I know lots of folks are tired of reading these threads. IF you are one of those folks, stop reading right --> {here}. I think the more information we can put together the safer shopping experiences everyone can have. I shop ALOT online. Most of the time I use paypal, when I cannot use paypal - I have historically used my checkcard (I know..I know...BAD thing to do).
Since all of the issues I have read about on the forum, I decided NOT to do that for my last nicotine purchase. The card that was hit was my discover card which I don't normally charge anything on, it is an emergency only card - and nicotine is as we all know an emergency. So to avoid using bank card, April 29th I used the discover card to purchase nicotine and flavor from VapingZone. I have sent them an email to find out who they use as a cc processor, but haven't been able to talk to them yet. In looking on their website they use Authorize.net to verify cc purchases. When I hit the authorize.net icon on their site, I get a popup from authorize.net that they are unable to verify the merchant. "Please try to verify the authenticity of the site by contacting the merchant directly".
For grins, I looked at the website of another vendor that I use regularly for eVod atomizer heads (aquavaporcigs) and they also use Authorize.net. When I hit the logo on their site, I get a pop-up that says they are a verified merchant, "you can be confident knowing they are.....blah, blah". I want to be clear that the payment method used for aquavaporcigs in early April was not compromised. So while they may have a cc processing company in common, or atleast a logo - I don't know, I used a different payment method with this one that has not been compromised.
I also want to be clear - I have had a card compromised in the past - and it was used locally, not even online. So, I understand it can happen to anyone, anywhere. We, here, are all keenly aware of this recent rash of buttheads stealing information because we have this forum in common. The good thing is that because of this forum and people posting issues, we are then able to make informed decisions going forward as consumers.
So, I don't know what to make of all of it. Vendor? CC processor? What ever it is - we need for vendors who are aware that they have customers having their information compromised to get in the kitchens of the cc processing company, or if it is a cc processing company that is in common with other vendors being hit, maybe it is time to look for another processing company.
You know, originally, I hadn't been angry with vendors and understood that the security breach may not be on their end. I am beginning to have a different opinion in the consumer+vendor+cc processing company equation. The vendors are the ones with the power to find out whats going on and take corrective action, be it their site or their chosen cc processor. They should be accountable to us as consumers. Now as consumers, we have the power to decide where we spend our plastic. I know that for me personally, until I know a little more about what is happening and what is being done to ensure that it does not continue to be an issue, I will certainly make different choices about where I shop.
I hope my post doesn't pi$$ anyone off, it is simply my intention to inform. I struggled with whether or not to even identify the vendor I shopped with, but felt it was important to have more information out there.
Since all of the issues I have read about on the forum, I decided NOT to do that for my last nicotine purchase. The card that was hit was my discover card which I don't normally charge anything on, it is an emergency only card - and nicotine is as we all know an emergency. So to avoid using bank card, April 29th I used the discover card to purchase nicotine and flavor from VapingZone. I have sent them an email to find out who they use as a cc processor, but haven't been able to talk to them yet. In looking on their website they use Authorize.net to verify cc purchases. When I hit the authorize.net icon on their site, I get a popup from authorize.net that they are unable to verify the merchant. "Please try to verify the authenticity of the site by contacting the merchant directly".
For grins, I looked at the website of another vendor that I use regularly for eVod atomizer heads (aquavaporcigs) and they also use Authorize.net. When I hit the logo on their site, I get a pop-up that says they are a verified merchant, "you can be confident knowing they are.....blah, blah". I want to be clear that the payment method used for aquavaporcigs in early April was not compromised. So while they may have a cc processing company in common, or atleast a logo - I don't know, I used a different payment method with this one that has not been compromised.
I also want to be clear - I have had a card compromised in the past - and it was used locally, not even online. So, I understand it can happen to anyone, anywhere. We, here, are all keenly aware of this recent rash of buttheads stealing information because we have this forum in common. The good thing is that because of this forum and people posting issues, we are then able to make informed decisions going forward as consumers.
So, I don't know what to make of all of it. Vendor? CC processor? What ever it is - we need for vendors who are aware that they have customers having their information compromised to get in the kitchens of the cc processing company, or if it is a cc processing company that is in common with other vendors being hit, maybe it is time to look for another processing company.
You know, originally, I hadn't been angry with vendors and understood that the security breach may not be on their end. I am beginning to have a different opinion in the consumer+vendor+cc processing company equation. The vendors are the ones with the power to find out whats going on and take corrective action, be it their site or their chosen cc processor. They should be accountable to us as consumers. Now as consumers, we have the power to decide where we spend our plastic. I know that for me personally, until I know a little more about what is happening and what is being done to ensure that it does not continue to be an issue, I will certainly make different choices about where I shop.
I hope my post doesn't pi$$ anyone off, it is simply my intention to inform. I struggled with whether or not to even identify the vendor I shopped with, but felt it was important to have more information out there.
