FDA and MasterCard Merchant Approval

[Ryle]

Why does doing smart business make you a bad person? ecig business is considered high risk... because it is.

I was trying to encourage the OP to keep trying, not trying to knock you

And yes, knowing people does help, but even without, there are tons of merchants willing to accept ecig businesses. Go with one that's at least decent and as this industry grows, more will open up to the idea.

Good luck.

I guess it was the referance to all providers (or I was just being overly sensitive yesterday lol)

By the way I have received the go-ahead from SJ to do a post on this in the suppliers forum with a bit more "insider info".. it's being proof read at the moment but it should be up today JIC anyone cares (don't want to say anything more than that here and get myself into trouble)

 

[Kate51]

Did I mention buying cigarettes from the Seneca Nation? Yes, I did.... for awhile (years) you could order online, use your credit card, everything was great.
Pretty soon, you could order online, but credit cards wouldn't allow tobacco products. Still the same today. The PayPal/NCH checks comes along, everything great again. After that, the Seneca could no longer have the Post Office pick up their orders, so had to take downtown. Price up again.
Eventually, the whole conspiracy turned evil! The Seneca had to apply for EXPORT license, and I would have to pay my state and federal taxes in order to receive the cigarettes.
That's where we're at, e-cigs are not being singled out, ALL tobacco products are. I sorta forgot about Seneca after that, went to RYO cigarettes, and, well, now we know the rest of that story! Taxes on an $11.35 pound of sweet, yummy tobacco, now $40.29!!!!

Enter: e-Cigs. Hmmmmmm. Anybody see a trend here?

 

[cyberwolf]

A few months back I had to throw away peanut butter crackers. Grown in the USA, manufactured in the USA, sold in stores, FDA approved and still killing people. Seems to me I never heard a word about stores having their payment processing revoked if they sold items containing peanut butter. This double standard is what irritates me.

 

[moonlight]

I don't know if it is related, but I remember when I used to order analogs from an Indian Reservation, I received notification from them that they had lost their ability to process credit cards. They had to send out letters to all of their customers, hat in hand, and request that we send them checks for our orders, thereby eliminating any speed advantage of online ordering.

The reservation that I ordered from was not the only one affected - it appeared that all reservations selling tobacco online had the ability to process credit cards revoked.

I remember at the time thinking that it was an underhanded and backdoor way for government to remove the "menace" of tax-free reservation cigarettes, by asking the credit card companies to not allow processing for their business models. Is the same happening for e-cigs?

yes, when I was buying analogs, I had to use an electronic check. It wasn't a big deal and I wouldn't have a problem with doing it again for PV's if I had to.

 

[FlyingIrishman]

I can’t stand the idea that government continues to force us into a mold instead of letting us be free citizen….. Nothing good can come of regulation……. California is a perfect example the government trying to do some good…..

 

[.308]

Since paypal is anti-gun and shuts down people selling firearm related material all the time most of us that deal in that trade use gearpay just a thought

That one hit 'ol .308 where it hurt let me tell you. Though they aren't making any more $$$ off of my transactions either.

 

[Tallgirl1974]

This reminds me that I have gotten complacent in my contacting people endeavor. We need to keep the list of things to do and people to contact handy and do it over and over again. We cant just roll over and take it. We aren't doing something "naughty" we are good people trying to QUIT SMOKING or find a better alternative so we can LIVE.
Its nuts that we have to fight for this. Such true words- why is it so hard to get people to get it in their stupid heads that we aren't deviants? Its starting to make me feel like I am using crack and belong in jail. Its crap.

 

[Kate51]

I have a very sneaking up on me feeling these days, I do so agree that the cords tying this society together are starting to get a little snug around our necks. Aren't you glad Congress has now got a firm hold on the CC companies?? NOT. It too will have a work-around before too long.

A few months back I had to throw away peanut butter crackers. Grown in the USA, manufactured in the USA, sold in stores, FDA approved and still killing people. Seems to me I never heard a word about stores having their payment processing revoked if they sold items containing peanut butter. This double standard is what irritates me.

Exactly right CyberWolf, now to the list:
ZICAM
Just this last week. Apparently the Zinc in the stuff kills the scent nodes in your nose. Ever wonder what it would be like with no sense of smell, I guess it's terrible, and dangerous. But it was only taken off the market after 3-4 years??
And has anyone heard if we can eat Pecans, yet??

 

[hsmamato2]

when I used to order analogs from an Indian Reservation, I received notification from them that they had lost their ability to process credit cards.

Yep, you are right. They can't take credit cards. These days they take e-checks or you can print your order and mail it in with a check or money order.

 

[seminolewind]

Well, the government is getting bigger and bigger with all the new people that O. has hired. More control, squeezing us out, laws that are bought and paid for, this all really stinks. My friend goes to Tea Parties, I think I will go too.
BTW there was one candidate who ran who believes in smaller government, and more freedom. Gee, I would have really liked that.

 

[RIAFlight25]

This irritates the hell outta me!!!

