item was purchased within the past 100 days (starting the day you downloaded a digital product or the estimated delivery date)
- The item was purchased on Etsy.com or on the Etsy app
- There is no open investigation on the item
How To Delete Or Edit Reviews On Etsy
A customer can go back into their account and delete or edit their Etsy review until the 100th day after the purchase. A customer would just go back to their account under purchases and orders. Once you find the item you can just edit or delete your review.
How Do I Leave A Review On Etsy As A Guest?
You can’t leave a review on Etsy as a guest. If you made your purchase without creating an Etsy account you’ll have to verify yourself as a purchaser before you can leave feedback. In order to link your purchase to a new account you need to find the receipt you received from Etsy and find the order number. Click on it and follow the prompts to either create an Etsy account or to log into an existing account.
Once you’ve created your account you can then find the order under your purchases. If you can’t find it in your email inbox, check your spam folder for an email from transaction@etsy.com.
How To Leave Reviews On Etsy From A Mobile Device
In order to leave a review using your mobile device, open the Etsy app and sign in if you’re not already. Go to your order history and find the purchase you’d like to review. Tap where it says “leave review” and selectW the star rating for your item.
What To Do If You Receive A Negative Review On Etsy
If you’re an Etsy seller and you receive a negative review, it can be heartbreaking. You’ve created the best product you could, you’ve tried to create an accurate listing and made every effort to satisfy the customer but they still are not happy. It happens.
If you know you’ve done the best you could and have communicated with the customer in an attempt to resolve any issues, your next step is crucial. A harsh response, or no response, will not only turn off your customer and blow your shot at a repeat sale, but it will repel other potential customers who visit your shop.
If you recall, above I made a comment that the customer is not always right, despite the popular mantra to the contrary, Well, we can’t say that in response to a customer. Tact, professionalism, and a little humble pie will win the day.
How to Respond to a Bad Etsy Review
Remember that everyone can see both the review and your response. Apologize for the mistake and very tactfully and briefly outline your attempts to resolve the situation. This way potential customers will see that although you may or may not have dropped the ball somewhere, you are professional enough to have fixed the problem in an attempt to make your customer happy.
If the review is harsh and it makes you angry, do not respond right away. Give yourself time to cool off and time to think of the best way to handle it so you can use the incident as a way to market yourself as the ultimate business owner!
Can Bad Etsy Reviews Be Removed?
A seller can request that a negative review be removed and Etsy will consider removing it if the complaint is made about something beyond the seller’s control. For example, if a seller is selling mugs and the mug arrives with a broken handle, that is beyond the seller’s control. A complaint about the handleless mug will likely be removed by Etsy. A review can also be removed at the seller’s request if it contains threatening language.
If you’re a buyer reviews are easy to leave on Etsy, good or bad. If you’re a seller, be sure to do your best in terms of selling quality products and offering good customer service. This will reduce the number of negative reviews you receive.
If you’re thinking of starting an Etsy shop, learn how to set up a successful shop from the very beginning.
Have you ever had to leave a review on Etsy? If so, was it good or bad?
Thanks for sharing this useful article about leaving reviews on Etsy! As an Etsy consultant, I appreciate the clear instructions and the reminder of how crucial reviews are for buyers and sellers. I\’ll definitely pass on this great resource to my clients.