Getting reviews on Facebook Marketplace can take some time. Here are some quick answers to common questions about how long it takes to get reviews:
Does Facebook Marketplace have reviews?
Yes, Facebook Marketplace allows buyers and sellers to leave ratings and reviews for each other after a transaction. This helps build trust and reputation on the platform.
How long after a sale can I leave a review?
You can leave a review within 14 days of making a purchase or sale. The ability to review the other user will appear in the Facebook Messenger conversation you had with them.
How long does it take for reviews to appear?
Reviews left by buyers and sellers will appear immediately. However, it may take a few hours for ratings to update on a user’s profile.
Does the seller have to review back?
No, reviews on Facebook Marketplace are not reciprocal. The buyer can leave a review for the seller without requiring the seller to also leave a review.
How many reviews do I need to sell consistently?
There is no specific number of reviews required to sell consistently on Facebook Marketplace. However, having at least a few positive reviews helps build trust with potential buyers. Aim to have 5-10 good reviews to establish some credibility.
Can I ask for reviews from buyers?
Yes, it’s perfectly fine to politely ask satisfied buyers to leave you a positive review after the transaction. Many sellers send a follow-up message thanking the buyer and requesting a review.
What happens if I get a negative review?
One or two negative reviews will not significantly impact your seller rating. However, respond professionally to any negative feedback and learn from it. Consistently poor reviews can get a seller banned.
How are review ratings calculated?
Facebook Marketplace calculates a seller’s overall rating by taking the average of the star ratings left on reviews. 5 stars is the highest rating and 1 star is the lowest.
Tips for Getting Reviews Quickly
Here are some tips to help you get reviews more quickly on Facebook Marketplace:
- Ask buyers to review you in your listing descriptions
- Follow up after the sale and politely ask happy customers for a review
- Offer an incentive like a discount code for leaving a review
- Remind slow responders after a couple weeks
- Provide excellent customer service to ensure satisfaction
Do Reviews Really Matter?
Yes, reviews are very important on Facebook Marketplace for several reasons:
- Reviews build trust and credibility as a seller
- They help your items show higher in search results
- Buyers rely on them to feel confident about purchases
- Positive reviews attract more interested buyers
- A flawless 5-star rating stands out and looks appealing
In short, good reviews are essential for consistent sales and growing your seller reputation on Facebook Marketplace.
Conclusion
It may take a bit of time and effort to start accumulating reviews as a new Facebook Marketplace seller. Be patient, provide excellent service, and politely ask satisfied customers to leave you positive feedback. Over time, you’ll gain more reviews, bolster your reputation, and likely enjoy more sales too.
Review Data Tables
Here are some tables visualizing example review data:
| Reviewer | Rating | Review Text |
|---|---|---|
| Michelle S. | 5 stars | Item arrived promptly and was exactly as described. Great seller! |
| James T. | 4 stars | Shipped quickly but was packaged a bit poorly. Item arrived slightly damaged but still functional. |
This table shows a sample of written review text and star ratings left by two buyers for a fictional seller.
| Time After Sale | Percent Leaving Review |
|---|---|
| Within 1 week | 74% |
| Within 2 weeks | 18% |
| After 2 weeks | 8% |
This table shows hypothetical data on the timing of when buyers tend to leave reviews after making a purchase. It indicates most reviews are left within the first week.
Importance of Reviews for Sellers
Here is some additional information on why reviews are so important for Facebook Marketplace sellers:
Build Trust
Positive reviews build trust and credibility in the eyes of buyers. They serve as social proof that you are a legitimate seller who keeps his/her word.
Improve Search Ranking
Listings with lots of positive ratings and reviews tend to rank higher in Facebook Marketplace search results.
Increase Sales
Buyers are much more likely to purchase from sellers who have positive feedback. Reviews lead to more sales.
Attract Returning Customers
Happy buyers who leave 5 star reviews often come back to purchase again in the future.
Avoid Scams
Scam sellers often have no reviews at all. Lots of reviews reassure buyers you are not a scammer.
Boost Confidence
Reviews give buyers the confidence to go through with purchases from sellers they don’t know personally.
Learn and Improve
Constructive criticism in less than 5 star reviews allows you to improve weak points.
Increase Price
A proven track record of good reviews enables sellers to command higher prices over time.
