Good feedback but 4.3 star rating

[gfx_junaid]

Yesterday, I worked with a client who was new to Fiverr. I edited his videos, and he was very happy with my work. He even mentioned wanting to work with me again, but he still gave a 4.3-star rating. Today, he placed another order and expressed interest in hiring me for more projects. However, I’m concerned that he might give more 4-star ratings, which could negatively impact my account since I'm new on Fiverr. How can I explain to him that 4-star ratings are gonna impact my account negatively?

 

Edited November 27, 2024 by gfx_junaid

[priyank_mod]

29 minutes ago, gfx_junaid said:

How can I explain to him that 4-star ratings are gonna impact my account negatively?

 

You can't and you shouldn't, it will be a violation of TOS to GUIDE the client towards desirable-higher rating!

Focus on getting orders and delivering good work - if you're good at what you do, you will get ample of 5-star ratings in due time. 

[welldux]

I agree with @priyank_mod as per my research we should not inform. 4 stars is considered a good review and you should proceed working more delivering hi-quality work and keep learning.

[majidshowghi]

Some people keep the space for god in their judgments. 
They claim that the highest score only belongs to god and human beings start below that. 
I don't understand them either. 

As Priank mentioned, It is against TOS to mention that, and myself as a buyer, I have rarely seen great sellers ever mention such a thing in our conversations. 

[ozi_goodnews]

Yeah. I have noticed that new buyers on Fiverr are usually giving sellers poor ratings that comes along with a very good feedback or reviews and even promises... My advice is, keep doing excellent jobs and don't think about the poor ratings. If you're good buyers will keep coming back.

[mrubaid820]

3 hours ago, gfx_junaid said:

How can I explain to him that 4-star ratings are gonna impact my account negatively?

Maybe there was one way you could have educated your buyer about the rating, but you missed it. When they gave you a 4.3-star rating, what response did you give under that rating? In that response, you could have properly explained that you are a new seller, and such a rating could affect your overall rating. You should have mentioned that you were slightly disappointed with their rating because you provided quality work. You could also add anything else that would help them understand your point better.

[katakatica]

Just now, mrubaid820 said:

In that response, you could have properly explained that you are a new seller, and such a rating could affect your overall rating. You should have mentioned that you were slightly disappointed with their rating because you provided quality work. You could also add anything else that would help them understand your point better.

I'd be too worried to do this because it can come off as manipulating.

I know, I know - anything can - but that IS the point. Lately, I've noticed that a lot of newer (and older) buyers struggle using Fiverr as a whole - they can't open attachments, they can't find the order page (or don't see messages there), etc. 

I need some new sketches for a game I'm going to play, so I might order something off here to see if the buyer system has changed (or if people just aren't familiar enough with it.) 

But my point is:

Leaving a response like this to someone who's already getting lost everywhere could easily lead them to contact CS to change the review, etc., which could mean trouble depending on what is written publicly. CS might err on the side that says, 'I was disappointed to see the rating' might count as emotional blackmailing. 

Even when it's frustrating, I try not to meddle if something like this happens (though obviously, the stakes are different for a new seller...)

 

 

[ana_tomy]

3 hours ago, gfx_junaid said:

Yesterday, I worked with a client who was new to Fiverr. I edited his videos, and he was very happy with my work. He even mentioned wanting to work with me again, but he still gave a 4.3-star rating. Today, he placed another order and expressed interest in hiring me for more projects. However, I’m concerned that he might give more 4-star ratings, which could negatively impact my account since I'm new on Fiverr. How can I explain to him that 4-star ratings are gonna impact my account negatively?

Hi there, sorry to see you're not satisfied with the review you got from this client. Since this one is a repeating Buyer and might purchase your Gig again and again, you can ask what might make their experience working with you even better in the future, but without mentioning the review and how many stars you got and that you're disappointed (since that might be considered review manipulation). Just show that you genuinely care about getting better, and not ratings only. Hope this helps a bit, along with the amazing advice our experienced Sellers already shared in their comments. Good luck 🍀

[mrubaid820]

19 minutes ago, katakatica said:

I'd be too worried to do this because it can come off as manipulating.

