Starting August 4, 2025, Amazon will introduce a significant change to its seller feedback system. Customers will soon be able to leave star-only ratings — without writing any comments.
While Amazon says this update is designed to simplify the process and increase feedback volume, many sellers are voicing serious concerns about how this change could negatively impact their businesses.
Buyers are not required to provide written reviews
- Buyers can leave a 1–5 star rating without providing any written explanation.
- Written comments become optional for all feedback.
- Star-only ratings cannot be appealed through the Feedback Manager.
- Sellers can still report violations via the “Report a violation” tool, but Amazon will have the final say on whether the rating violates community guidelines.
Amazon claims this streamlined process will encourage more customers to leave feedback, giving future buyers more insights and helping sellers track performance.
Why Sellers Are Concerned
Although the goal may be to simplify the feedback process, sellers argue that this change could undermine the integrity and fairness of the entire system. Here's why:
1. No Context = No Clarity
Sellers rely on written feedback to understand what went wrong (or right) — whether it's about shipping delays, packaging, or customer service. A star rating without explanation offers no actionable insight, leaving sellers unable to improve or resolve issues.
2. Confusion Between Seller Feedback and Product Reviews
Many customers mistakenly leave product reviews in the seller feedback section — for example, “Great phone case!” or “Screen protector broke.” Without written comments, it becomes even harder to tell whether the feedback relates to the product or the seller’s service.
3. FBA Problems Are Wrongly Blamed on Sellers
Issues like late deliveries, damaged items, or missing packages — often caused by Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) — are frequently blamed on sellers. Written comments help identify and remove these unfair reviews. Without them, sellers lose the ability to defend themselves.
4. No Appeals = No Fairness
Under the new system, sellers cannot appeal star-only ratings, even if they are clearly inaccurate or abusive. A single low rating could hurt a seller’s Order Defect Rate, Buy Box eligibility, or even lead to account suspension — with no opportunity for redress.
5. Feedback System Loses Its Purpose
Feedback is meant to build trust and transparency. But reducing it to a number strips away meaning. Buyers won’t know why a seller got a low rating, and sellers won’t know how to improve. The system becomes less useful for everyone.
6. Real Business Risks, No Due Process
Seller metrics are tightly linked to their ability to survive on Amazon. Introducing unexplained, non-appealable ratings increases the risk of unfair penalties. Sellers fear that this change prioritizes convenience over fairness — and could lead to irreversible harm to their businesses.
A Balanced Proposal for a Better Feedback System
If Amazon’s goal is to increase customer participation without hurting sellers, there’s a simple solution:
Allow star-only ratings for positive feedback (4 or 5 stars), but require written comments for neutral or negative feedback (3 stars or below).
- Easier for happy customers to leave quick, positive feedback.
- Keeps context for lower ratings, helping sellers understand and improve.
- Protects sellers from vague or malicious low ratings with no explanation.
- Preserves the integrity of the feedback system for both buyers and sellers.
This balanced approach encourages more feedback while maintaining fairness, transparency, and accountability.
01 Aug, 2025