Responding to Reviews
It’s important to respond professionally to the reviews you receive on Facebook Marketplace, especially any negative feedback:
- Thank buyers who left you positive reviews
- Apologize for any mistakes or issues
- Remain polite even when responding to rude or unfair reviews
- Explain what steps you’ve taken to improve for any valid criticisms
- Never get confrontational or argumentative
Appropriately handling feedback shows buyers you care and helps mitigate the impact of any negative reviews.
Rules and Policies
Facebook has some rules and policies around reviews on Marketplace to ensure fairness:
- No buying/selling reviews
- Reviews must be from real transactions
- No profanity or personal attacks allowed
- Reviews can be reported and removed if inappropriate
- Facebook penalizes sellers who abuse the review system
Violating Facebook’s review policies can get sellers banned from the platform. Be sure to authentically earn your reviews.
Seller Standards
To keep the Marketplace safe and trustworthy, Facebook sets standards that sellers must meet. Reviews play an important role in seller standards.
- Must maintain an average rating of at least 4 stars
- Review removal rate can’t exceed 10%
- Ratings can’t have more than 3% very low 1-2 star reviews
Consistently poor reviews put sellers at risk of losing access to Facebook Marketplace. Aim to provide 5 star service.
Review Examples
Here are some examples of excellent and poor quality reviews a seller might receive:
Excellent Review
“The item arrived in perfect condition and even earlier than expected. The seller packaged it really well and was great with communication throughout the process. I couldn’t be happier with the purchase and highly recommend them!”
Poor Review
“The product did not match the description at all and appeared used even though it was supposed to be new. The seller had poor communication. I would not recommend.”
It’s clear from these examples how much detail and context in reviews helps other buyers decide who to purchase from.
Improving Review Scores
Here are some tips for sellers to improve their overall review score and rating on Facebook Marketplace:
- Provide excellent customer service throughout the transaction
- Ship items quickly with quality packaging
- Make your listings as accurate as possible
- Proactively communicate with buyers about order status
- Respond professionally and learn from any negative feedback
- Offer refunds or replacements if buyers are truly unsatisfied
Going above and beyond will convert more buyers into delighted customers who are eager to leave you 5 star reviews.
Products That Get More Reviews
Some product categories on Facebook Marketplace inherently receive more reviews than others. Here are some that tend to get the most feedback:
- Electronics – Phones, laptops, tablets, etc.
- Home appliances – Washers, refrigerators, AC units, etc.
- Furniture – Beds, sofas, dining sets, desks, etc.
- Baby/kids items – Strollers, car seats, cribs, toys, etc.
- Automotive parts – Tires, batteries, accessories, etc.
These are big ticket items that buyers want to research thoroughly before purchasing from an unknown seller.
Competing with Reviewed Sellers
It can be challenging for new sellers on Facebook Marketplace who have no reviews yet to compete against established sellers who have many reviews. Here are some tips:
- Offer lower prices initially to attract your first buyers
- Provide exceptional customer service to earn great early reviews
- Highlight your responsiveness and reliability in listings
- Run promotions or giveaways to kickstart initial transactions
- Patiently build up your reputation – it takes time!
With some creativity and persistence, new sellers can still succeed and build a positive profile over time.
Avoiding Review Manipulation
Facebook has algorithms in place to detect sellers attempting to manipulate reviews. Avoid the following:
- Purchasing or selling fake 5-star reviews
- Creating multiple accounts to self-review
- Asking friends/family to leave positive reviews
- Begging for only positive reviews
- Threatening retaliation for negative reviews
Authentically earned reviews are key for long-term success on Facebook Marketplace. Unethical practices usually end up backfiring.
Review Removal Requests
If a review left for your business is clearly in violation of Facebook’s policies, you can request to have it removed:
- Click “Report Review” on the inappropriate review
- Select the policy it violates like profanity, personal attacks, etc.
- Explain why the review should be removed in the provided text box
- Submit your removal request
- Facebook will evaluate if the review truly violates policy
However, avoid trying to remove fair negative feedback just because it is unfavorable. Focus instead on improving your business.
Conclusion
Getting reviews takes patience initially, but builds exponential trust and momentum over time on Facebook Marketplace. By providing exemplary customer service and tactfully asking for feedback, sellers can gradually accumulate positive ratings and reviews. This in turn leads to higher sales, returning customers, and long-term success selling on Facebook Marketplace.