Etsy reviews for sellers: when buyers can review, and getting a review removed
Reviews are one of the factors behind Etsy conversion, so a bad one hurts — and a new shop with none can feel stuck. Here’s how Etsy’s review system works for sellers, from Etsy’s help.
When buyers can leave a review
- A buyer can review once the order’s estimated delivery date has passed (or the tracking shows Delivered).
- From then, they have 100 days to leave a review.
- For digital items, the clock starts when the buyer downloads the files.
- No reviews while a case is open on the order — but the 100-day window keeps running.
So if you just made sales and see no reviews yet, that’s normal: buyers can’t review until the estimated delivery date has passed. Etsy’s review score gives the most weight to the past 12 months.
Buyers can change their review
Within the 100 days, buyers can edit the rating, text and photo as often as they like — unless you’ve responded. Once you post a response, the buyer can’t edit the review any more, even if you delete your response.
That matters: if a buyer might raise a poor review after you fix their problem, resolve it first and respond later (or not at all).
Can you get a bad review removed?
Etsy only removes reviews that break its policies. A negative review that follows the rules stays, and Etsy Support won’t remove it just because you ask. Reviews that can be removed include ones with:
- private information;
- harassment or threats;
- spam;
- complaints about things outside your control, such as the shipping carrier.
To report one, use Report this review under the review.
Threatening a bad review to get something extra is extortion under Etsy’s rules; inflating your reviews through other accounts or people connected to you is shilling. Don’t do the second; report the first.
Responding to a review
You can post a public response from Shop Manager → Reviews. Keep it short, polite and about the product or service — Etsy removes responses that break its review policies. Future buyers read your reply as closely as the review.
Reply templates:
A new shop with no reviews
You can’t ask for positive reviews in exchange for anything, but you can make reviews more likely: ship on time, include a thank-you note, and answer messages quickly. Meanwhile, remove other doubts on the listing page — see Etsy views but no sales.