Perhaps this is a question for Folksy Admin…@folksyadmin
Some shops have 5* for reviews on their cover page, which gives buyers the confidence to buy. However, when you go into their feedback, there are loads of 2-3* reviews, and some very negative feedback. How can these shops be given a rating of 5*? I purchased and item a long time ago from a shop which I wasn’t at all happy with, and just spotted that this store has a 5* rating, which made me think I was just unlucky with my item, but looking at the reviews there have been several complaints. How does the rating system work, and how can I ensure I only buy from reputable sellers?
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An interesting question indeed but… I should warn you… you will be hung drawn and quartered for calling out another seller so can i suggest you will have to remove that link…
If a seller only has 2 pages it is hard to see how it averages out. .
Hmmm I’ve found by random selection another couple of shops with some non 5 * reviews but on front screent hey are both *****. Perhaps that is the default to mean this shop has stars… If so that really cannot be right and i agree it is extremely misleading, not sure how that would fit with consumer laws if correct.
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Please remove the link - it is against forum rules to call out another seller.
(Let me do some maths - the star system cant do part stars so depending on the average it might have rounded up…)
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It’s a heck of a lot of rounding…
= 4.61 According to my arithmetic
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My late night maths gave an average of 4.6 which would round up to 5 stars
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Maybe a half star is needed…
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Hi Joy - you are right, all shops appear to have 5* on the front screen (even though they have 1* and 2* reviews when you click on it). What I find upsetting is that one person commented “my experience with this buyer has put me off shopping on the Folksy website” - I wonder how many other buyers have been scared off by substandard sellers.
Ps link removed
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On the unmentionable E*** store they have an accurate figure out of 5 (in this case it would have shown as 4.6 against a total sales figure )… which is a really great way of showing it and far more representative when a number of bad reviews have, as in this case, been left.
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I realised that with all the late night maths I forgot to say anything about your second question - how do I ensure I only buy from reputable sellers? I would say ignore the stars and read what’s in the reviews. Are the things being mentioned within the sellers control? Stars being knocked off because item was delayed in customs or held up by postal delays wouldn’t necessarily put me off buying from a shop unless an item was time critical. Negative comments because of materials or build quality would have me heading for a different shop. Comments about sellers being rude has me heading for a different shop. As for the classic ‘smaller than expected’ I check to see if the dimensions are there.
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Some very good points here. I get annoyed when I see reviews on A for example , that say smaller than expected and knock stars off, when a seller has clearly displayed the dimensions.
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…Or when you see that very strange thing where a customer has given a glowing review and only 4 stars for some reason!
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A simple 5 star rating system is actually aet up so that 3 is average, exactly what was expected, a perfectly easy ordering process and items arrived as expected.
A 5 would be only given for going the extra mile standout interaction , etc.
If everyone just gives 5 as a matter of course there is no room to indicate extra special performance.
That’s the drawback with rating systems.
Best to rely on the comments.
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I had a buyer (not here) stating he never gave 5 stars no matter what. He only ever gave 3 or 4 stars. Also, what one person considers low standard someone else might find totally acceptable. I tend to make decisions by the standard of the photos on here. A few lower stars reviews won’t necessarily put me off. But that’s just me.
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