I still feel a pang of guilt about a review I left in 2018. I had ordered a set of custom-painted wine glasses for my sister’s wedding. When they arrived, one was shattered. In a moment of frustration, fueled by wedding stress, I immediately logged on and left a scathing one-star review: "Arrived broken. Terrible packaging."
Ten minutes later, the seller messaged me. She didn't attack me; she apologized profusely, explained that the postal service had been brutal lately, and had already shipped a replacement via overnight mail before even messaging me. I felt terrible. I was treating a handmade artist like a faceless Amazon warehouse. I rushed to change the review, but I struggled to find the button. That experience taught me that reviews on Etsy carry a weight that they don't on other platforms. They are the lifeblood of small businesses, and knowing how to navigate them—whether you are a buyer trying to be fair or a seller trying to grow—is essential.
The Mechanics: How to Leave a Review on Etsy
It seems simple, but Etsy puts up a few guardrails that confuse people. You can't just review something the moment you buy it.
The platform enforces a "waiting period." The option to leave a review only becomes active on the estimated delivery date. This is to prevent people from reviewing shipping speed before the item has even left the seller's studio.
The Step-by-Step Process:
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Log In: You must be signed into the account that purchased the item.
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Navigate: Go to Your Account > Purchases and Reviews.
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Locate: Find the item. If the delivery date has passed, you will see a star outline next to the item.
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Rate: Click the stars. This opens a text box.
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Write: As of 2026, Etsy requires at least five words in the text box. You can't just drop stars and run anymore.
Here is where it gets interesting. If you bought an item as a Guest, you cannot leave a review. This is the biggest point of confusion I see. To leave a review for a guest purchase, you must find the email receipt and click the link to "Claim Your Order" to register it to an account. I once bought a vintage lamp as a guest, loved it, and spent 20 minutes trying to review it before realizing I was locked out because I hadn't created an account.
Visual Proof: How to Leave a Photo Review on Etsy
Text is good, but photos are gold. If you really want to help a seller (or warn future buyers), you need to know how to leave a photo review on etsy.
When I am shopping for clothes or jewelry, I ignore the stock photos. I go straight to the etsy reviews from buyers to see what the ring looks like on a real hand, not a model's hand.
To add a photo:
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After selecting your star rating on the Etsy App or website, look for the camera icon.
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On Mobile: It will prompt you to take a photo or choose from your library.
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On Desktop: You upload a file.
My Advice: If you are leaving a photo, make sure the lighting is decent. I once saw a review for a "Blue Rug" where the buyer posted a photo taken in the dark with a yellow flash. The rug looked green. The seller had to reply to every subsequent comment explaining that the rug was, in fact, blue. A bad photo review can do more harm than good.
The Clock is Ticking: How Long to Leave a Review on Etsy
There is a deadline. If you are wondering how long to leave a review on etsy, the magic number is 100 days.
The countdown starts from the estimated delivery date.
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Day 1: Review window opens.
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Day 100: Review window closes forever.
I have an honest failure here. I bought a personalized leather journal as a Christmas gift in October. I wanted to wait until my brother opened it on December 25th to review it so I could speak to his reaction. By the time I remembered to log back in (late January), the window was still open, but I cut it close. However, I have missed the window on custom furniture that took 4 months to arrive. Because the "estimated delivery" was set early, the review window closed before the item was even in my house.
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Caveat: If an order is canceled, your ability to review it disappears immediately.
The Seller's Dilemma: How to Ask Customers to Leave a Review on Etsy
Now, let's flip the script. If you are a seller, getting reviews is the only way to rank in search. But how to ask customers to leave a review on etsy without being annoying is an art form.
What NOT to do: Do not send a direct message (DM) after the sale asking for a review. Etsy considers this spam. I once had a seller message me three times in a week asking "Did you like it? Please review!" It annoyed me so much I almost lowered my rating.
What TO do:
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The Package Insert: I include a small, physical card in every package. It says: "I hope this piece brings you joy! If you have a moment, a review helps my small shop grow."
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The "Note to Buyer": When you print the shipping label, there is a space for a note. I write: "Thanks for supporting handmade! - [My Name]."
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Automated Follow-ups: Etsy sends a reminder email automatically. You don't need to double up.
I use Closo 100% Free Crosslister to ensure my inventory is accurate across all my shops. Nothing generates a bad review faster than selling an item on Etsy that you already sold on Poshmark. By using Closo to keep my stock synced, I avoid the "Order Canceled" notifications that inevitably lead to angry customers and lost review opportunities.
