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If you have been shopping around for some homemade knick-knacks as gifts or just for personal use, you may have become wary of Etsy’s integrated review system. Are Etsy fake reviews an actual problem? Keep reading to find out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Etsy is an e-commerce platform primarily driven by regular people who design and create objects of interest. It is a great site to buy homemade clothing, home furnishings, and more. However, there is plenty of money to be made on the site, and that is where fake review scammers come in. And as we talk about this, be aware that there are also fake Amazon reviews.
Insider Tip
Etsy is an e-commerce platform primarily driven by regular people who design and create objects of interest.
Yes. There are several methods by which seller accounts can issue fraudulent reviews and even jury-rigged sales numbers. Here are a few.
Determined sellers can fudge their positive reviews and create fraudulent sales with little time and digital know-how. To fake sales, they must create multiple Etsy accounts and buy the items from their actual account. They will be out the seller’s fee, but they can use this newly verified purchase to leave a glowing review, enticing unsuspecting customers. You should practice checking on several reviews and seeing what other products they have reviewed. If they have only interacted with this one seller, they are more likely to be a dummy account. And if you know how many products are on Amazon, you’ll realize the potential of fake reviews out there.
You should practice checking on several reviews and seeing what other products they have reviewed. If they have only interacted with this one seller, they are more likely to be a dummy account.
When it comes to average ratings, Etsy shops are rated from one to five stars, and an average is displayed on the store’s homepage. However, Etsy’s algorithm only factors in the previous 12 months when it comes to calculating this average. If an Etsy shop has a long history of creating sub-quality items and engaging in poor customer service practices, all they have to do is write and post several glowing reviews as the year progresses, avoid new sales, and before too long, it will look like they have a five-star store. Go back more than 12 months when reading reviews to see if things get fishy. Also, if you like staying up to date on local businesses to shop at it, keep an eye out for fake Yelp reviews.
Like most e-commerce sites, there are whole cottage industries that exist to sell fake reviews to store owners. Always read the review copy thoroughly, to sniff out bots, and check on any other reviews that the same account has written. But if you need more reviews to get your name out there, you can check out our guide on how to get reviews on Etsy.
Warning
Fake feedback is typically generated by a seller simply creating new accounts, buying items, and then leaving glowing feedback to help juice up the aggregate rating.
F.A.Q.
Can Etsy stores fake sales to look better?
Yes, as previously stated, there are numerous ways for Etsy stores to fake sales to look better. However, this is strictly frowned upon. If they are caught, they will likely be shut down for good.
Do people order fake reviews from Etsy stores?
Yes, it has been known to happen, though the vast majority of Etsy stores are entirely legitimate operations. Just do some common-sense research, and you will likely be fine.
Can I buy safe Etsy reviews? Will I get banned?
You will most certainly get banned if you engage in the practice of buying fake Etsy reviews.
STAT: You can leave a review, including a one to five-star rating and a photograph of your purchase, for 100 days after your item’s estimated delivery date. (source)
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