I understand and appreciate your point, but to be honest, as far as I know, this wouldn't fall under manipulation. We simply share a straightforward response. We can't ask them to change their review or make it more positive because that could be considered review manipulation. However, a simple response where a seller expresses disappointment isn't considered manipulation.

For example, if a buyer orders something and it doesn't meet their expectations, they express disappointment by giving fewer stars or some feedback. Similarly, if a seller has given their 100% effort and delivered exactly according to the buyer's requirements, but the buyer still gives a 4 or 4.3-star rating, the seller can also express their disappointment. There's nothing wrong with that.

22 minutes ago, katakatica said:

buyers struggle using Fiverr as a whole - they can't open attachments, they can't find the order page (or don't see messages there), etc.

And some buyers, who are completely unaware of these things, often neither leave a rating nor accept the delivery, no matter how much we guide or educate them.

39 minutes ago, katakatica said:

mean trouble depending on what is written publicly. CS might err on the side that says, 'I was disappointed to see the rating

I'm not sure about this situation and what can be done if it happens. However, I don't think Customer Support would consider this as review manipulation, because it's simply a response based on the buyer's rating. Honestly, I've seen many sellers, especially top-rated and pro sellers, expressing disappointment in their responses—even for a 4.7-star rating.

[katakatica]

8 minutes ago, mrubaid820 said:

understand and appreciate your point, but to be honest, as far as I know, this wouldn't fall under manipulation. We simply share a straightforward response. We can't ask them to change their review or make it more positive because that could be considered review manipulation. However, a simple response where a seller expresses disappointment isn't considered manipulation.

If you look at what @ana_tomysaid though, it's stated explicitly that you shouldn't say this to the buyer. Sure it's a bit different if you reply under the gig (since many buyers wont even see it...) but I'd still be worried that it could be read wrong.

I'm not saying that there is bad intentions behind it - there's been so many times I wanted to reply that way as well. However, it's really hard to choose your words carefully when you're already upset (it's an art in itself, honestly.) What sounds fine to me or you could read off to the reader because of cultural differences (or honestly, just having a bad day.) Obviously, these aren't factors that we control, so I personally would be worried to state it outright if that makes sense? 

11 minutes ago, mrubaid820 said:

And some buyers, who are completely unaware of these things, often neither leave a rating nor accept the delivery, no matter how much we guide or educate them.

Yeah, this has become very common. 

It's always a concern for me (how do I tell whether they were unhappy or just didn't want to write a review?) so I once again try to be cautious and just let them be (though sometimes I do send a quick inbox update to see if they were even aware of the delivery. Sometimes...they weren't.)

13 minutes ago, mrubaid820 said:

I'm not sure about this situation and what can be done if it happens. However, I don't think Customer Support would consider this as review manipulation, because it's simply a response based on the buyer's rating. Honestly, I've seen many sellers, especially top-rated and pro sellers, expressing disappointment in their responses—even for a 4.7-star rating.

I've seen this as well. I think - again, this is purely my personal opinion - it can be totally fine - or it can be misread, especially when 4 is supposed to be good. I do sometimes check how sellers communicate to buyers if they reply to all of their reviews - if they seem to react harshly to something that I view as a good rating, I might not choose to work with them if that makes sense? 

(But obviously, as a seller I get it. Many times when I overdeliver I still get a lower rating and it's hard. But I'm worried about overreacting too much to say much about things in public.)

[alexiscottray]

1 hour ago, katakatica said:

I do sometimes check how sellers communicate to buyers if they reply to all of their reviews - if they seem to react harshly to something that I view as a good rating, I might not choose to work with them if that makes sense? 

This is why I prefer to react harshly on a 4/5 rating, as I prefer not to work with buyers that will give a 4/5 star when fully satisfied. I sometimes regret to have considered and accepted the project when I see the final rating. 

I prefer to avoid an immediate sale that can have a negative impact on my gig so that I can get more sales in the future. 

