Amazon Introduces Star-Only Ratings for Seller Feedback
A significant improvement to Amazon’s seller feedback system has been implemented: Customers can now rate products with a star rating without leaving a comment.
Even while this appears like a minor adjustment, it could have a significant effect on how platform merchants monitor and control their reputation.
🔍 What’s New?
- Buyers can now leave a 1 to 5-star rating with no text required
- The option to add a written comment is now optional
- The update is gradually rolling out across global marketplaces
✅ Why Amazon Made This Change
Amazon wants to boost the quantity of ratings and streamline the feedback procedure. Because it takes time to write a comment, many customers completely ignore feedback. Star-only evaluations facilitate participation and lower friction.
⚠️ What This Means for Sellers
Pros:
- Increased volume of seller ratings
- More feedback data for your account health
- Potential to identify trends across multiple orders
Cons:
- Less context for negative feedback
- Harder to understand and respond to buyer concerns
- Appealing unfair ratings becomes more difficult without written justification
💡 How to Adapt Your Strategy
- Double down on post-purchase experience
Automate order follow-ups and provide helpful info to minimize confusion or issues. - Monitor feedback trends closely
Look for patterns in star ratings even if no comments are left. - Use buyer-seller messaging proactively
Try resolving issues quickly and kindly to prevent low-star feedback. - Review your performance metrics
Low star ratings (even without comments) can affect your Order Defect Rate (ODR) and Buy Box eligibility.
📌 Final Thoughts
This new star-only rating system is part of Amazon’s ongoing effort to streamline the buyer experience—but sellers need to stay alert.
Without written comments, sellers must rely on data patterns, automation, and customer service to maintain a healthy feedback profile.
Have you started seeing these new star-only ratings in your account?
Let us know how it’s affecting your strategy.