Key points
- Seller feedback rates the seller: shipping, packaging, communication. A product review rates the product itself.
- Amazon checks seller feedback when the seller requests removal in Seller Central. Product reviews are challenged through Amazon’s reporting channels or with a reasoned removal request.
- Criticism of shipping in a product review is in the wrong place and can often be removed.
Two kinds of feedback
A buyer leaves seller feedback (sometimes called a seller rating) about the seller after an order. It covers things like delivery time, packaging, communication or returns and refunds, and appears on the seller profile. Negative seller feedback feeds into the metrics Amazon uses to measure sellers.
A product review (customer review) is about the product. It appears on the product page, counts toward the product’s star rating and is read by everyone who looks at the product, no matter which seller they buy from. For brands, it is therefore usually the more important of the two.
Getting seller feedback removed
Amazon checks seller feedback when the seller requests removal. You submit the request in Seller Central, next to the feedback in question. Your chances are usually good if the feedback
- contains insulting or obscene language,
- includes personal data such as names, phone numbers or addresses,
- only rates the product and not the seller,
- refers to shipping even though Amazon shipped the order itself.
Buyers can also remove their own seller feedback. You may politely ask them to do so, but you may not offer anything in return; Amazon prohibits that.
Getting a product review removed
A seller cannot delete a product review, and Amazon does not remove one simply on request. There has to be a violation of the Community Guidelines or of applicable law, such as false statements of fact, insults unrelated to the product or a review that is not based on the reviewer’s own experience. Guideline violations are reported using “Report abuse”; legal violations, with a reasoned removal request.
For the details, see our guide Getting Amazon reviews removed.
When criticism is in the wrong place
Criticism of shipping often ends up in the product review: “Arrived two days late,” “Box was damaged.” Such reviews do not rate the product and therefore violate the guidelines. This is one of the most common reasons reviews are removed. Read more in our guide Reviews about shipping and service.
Conversely, pure product criticism does not belong in seller feedback. That is also a reason to request removal.
Where AMZDelete helps
AMZDelete checks 1- and 2-star product reviews on amazon.de and flags signs of possible violations. Our partner law firm assesses whether a review can be challenged and reports it to Amazon. For seller feedback, the fastest route is to submit the request yourself in Seller Central; if a piece of seller feedback contains false claims about your business, contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Does negative seller feedback count toward my product’s star rating?
No. The stars on the product page come from product reviews. Seller feedback appears on the seller’s profile.
May I ask buyers to change their feedback or review?
You may politely ask a buyer to remove seller feedback, without offering anything in return. With product reviews, you should not push buyers to change them. Amazon prohibits offers such as a refund in exchange for deletion in both cases.
Does AMZDelete also check seller feedback?
No, AMZDelete checks product reviews on amazon.de. You submit the request for seller feedback directly in Seller Central.
This guide gives a general overview and does not replace a legal review of your individual case. At AMZDelete, our partner law firm checks whether a review can be challenged.