Changing Your Mind: How to Change Review on Etsy
We all make mistakes. Maybe, like me with the wine glasses, you reacted too fast. Knowing how to change review on etsy can save a seller's reputation.
The Rules of Editing:
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You can edit a review as many times as you want within the 100-day window.
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UNLESS the seller has responded.
This is the critical "Chess Move." If you leave a 2-star review and the seller posts a public response (e.g., "I'm sorry you felt this way..."), your review is now locked. You cannot change it to 5 stars even if you want to.
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Seller Strategy: If you receive a bad review, reach out privately first. Fix the issue. Ask the buyer if they would be willing to reconsider their review. Then, if they refuse, post your public response. If you respond publicly first, you burn the bridge.
Can You Remove It? How to Delete Review on Etsy
Sometimes you just want it gone.
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As a Buyer: Yes, you can delete your review. Go to the review, click the "..." menu, and select "Delete."
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As a Seller: Generally, no. You cannot delete a review just because it's unfair.
However, there are exceptions. If a review violates Etsy's Terms of Service, you can report it for removal.Grounds for Removal:
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Privacy: The review contains private info (addresses, tracking numbers).
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Harassment: Hate speech or threats.
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Third Party: The review is only about the shipping carrier (e.g., "UPS crushed the box"), though Etsy is inconsistent on this.
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Extortion: The buyer says, "Give me a refund or I will leave 1 star."
I successfully had a review removed in 2023 because the buyer admitted in a DM: "I'll change this to 5 stars if you send me a free one." I screenshotted that, sent it to Etsy Integrity, and the review vanished.
The Importance of Pictures: How to Leave a Picture Review on Etsy
I want to circle back to how to leave a picture review on etsy because it’s becoming the standard for "Star Sellers." Etsy's algorithm promotes listings that have photo reviews.
If you are a buyer, know that leaving a photo is the highest compliment you can give. If you are a seller, encourage this!
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Tool: I use Canva to design my thank you cards with a little camera icon, visually prompting them to snap a pic.
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Result: Since adding the icon to my packaging, my photo review rate went from 5% to 15%.
Managing Reputation Across Platforms
If you sell on Etsy, you likely sell elsewhere. Your reputation is your currency. When I started cross-listing to eBay and Mercari, I was terrified that a bad review on one would haunt me on the others. They don't link directly, but you are the common denominator.
I use Closo Demand Signals to monitor what is selling and what people are saying about trending items. If I see that buyers on Etsy are complaining that a specific brand of vintage t-shirt runs small, I update my descriptions on Poshmark and Depop immediately to note the sizing. This proactive use of review data prevents returns before they happen.
I use Closo to automate my description updates – saves me about 3 hours weekly when I need to bulk-edit listings across three marketplaces because I learned something new from a customer review.
The "Star Seller" Pressure
Etsy introduced the "Star Seller" badge a few years ago. To get it, you need a 4.8 average rating. This means a single 4-star review can ruin your badge for the month.
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My Opinion: This system is flawed. A 4-star review is "Good." But Etsy treats it like a failure.
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Buyer Awareness: If you think an item was great, leave 5 stars. If you leave 4 stars because "nobody is perfect," you are inadvertently punishing the seller's visibility.
Common Failures: The "Video Review" Glitch
Etsy recently introduced video reviews.My Failure: I tried to upload a 15-second video of a wind chime I bought. The app crashed three times. I gave up and left no review at all.
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Limitation: The video feature is still buggy on older phones. If you are struggling to upload a video, switch to a photo. Don't let the tech frustration stop you from supporting the shop.
People always ask me...
Can I leave a review if I bought as a guest?
No, not directly. You must "claim" the order first. Find the email receipt from Etsy, click the order number, and follow the prompts to create an account or link it to an existing one. Once the order is linked to a profile, the review option will appear.
Can a seller change my review?
No. A seller has absolutely no power to edit or change the text or star rating of your review. They can only respond to it publicly. Only you (the buyer) can edit the review, and only within the 100-day window, provided the seller hasn't responded yet.
Conclusion
Leaving a review on Etsy is more than just clicking stars; it is a participation in a community economy. Unlike big box stores where reviews are aggregated data points, reviews on Etsy directly impact whether a creator can pay their rent next month.
If you are a buyer, use the power wisely. Be honest, but remember there is a human on the other end. If you are a seller,focus on the things you can control—packaging, speed, and communication—and the reviews will follow.
And for those managing sales across the entire resale ecosystem, tools like Closo are essential. They help you keep your promises to customers by ensuring you never sell an item you don't have, preserving that hard-earned 5-star reputation.
Start cross-listing with Closo today—and turn your operational excellence into glowing reviews.
