Top Tier Customer

[iamalwaysright]

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 SELLER”

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 SHIRT”

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 😀.

[pastimpressions]

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.

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.

[gurlcat]

How 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!  

[relicpeddler]

Give us his eBay name so we can all ban him.

[richard1rst]

IMO:  "Top Tier Customer" is an Idiot with an "overinflated ego".

[richard1rst]

I always sit in the top tier. It gives a better view of he stage.

[pickapaper]

@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 SHIRT”

So, he is also teaching this poor, aggressive behavior to his son and that part is even more sad.  

[wastingtime101]

This 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! 🏆

[gurlcat]

@wastingtime101  🤣  iamalwaysright's buyer base is like the Jerry Springer show of the Community.  

[ebooksdiva]

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@relicpeddler wrote:

Give us his eBay name so we can all ban him.

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@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. 

[habitatrestorencc]

I 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."

[wmsakalaucks]

Be sure to file a case against a buyer demanding something not in the listing.

[chapeau-noir]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

This 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! 🏆

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Nah - just give him the standard "Top Tier Whiner" trophy - he's worked hard to earn it.