If you react positively to a 4 star rating : "Thank you again, a pleasure to work with you" then you are legitimizing the score review that was given and you make it "OK" or normal for future sellers to provide the similar rate even if they are fully satisfied. 

[alexiscottray]

5 hours ago, gfx_junaid said:

Yesterday, I worked with a client who was new to Fiverr. I edited his videos, and he was very happy with my work. He even mentioned wanting to work with me again, but he still gave a 4.3-star rating. Today, he placed another order and expressed interest in hiring me for more projects. However, I’m concerned that he might give more 4-star ratings, which could negatively impact my account since I'm new on Fiverr. How can I explain to him that 4-star ratings are gonna impact my account negatively?

 

I've talked about this here a few days ago 

 same issue...

[mrubaid820]

2 hours ago, katakatica said:

I've seen this as well. I think - again, this is purely my personal opinion - it can be totally fine - or it can be misread, especially when 4 is supposed to be good.

I truly appreciate your words and understand your point. My intention is simply this: as 'OP' mentioned, the buyer who gave a 4.3-star rating has placed a second order. In this case, what should they do, right? And there's an 80% chance that the buyer will give the same rating again.

I completely agree with what you're saying—words should always be chosen carefully, especially when responding to a bad rating. It really matters a lot for future clients.

But the question here is: what possibilities does 'OP' have that they can utilize if they find themselves in a similar situation in the future? What other options might they have to handle such situations?

[alexiscottray]

On 11/27/2024 at 2:54 PM, mrubaid820 said:

I truly appreciate your words and understand your point. My intention is simply this: as 'OP' mentioned, the buyer who gave a 4.3-star rating has placed a second order. In this case, what should they do, right? And there's an 80% chance that the buyer will give the same rating again.

I completely agree with what you're saying—words should always be chosen carefully, especially when responding to a bad rating. It really matters a lot for future clients.

But the question here is: what possibilities does 'OP' have that they can utilize if they find themselves in a similar situation in the future? What other options might they have to handle such situations?

I am having the same issue today. Happy client, wants to repeat the order, but review at 4.3 and I am explaining that I don't want to follow the collaboration because of the rating. I have only 10 reviews on this gig, if I accept more reviews from this buyer then my gig can easily go from 5.0 (score yesterday) to 4.9 (score today with this new review) to 4.3 in a few days... 

[mrubaid820]

23 hours ago, alexiscottray said:

I am having the same issue today. Happy client, wants to repeat the order, but review at 4.3 and I am explaining that I don't want to follow the collaboration because of the rating. I have only 10 reviews on this gig, if I accept more reviews from this buyer then my gig can easily go from 5.0 (score yesterday) to 4.9 (score today with this new review) to 4.3 in a few days... 

Alexis, are you talking about these things with your buyer in the Fiverr inbox?

[priyank_mod]

6 minutes ago, mrubaid820 said:

Alexis, are you talking about these things with your buyer in the Fiverr inbox?

Multiple people have advised OP against it on another topic but he is committed to the task, at the moment.

[alexiscottray]

1 hour ago, mrubaid820 said:

Alexis, are you talking about these things with your buyer in the Fiverr inbox?

My goal here is to communicate transparently with the client about why I cannot continue the collaboration, without resorting to blocking or misleading them with a lie, as some have suggested.

By explaining the impact of their review after receiving the rating and why I decide not to continue with the buyer (which apparently is not against TOCs), I’m also helping them understand how their ratings can affect sellers' profiles, which could benefit other sellers in the future if they deliver excellent work.

Because as for me, the collaboration with this client stops here, as only 3 additional jobs with him could easily lead to a gig going from 5.0 yesterday, to 4.9 now, and to 4.8 tomorrow.

Additionally, I’ve already opened a ticket with CS, providing detailed screenshots and explanations of how a single review can significantly impact a gig's rating, going from 5.0 to 4.8, and how this can have long-term consequences on overall stats.

