Not to leave 5* by default?

[bumchic]

I will leave 5* on a selling platform if the item is posted immediately, packaging is excellent and it’s exactly as described.

If you leave it until the last permissible date to post, wrap it in a carrier bag and it’s got cat hair or undeclared bobbling on it you’re getting a 3 or a 4.

I think this is the way the 5* system was designed? Like 1 is terrible, 2 is poor, 3 is fine, 4 is good and 5 is excellent. But this doesn’t seem to be how it’s used and I have had some comments from sellers where I’ve left 3 or 4 to that effect.

What do you do? AIBU?

I only ever read the 1 or 5 reviews to get the balance of good and bad. I also only tend to leave 1 or 5* as I only tend to review if it's either really good or really shit.

I don’t think things need posting immediately to be as promised . YABU . Good communication , and item as promised in clean packaging yes.

If we’re talking Vinted rather than a review for a product, I give 5 stars unless something was wrong. I don’t see any reason to penalise someone if they sent it in time and it was as expected but fair enough to not give 5 stars if the quality isn’t as described.

I'm an Airbnb host.

I think Airbnb has a weird system because basically if a guest gives anything lower than 5*, Airbnb will penalise you

I have so far only had 5* reviews. That means I get lots of perks like a high ranking (top 1%), super hosts status, vouchers to spend at Airbnb and a guest favourite badge on my listing.

I live in fear of my first 4* rating because I will automatically loose my top 1% ranking :( and two 4 reviews may see me lose other perks. I will also never be able to attain 5 overall again (closest we can get after a 4" review is 4.99* !!)

I don't think guests realise how important the 5* rating is!

Even though 4* is, in my opinion, "good", Airbnb can actually kick you off the platform if your overall rating is less than 4.3* which is crazy!!

Sorry don't know.why.some.of that was bolded!! I think the stars confused the algorithm??

Star ratings are great if the company tracking them actually views them the way people use them but inevitably you might as well have a zero and 1 star system cos companies are obsessed with 5-star! So anything less is seen as a failure and, as a PP has said, people lose perks or their listings don't get shown as widely etc.

Don't mess up someone's rating just cos they posted within the permissable timeframe (message first to ask if they would be able to post quicker if you are in a rush) but not quite as quick as you wanted.

If we're talking Vinted then people have a specific period to post things. Sellers are ordinary people with other commitments, not businesses. You have to nuance your feedback according to the context of the transaction.

Unless there’s a serious problem I leave 5 stars, because I can’t be doing with the aggro from aggrieved sellers/suppliers. It does irritate me though. Sometimes I’d love to have a ‘mediocre’ button that doesn’t penalise anyone but provides a true picture for those reading reviews.

I like the photo function that Etsy has, because a photo is honest.

I do 5 * if things are great and 1 if something is really terrible if it's just OK i don't tend to bother with a review

I don’t think that is clear to guests. My default would be 3 if all was all satisfactory it was clean etc; 4 was good (I’m very happy thanks), and 5 would be this place is amazing. I’d be inclined to give a 4 the majority of the time as in my mind it’s very good and I don’t actually expect Airbnb hosts to provide 5* service.

It’s also v tricky as I recalibrate the rating vs the price I’ve paid.

This reminds me of the ‘Nosedive Black Mirror episode - and clearly 5* doesn’t mean what most people think it means!

I send my parcels asap but I work and sometimes Evri(especially the printer doesn’t work).
The Inpost locker is full and the Yodel shop is weird. I’m not going out of my way for a £1 book. But I always tell buyer a timeframe and they can cancel, I’m not Amazon!
If people don’t like it they can buy from a shop.

What’s wrong with leaving less than 5?

Some selling platforms penalise sellers who don't receive 5 stars, so those customers who think 'well nothing's ever perfect' so only leave 4 stars are actually really frustrating. Personally, I start with the assumption that I will give 5 stars and only take stars off if there is something actually wrong with the item/service

It’s fine to leave less than 5 if you’re fair , some people are just mean though . My poor DS just had his first vinted selling experience. Nothing wrong with the item / packaging or anything . Buyer complained about condition so we offered him a return - he claimed to be on holiday and left an exaggerated and inaccurate 1* review .Retired bloke , professional career - clearly identifiable on Facebook - just unnecessary . Doubt DS will try selling anything again .

'leave it to the last permissible date' - you mean they posted on time and within the timescale you agreed when purchasing? No you shouldn't be penalising someone for that.

I had my first 4 star review on vinted the other day along with this comment

‘excellent packaging and very good condition when arrived’.

i had posted the next day so struggle to see what I could have done receive a 5.

It's annoying. 5 star used to mean "went above and beyond". Four meant good. If we have to now use five to mean "fine", how can we reward excellent?

That’s the thing - I don’t want to ‘penalise’ someone for it but I do think that posting on the last possible date is fine (3 stars) rather than excellent (5 stars) and should be reflected in the rating.

3 stars is a poor review though. On Etsy, for example, that 3 star is classed as negative and could cost the seller their account, losing them their entire business. Yes really.

Life is short, people are just trying to earn a living and get by. If they've done everything they set out and you agreed, chuck them a 5 star because you're a nice and decent human, and get on with your day.

I agree that if someone posts within the agreed time frame, I don't mark down.
I've also seen some pretty weird packaging, can't say I'd be bothered by someone reusing a clean carrier bag - if you're buying vintage/second hand, esp if for ecological reasons, expecting pristine new plastic packaging is weird..

the one thing that absolutely makes me 'mark down' is being asked or pressurised to give a five star review.