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 sellers can fake sales and reviews by creating multiple dummy accounts, or by asking friends and family for help.
- There are also professional services available that will write a bevy of fake reviews, typically via the use of a bot or two.
- To avoid fake reviews, make sure to read each review thoroughly and check on any other reviews posted by the same account.
What is Etsy?
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 fake Amazon reviews as well.
Insider Tip
Etsy is an e-commerce platform primarily driven by regular people who design and create objects of interest.
Can Accounts Fake Reviews and Sales?
Yes. There are several methods by which seller accounts can issue fraudulent reviews and even jury-rigged sales numbers. Here are a few.
Fake Accounts, Fake Sales, and Fake Reviews
Determined sellers can fudge their positive reviews and create fraudulent sales with a little bit of time and digital know-how. To fake sales, all they have to do is 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 make it a practice to check on several reviews and see what other products they have reviewed. If they have only interacted with this one seller, it is more likely that they are a dummy account. And if you know how many products are on Amazon, you’ll realize the potential of fake reviews that’s there.
Insider Tip
You should make it a practice to check on several reviews and see what other products they have reviewed. If they have only interacted with this one seller, it is more likely that they are a dummy account.
Abusing the Star System
When to 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.
Buying Fake 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 have been written by the same account.
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, it is very likely they will be shut down for good.
Do people order fake reviews for 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)
