Identity theft exposure!

[Toots]

TV website shoppers are now required to submit partial social security numbers electronically for any purchases, even non tobacco items. Identity theft experts report that it is not difficult to determine complete social security numbers from these partial components.
If you have not secured your financial data by purchasing one of the identity and financial fraud protection services, or freezing your credit, shoppers may risk more than credit card fraud, but identity theft as well. Please do some research on your exposure before submitting such sensitive info unnecessarily. You just might find yourself in a costly and frustrating situation. BE INFORMED AND CAUTIOUS.

 

[Train2]

What is a TV website?
And I would never provide a partial social security number to any vendor.
Heck, I don't provide to a doctor anymore.
And I am fairly certain that they're not allowed to require it - I could find the legal precedent I'm vaguely remembering - do you have any documentation of what you're talking about?

 

[Toots]

Tasty Vapor website. shop for an item, any item. Read the faq.

 

[Adrenalynn]

From their newsletter this month:

Of Legal Age

You may have noticed a new feature on our website: age verification. Because we provide tobacco related products, we are required by law to verify the age of our customers. The legal age for tobacco consumers in the United States is 18. During this process, you will be asked to supply the last four digits of your social security number. You will only need to do it once per account, and the information is run through an off-site, national database that verifies your identity and age. We do not retain, or even see any of this personal information and we can guarantee that your identity will be protected and secure. If you have any issues or difficulties with the new age verification process, feel free to e-mail us at mi eam@tas apor.us and we are happy to assist you.

I'll be missing my Markimar's Watermelon Bubblegum, which I've been ordering exclusively _forever_ - but I wouldn't get near this with a ten foot pole. The gall in just blatantly thinking they can ship all my personally identifiable information including partial social (which is of questionable legality anyway) to some other company that isn't even identified, and that's just going to be ok? Mind-boggling.

The biggest bummer is that they're just a couple hours from me - next day delivery if I paid for same day mixing. [shrug]

Their brains fell out - deep sigh - time for me to move on.

[edit - incidentally: I have "issues or difficulties with the new age verfication [sic] process", so I did feel free to email them. To-date, I've heard nothing back. In fairness, it's only been a couple days.]

 

[Boredwalk]

I will not be entering any part of my ss#. My name and birthdate coupled with that, my home address, and credit card info is way too much info.

 

[SweetPuff]

I too feel super uncomfortable with the ssn requirement TV has put in place. Seems totally unnecessary, and I think they should do away with it for good. Clicking on a button that states you are over 18 should cover them for any liability issues they may face...the customer's security should come first.

 

[Zaratoughda]

My last order went through before this was put in place but... now I am gonna have to think if I should look elsewhere due to this... and that would be DIFFICULT re German Chocolate Cake, Café Mocha, Cherry Cough Drop, etc.

IMO, this function should be TURNED OFF until and only if, it becomes required by law.

Given the recent NSA scandal and the concerns about invasion of personal privacy there, probably will be a LONG TIME before something like this becomes required by law. Also, I believe you can get Nicorette gum right off the shelf and check it out at the auto line at Walmart and there really isn't much difference here re that.

Geoff, IMO the wind has turned in the other direction on things like this and so, IMO would be best to turn this function off until and only if it becomes required by law.

 

[Quexos]

TV website shoppers are now required to submit partial social security numbers...

No. No. No. No way! This will absolutely cost TV my business. Not going to happen. Sorry. NO!

 

[Peg0325]

Before I read this, I tried to put my number in and had access denied. I just came to read and see why I'm not able to order anything.

Maybe I was lucky?

There must be a better way to verify age....

 

[proxy]

Yeah, this is pretty ridiculous. I used to live close enough to where I could walk in, place my order and then walk out with juice within about 10 minutes. I moved about an hour+ away and don't get out to Oakland all that much.

Between the overly intrusive age-verification system, the inconsistency of flavor, and the turn around time for online orders, I think I will need to find a new vendor for my everyday vape. I love Tasty Vapor juice so much, but it will have to be an occasional treat that I can pick up whenever I make it over to the oakland area. Sorry guys.

 

[Quexos]

...the inconsistency of flavor, and the turn around time for online orders...

Yeah, there is that too. After trying Pina Colada and loving it, I had about $45 worth of Pina Colada + Doubler shipped to me that turned out had no flavor at all. Sadly I had already mixed it with the first batch that was good, and ruined it all ($60 worth ruined). Tasted like straight up steam. In a nutshell I was told one of the mixers had made a bad batch or two, but NOTHING was done or offered to compensate me for my $45 worth of 'steam juice'.

Seems this is still a problem a year or two on. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/tasty-vapor/406740-doublers-tastes-weaker-than-ones-nic.html

 

[river.guy]

I don't have much of a problem with it personally. Seems like everyone wants the last 4 of my SS#. Phone, electric bank and PayPal all have it on file. The odds that it will be "snatched" the ONE time it has to be used are remote, IMO.

 

[Toots]

The problem is that it is being sent to a third party, to store who knows where, for who knows how long, to be accessed either intentionally or maliciously by who knows who. Perhaps even sold for profit and evil deeds. You give it once and you may be granting infinite access to it.

 

[river.guy]

It is doubtful that Tasty Vapor would parter with some nefarious entity. As a business that wants repeat customers, it wouldn't make sense. My guess is they would be looking out for our best interests when partnering with a company, just like the one that collected my payment (merchant account). I guess I will take my chances...to each his own.

 

[destiny]

Okay, so no other vendor that I deal with is asking for this information, but Tasty Vapor is! This is just not good!! I would imagine they will loose a lot of long time customers. Just not a good feeling from this.

And this surely won't gain them new customers.

 

[destiny]

Okay, so I just tried to re-order some juice and saw this new ss number verification thing. I didn't like it, but wanted some juice! So, against my better judgement, I put my number and like someone else, was denied. It offered the option of doing it 'manually" what ever that means, but when I clicked on that, it said that it would not be a "secure" page. I thought HECK NO! and got out of there!

Geez, I didn't expect to have such problems ordering from my favorite vendor. It just seems really weird that no other vendor I use is doing this. Just don't get a good feeling with this.

Are we really going to have to give up Tasty Vapor Juice? Geez

 

[Burn14me]

Read your SS card it clearly states not to be used for identification

 

[CocoaButter]

Its terrible isint it? in a world so stricken by this stuff that we cant even give a number.. *sighs softly*

 

[TruckDrivinMama]

I attempted to order from them online until i saw this SSN requirement. I too said, 'Hell NO!' I gave them a call and told them that this an issue for many people. I was able to complete my order through phone but I hope they address this issue soon.

 

[wmhiggins109]

Screw that!! They are up to no good, you wont see me anywhere near that site, and i bet they will be shut down inside of 3mnths.
I would rather go to the smoke shop in town and get the crappy overpriced crownseven liquid