Edited December 1, 2024 by alexiscottray

[alexiscottray]

3 minutes ago, alexiscottray said:

I understand your concerns, and I appreciate your perspective. My goal here is to communicate transparently with the client about why I cannot continue the collaboration, without resorting to blocking or misleading them, as some have suggested.

By explaining the impact of their review, I’m also helping them understand how their ratings can affect sellers' profiles, which could benefit other sellers in the future if they deliver excellent work. Because as for me, the collaboration with this client stops here, as only 3 additional jobs with him could easily lead to a gig going from 5.0 yesterday, to 4.9 now, and to 4.8 tomorrow.

Additionally, I’ve already opened a ticket with CS, providing detailed screenshots and explanations of how a single review can significantly impact a gig's rating, going from 5.0 to 4.8, and how this can have long-term consequences on overall stats.

It's a service to the community, as for me I won't gain anything more with this buyer. And don't want to, if not I can remove this gig in a few weeks because the stats will drop and I won't appear on the first page anymore. 

[mrubaid820]

2 hours ago, alexiscottray said:

My goal here is to communicate transparently with the client about why I cannot continue the collaboration, without resorting to blocking or misleading them with a lie, as some have suggested.

Well Alexis, if the AI model detects this, you could really get into trouble.

All your points are valid, and I truly agree with you 100%. Have you spoken to Fiverr customer support to find out what they say about this?

Can a seller guide a buyer who has given a bad rating, like 4 or 4.3, even if they left good comments?

[alexiscottray]

1 hour ago, mrubaid820 said:

Well Alexis, if the AI model detects this, you could really get into trouble.

All your points are valid, and I truly agree with you 100%. Have you spoken to Fiverr customer support to find out what they say about this?

Can a seller guide a buyer who has given a bad rating, like 4 or 4.3, even if they left good comments?

Yes I've just received an answer: 

"Hi there, Alexis.
 
I’m Milosh, a supervisor at Fiverr’s Customer Support Team.
 
I see that our team has carefully examined your request multiple times and provided detailed responses. I understand how frustrating it can be not to have a resolution that meets your expectations, and I want to assure you that we’ve explored every option available.
 
Unfortunately, we don’t have any new information or steps we can offer at this point.
 
This decision is final and not subject to change.
 
I hope I managed to address your concerns. If not or if you have any further questions, do not hesitate to let me know.
 
Kind regards," 

[vibronx]

@alexiscottray It’s not a good look to engage with buyers that way if they gave you a 4-star review. Always wait a day before you respond to any negative review. Calm down. And if you still don’t feel like you can leave a professional response that doesn’t blame the buyer in any way then just don’t respond.

And for heaven’s sake, don’t go and try to make your buyer feel bad about their rating in the inbox. It’s very, very unprofessional and I wouldn’t be surprised if you lost your TRS over it if it got discovered.

I’m only saying this to help you because you can really ruin your Fiverr future if you keep doing this.

Edited December 1, 2024 by vibronx

[alexiscottray]

15 hours ago, vibronx said:

@alexiscottray It’s not a good look to engage with buyers that way if they gave you a 4-star review. Always wait a day before you respond to any negative review. Calm down. And if you still don’t feel like you can leave a professional response that doesn’t blame the buyer in any way then just don’t respond.

And for heaven’s sake, don’t go and try to make your buyer feel bad about their rating in the inbox. It’s very, very unprofessional and I wouldn’t be surprised if you lost your TRS over it if it got discovered.

I’m only saying this to help you because you can really ruin your Fiverr future if you keep doing this.

I appreciate your input, but let me clarify the situation. The buyer reached out to me in the inbox after leaving their review to request a new custom offer. I am simply explaining to them why I cannot accommodate their request without compromising the quality and consistency of my services because the review that was left is actually damaging my profile. 

I’ve worked hard to achieve my current status through hundreds of completed orders and years of dedication on the platform. Maintaining TRS requires consistently high performance across all 10 of my active gigs, which is significantly more challenging than managing just one or two.

That being said, I always strive for professionalism and transparency, and my focus remains on delivering exceptional work to all my clients.