Search the web, talk to people and you will find all types of Illegal and sick things that can be purchased with a credit card online! Drugs without prescriptions, seeds for illegal drug producing plants, Illegal pornography, medical equipment.... the list is endless!

Yet lets try to put down the vapers! *Shakes Head*

 

[Stranger]

The government has all ready spent the money they expected to pocket from the tobacco tax increase. As far as they are concerned we are not holding up our end of the deal.

BTW it seems every week the FDA pulls some drug or there is an empty space on the shelf for some medicine you can't get or you have to show ID and be treated like a criminal.

Remember back when the FDA approved drugs?

The thing that really drives me nuts is the billion dollar "supplement" industry is allowed to self regulate. Time and time again when "supplements" are analyzed in a lab they do not contain the amounts or kinds of active (or thought to be active) ingredients listed on the label.

 

[DC2]

I used to bet on football games through an on-line sportsbook. Charge cards will not accept payment going to gambling sites as that is illegal. The way around it was you had to go to western union and wire the money to them under somebodys name. If paypal should decide to stop payments to the suppliers you can always wire the money to them.

I stopped gambling because of how much of a pain in the *** they were making it.

But I will not stop vaping no matter what they do.
Yeah, no matter what they do.

I've got 50 atomizers, and I can, and will, vape 0mg juice if it comes to that.

 

[David Bruno]

Here's an interesting wrinkle in the whole e-cig kartuffle. We received this from the Merchant service account we've been trying to set up in order to offer folks and alternative to PayPal:

"Denial of application is based on the following:
Based on the Federal Government's classification of the device as a "drug delivery system" this would be prohibited. The FDA is currently considering e-cigarettes as "drug delivery devices" and has halted 17 shipments from coming into the country since March 1st. Currently MasterCard is not willing to give us a variance on accepting this type of merchant until the Federal Government will lift their restrictions on this product, at that time we can resubmit the application for further review."

Where this is going or how it will shake out eventually I have no idea - but in all my life I have never encountered as many problems trying to do what I consider a "good thing" as I have with personal vaporizers or whatever the community can call them to get some of the smear off this product.

We'll keep selling and keep on looking for a logical alternative to Paypal, but I thought I'd pass this on to illustrate HOW many areas there seem to be restrictions to purchase PVs.

Tom - Your pal at vapour warehouse

My Credit Union issues debit cards. It is set up through Mastercard, However, I set up a safety total purchase limit of 250.00. When I want to make a larger purchase, I simply call the Credit Union to up the purchase amt. For instance, I bought a guitar for 2500 on a debit transaction. I called up the credit union and the transaction cleared. Is this a way around the problem? Could be.
Dave

 

[a2dcovert]

I wondered why almost of the vendors used Paypal, now I know why. I just made a purchase from the new Johnson Creek site and they have a normal merchant account now. They don't sell the "drug delivery devices", just the Drugs! At least according to the FDA.

Kevin

 

[zero7starz]

Never thought I'd live to see the say when I'd say I missed Bush... at least he didn't seem to care about tobacco and the FDA he was too busy raging war with the middle east to care. If nothing else guys, we can always fight to get anything reversed if/when we get a new administration.

 

[Scaralouche]

the electorate was too naive to see what this guy was when everyone who sees the wiring under the board was screaming about what this guy was going to bring. i guess its easy for the unthinking to get swept up in the moment. think of boy bands. they were big because people were told they were big and they bought it. without even investigating what he stood for, people just wanted to make history. im all for that, but this wasnt the guy to do that. and now we reap what we sow.

it may not even be obama. he seems to be spending all his time looking into mirrors to behold and bask in his own grandeur. or apologizing for everything under the sun to europe and africa. the people around him are the ones who are making the nightmare we are living now. too bad we didnt get president biden. at least hes too stupid to get anything done. and thats the way i like it. when theyre too dumb to lead, i can lead my own life. that is liberty, and the idea of our founding fathers. incompetent federalism, local wisdom. can we go back to that now?

 

[a2dcovert]

We have made our bed, now we must lye in it. Our only hope it to start by changing the out of control law makers. We badly need term limits. The guys in control must be from another planet This isn't my fathers country anymore and I want it back before it's too late.

Our first chance to start changing things back begins with the 2010 elections. It's not too late to turn the tide.

Kevin

 

[Applejackson]

Well, the government is getting bigger and bigger with all the new people that O. has hired. More control, squeezing us out, laws that are bought and paid for, this all really stinks. My friend goes to Tea Parties, I think I will go too.
BTW there was one candidate who ran who believes in smaller government, and more freedom. Gee, I would have really liked that.

That was Ron Paul.

 

[Scaralouche]

libertarians are too far outside my beliefs. limited government, not no government. ron paul is a RINO (Republican in Name Only). it's a shame the republican party has forgotten what it is supposed to stand for. if the next ronald reagan is a libertarian, though, i guess i will have to get behind him. but believe me, my hand will be shaking when i pull that lever.