Top Tier Customer
Anyone know of this buyer level on eBay and how one obtains it and its perks? I’m being facetious. Here’s a little venting story.
So a buyer is having a fit with me for an item they bought on Friday (I had 3 day handling on this one despite me shipping out on Monday), and on Wednesday the buyer sends a message involving capital letters saying he doesn’t have it yet, over exaggerating how many days it’s been, saying it’s unacceptable, demanding a full refund immediately, and ending it claiming he’s a “TOP TIER CUSTOMER†and how dare I treat one like him this way.
First, I thank him for being a “top tier customer.†Then I basically give him the usual spiel: when he paid, when we shipped, how long Ground Advantage usually takes coast to coast and it matches up with the USPS ETA. Everything is going as scheduled and if he has issue with it to contact USPS and ebay. Oh I told him to make sure to file an “item not received†(this is to cover me for feedback protection) and eBay may help him.
He didn’t seem to like my response at all because it wasn’t a full refund. “For many successful years now I am a successful eBay top tier customer and have NEVER had had an issue, YOU are THE FIRST. Your RIDICULOUS response tells me The Post Office for delivers it this slowly. WRONG THAT IS YOUR JOB! OVERNIGHT ME THE SHIRT AT YOUR EXPENSE OR WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU AS AN UNRELIABLE SELLERâ€
I reply that once we choose the shipping service and hand it over to them, no one has control over the speed of USPS delivering the package except themselves. Sellers only have control over when they ship it, and his was sent out 2 days ahead of schedule. I thanked him for being a top tier customer and understanding this. I again advise him to file the INR case.
He replies that I should have immediately intervened and contacted the post office myself, although I’m unclear with what reason since the package is moving as scheduled. He called himself a top tier customer again and it’s an outrage eBay is allowing me to treat one this way. He ends with “this all further agrevates the situation since my son STILL dosen't understand why the shirt never arrived after All this time SO YOU BETTER OVERNIGHT THIS SHIRTâ€
I haven’t replied yet as to minimize the machine gun replies from him. But I’ll probably just repeat myself for him to file the INR and that’s about it. He hasn’t filed anything yet and if he doesn’t I’ll likely get hit with the negative. Any other tips for my response? I’ll probably also thank him for being a top tier customer tho 😀.
26 comments
habitatrestorencc
·10 months agoI just stick to the facts when I respond. It's usually drop-shippers who expect it to be to their customer after 2-days. Unfortunately, USPS is not Amazon Flex.
"The order was placed Friday, and it was Shipped out the following Monday, day # of my #-day handling time.
Ebay gave you a shipping arrival date of between X-Y. If your item has not arrived within Ebay's timeframe, you should open an item not received claim. If it's received late and is no longer of use, you are free to open a return and we will approve it."
wastingtime101
·10 months agoThis is my favorite post from the past couple of weeks.
We should send that buyer a "top tier customer" trophy ... and we better overnight it! ðŸ†
gurlcat
·10 months ago@wastingtime101 🤣 iamalwaysright's buyer base is like the Jerry Springer show of the Community.
chapeau-noir
·10 months agoNah - just give him the standard "Top Tier Whiner" trophy - he's worked hard to earn it.
gurlcat
·10 months agoHow do you manage to get so many WILD BUYERS? What is it about t-shirts that make them lose their minds? If you're making any of this stuff up I don't want to know because the stories are so entertaining regardless of voracity. This guy is the best one yet. TOP TIER INDEED!
pastimpressions
·10 months agoSome individuals tend to use overtly aggressive behavior as a calculated means of achieving a desired result.
Not at all uncommon in business transactions.
In this case, some sort of additional compensation, discount or other consideration being the endgame.
This individual is not necessarily imbalanced, but perhaps sadly encouraged in this approach because it has been successful over time.
All one can do in this case is to be gracious, professional and let the quality of your process speak for itself.
Best of luck with shop & sales.
pickapaper
·10 months ago@pastimpressions wrote: "Some individuals tend to use overtly aggressive behavior as a calculated means of achieving a desired result. Not at all uncommon in business transactions. In this case, some sort of additional compensation, discount or other consideration being the endgame.
This individual is not necessarily imbalanced, but perhaps sadly encouraged in this approach because it has been successful over time."
Everything you said is true. But the buyer also told the OP “this all further agrevates the situation since my son STILL dosen't understand why the shirt never arrived after All this time SO YOU BETTER OVERNIGHT THIS SHIRTâ€
So, he is also teaching this poor, aggressive behavior to his son and that part is even more sad.
inhawaii
·10 months ago...........
iamalwaysright
OP10 months agoEvery time I hear "Top Tier", I always immediately think about gasoline.
albertabrightalberta
·10 months agoBe sure to report the messages AND the buyer. Get it on record so if (and when?) there's a problem and/or negative feedback, ebay will see that you preemptively got it reported.
And when you report the buy (through the order), include that he's demanding what's not in the listing (overnight shipping) and another item (even though you already shipped the order).
Just curious. What does this snowflake's feedback left for others look like?
iamalwaysright
OP10 months agoHonestly they seem okay. About every 15-20 positives they leave a neg. At a glance the negs seem fine. Most of them were about not receiving anything, a few of them about a damaged or defective item with no response from seller.
The package was delivered to them on Monday as scheduled. So far no further messages from the buyer since my last message for them to file an INR. I kinda wish they did, but they didn't file it.
an-57470
·10 months ago@iamalwaysright
Jerk buyer? Yes, absolutely.
But I think this is where you went wrong. Buyers HATE this type of statement. It can be viewed as dismissive.
Unavailable member
·10 months agoIt’s not dismissive, if the buyer takes issue with how a seller ships then by all means contact USPS and eBay.
The buyer won’t get anywhere with either.
meme6253
·10 months agoWOW this one is BONKERS!!, You BETTER ban this one!!
bennotbill
·10 months agoTell them you're a top tier seller which trumps a top tier customer.😀
msha3839
·10 months agoBest response is to send your buyer the list of five psychiatric services at his zip code..or box of laxatives..he’ll keep his mouth shut for a few days..🤧
dhbookds
·10 months agoHe can't file the INR until after the delivery date?
pickapaper
·10 months agoMaybe that title is reserved for ROSEE buyers (rude, obnoxious, self-important, egotistical, entitled). Especially if they spend at least $10.00 on a purchase. (And to think he is showing this kind of behavior to his son.)
krazzykats
·10 months agoSo Special!
á“šá˜á—¢
inhawaii
·10 months agoA customer is welcome to call himself a "top tier customer".
I am a "top tier seller". 😉
richard1rst
·10 months agoI always sit in the top tier. It gives a better view of he stage.
Unavailable member
·10 months agoThere is no such thing as a top tier customer.
I wouldn't respond futher to that obvious entitled nut case with delousions of grandure.
Add em to your list for those special buyers.
relicpeddler
·10 months agoGive us his eBay name so we can all ban him.
Unavailable member
·10 months ago@relicpeddler You have obviously confused me with the OP who has the “ top tier†buyer.
FYI.. we are not allowed to post eBay members names in here. It’s against community guidelines.
richard1rst
·10 months agoIMO: "Top Tier Customer" is an Idiot with an "overinflated ego".
wmsakalaucks
·10 months agoBe sure to file a case against a buyer demanding something not in the listing.