When a Review Isn’t True (and You Still Have to Deal With It)

A bad review is part of the territory.

The first time a buyer lied in a review of my shop, I stared at the screen long enough for my coffee to go cold.

It was one of those slow, quiet mornings where the only plan I had was to create a new batch of vector files.

I was halfway through sketching a set of floral line-art designs when I clicked over to my Etsy dashboard.

A quick dopamine hit before getting back to work.

And there it was.

A one-star review from someone I barely remembered.

Bold, dramatic, and absolutely untrue.

She claimed the svg was corrupted, that I refused to help, and that the item didn’t match the listing photos.

It felt like being punched in the ribs by someone I’d never even met.

What made it worse?

I had answered her message within minutes.

I’d sent screenshots, alternate formats, even a bonus file to make sure she could use the product however she wanted.

She replied with got it! thanks 🙂

And then left that review.