Facebook has become a popular platform not just for connecting with friends and family, but also for buying and selling items. With Facebook Marketplace and Facebook Shop, users can easily browse and purchase items from sellers directly through the Facebook platform.
One of the key components of Facebook’s commerce features is the ability for buyers to rate and review sellers and items after a transaction. This allows future buyers to get insight into a seller’s reputation and the quality of the items they are selling.
So an important question for Facebook buyers and sellers is – can a seller see the rating you gave them? Let’s take a detailed look at how Facebook ratings work from both the buyer and seller side.
Can sellers see your star rating?
The short answer is yes – sellers can see the 1 to 5 star ratings that buyers leave on Facebook. After completing a transaction, buyers are prompted by Facebook to leave a star rating and review for the seller. These ratings are then aggregated and displayed on the seller’s profile.
So if you give a seller 3 stars, they will be able to see that rating reflected in their average star rating. Your individual rating remains anonymous, but the seller can see how their overall average rating is affected.
Where sellers can view ratings
There are a couple places on Facebook where sellers can view the ratings you and other buyers have left them:
- On their Marketplace seller profile – This shows the seller’s average star rating and the number of ratings received. Sellers can click to view more details.
- On their Page or Shop profile – For sellers with a Facebook Page or Shop, ratings are also displayed on their public business profile. Again this shows the average rating.
- In Commerce Manager – Sellers can view more detailed rating and review data in their Commerce Manager dashboard, including seeing how many 1, 2, 3 etc star ratings they have received.
Why sellers can view ratings
There are a few reasons why Facebook allows sellers to see the ratings you and other buyers provide:
- Feedback for improvement – Ratings provide sellers with useful feedback on areas they can improve in serving customers.
- Motivation for good service – Knowing buyers can rate their experience motivates sellers to provide good customer service.
- Indicator of reputation – Ratings help establish a seller’s reputation so future buyers know what to expect.
So in summary, while your individual rating remains anonymous, sellers can see how their average rating is affected by the rating your provide.
Can sellers see the written review you leave?
In addition to leaving a 1 to 5 star rating, Facebook also gives buyers the option to leave a written review explaining their experience with the seller. So can the seller see the written review comments you leave?
The answer is yes, sellers can see the written reviews left on their profile. However, your individual name or username is not shown with the review. The review appears anonymously on the seller’s profile along with their rating.
Where sellers can view written reviews
Sellers can view the written reviews from their:
- Marketplace seller profile
- Facebook Page or Shop profile if they have one
- Commerce Manager dashboard
In most cases the reviews appear next to the star rating, so sellers can see both elements of the feedback buyers provide.
Why sellers can see written reviews
Facebook allows sellers to view the written reviews for similar reasons that they can view the star ratings:
- The reviews provide more detailed feedback sellers can use to improve.
- Knowing buyers can leave reviews motivates good seller behavior.
- Reviews provide insights into a seller’s reputation and services.
So in summary, while your review is anonymous, sellers can see the content and details in the written reviews you and other buyers leave.
Can you delete or edit a rating or review for a seller?
Since sellers can see the ratings and reviews you leave, an important follow up question is – can you delete or edit the rating and review after posting it?
Unfortunately, Facebook does not allow buyers to delete or edit a rating or review after it has been posted. The ratings and reviews are considered permanent once submitted on Facebook.
If you did make a mistake in your rating or review, your only option is to leave an additional rating or review to clarify your feedback. But you cannot remove or alter your original rating/review after posting it.
Why you cannot change a rating or review
There are a few reasons why Facebook does not let buyers edit or delete ratings and reviews:
- Prevents manipulation – Without edits or deletions, all ratings accurately reflect each buyer’s experience.
- Provides permanency – Buyers and sellers know the ratings will remain unchanged over time.
- Consistency for sellers – Editing/deleting would constantly change seller averages and reputation.
The permanency helps provide a consistent and accurate view of a seller’s services over many transactions. But it means you have to be sure of your rating before posting it!
Can you rate or review sellers anonymously?
As we’ve discussed, sellers on Facebook can see your ratings and reviews, although your individual name is not displayed. But is there any way to provide anonymous ratings or reviews that are completely hidden from sellers?
Unfortunately there is no way to leave completely anonymous ratings or reviews for sellers on Facebook. All ratings and reviews go through Facebook’s standard process which discloses the feedback to sellers (without names).
Why anonymous ratings/reviews are not allowed
Facebook does not allow completely anonymous ratings or reviews for a few reasons:
- Accountability – Requiring Facebook accounts prevents fake or malicious ratings.
- Transparency – Anonymous ratings would not provide the full context sellers need.
- Prevents abuse – Total anonymity could enable harassment or inaccurate ratings.
The Facebook process is designed to give buyers a voice while still providing context and accountability for sellers to improve.
Best practices for rating sellers on Facebook
Since sellers can view the ratings and reviews you leave, here are some best practices to follow when rating sellers on Facebook:
- Be fair – Avoid giving inflated negative or positive ratings based on emotion. Try to accurately judge your experience.
- Explain issues – If you had a bad experience, leave details in the review so the seller can improve.
- Be constructive – Even for negative reviews, maintain a civil constructive tone to facilitate improvement.
- Check before posting – Review your rating and comments before posting to ensure they accurately reflect your transaction.
- Follow up if needed – If you make a mistake, you can leave an additional rating or review to clarify.
By following these tips, you can provide constructive feedback that helps improve the experience for both buyers and sellers on Facebook.
Conclusion
Sellers on Facebook can see the ratings and reviews you leave, but without your individual name attached. While the feedback is not anonymous, it allows sellers to improve while holding them accountable. There is no way to delete ratings or reviews after posting, so be sure to leave fair, constructive feedback that accurately reflects your experience as a buyer.