Protesting your "Verified Member" debacle!

[MrSmith99]

I just want to protest your "Verified Member" requirement to access the sell/trade forums. Way too many places already have my personal information and are tied to the internet: Bank, Stock Broker, Ebay, Paypal, all the utility companies, cable company, etc.

I see no reason to give my personal info to every forum board that I visit. That is just insane! I know you say only 3 people can see our info but if you get hacked it could be millions. And, any LEO out there can get a warrant without a judge and make you give our personal info. In other words, if you piss off a cop then he'll come knocking at your door. That might not be likely but cops are just people and sometimes people are completely phracking crazy. Plus, I don't know you personally so I don't trust you. Why would I give you my personal info? That would just be stupid!

I understand why you think it is a good idea to have a "Verified Member" requirement. I guess you had some trouble on the sell/trade board. Most BBS software has a feedback plug-in, something akin to ebay, that would fix that problem. There is no need for our personal info at all.

There is no need to reply. You will not change my mind. I will just visit other E-cig boards and trade there.
Good day Sir! (said with a scowl)

 

[Trick]

As someone who uses the classifieds probably more than I should, I think the verification is a great step. We have feedback here, but that's not enough to save you from the drive-by scammers.

So far, I haven't had any trouble at all buying, selling, or trading, and I think the verification has a lot to do with that. I rest a little easier every trade knowing there's an actual, certified person on the other end.

 

[Adam the Aussie]

I'm not as peeved about the verified membership as you, but I also choose to buy and sell elsewhere.

 

[Racehorse]

Location: Earth

Are you sure?

 

[budynbuick]

Irrational post. ECF does not have my password. DUH. As for my name & address, You give it to total strangers when you buy from them.
Keith

 

[Gunner83]

None of the options work for me. I'm not a fan of PayPal or EBay (for personal reasons), I don't know 3 verified members to vouch for me, and I tried the NetIDMe thing, but when it should have been able to verify my identity, it sent me an email asking for more info (birth certificate, DL #, etc). I'm not comfortable with that. But that's just me.

That being said, this is their forum and their rules. If you don't like it, then you're free to use another means to buy/sell your goods.

Eventhough it seems that I won't be able to become verified anytime soon, I still think it's a good idea what they're doing. I buy/sell a lot of stuff on one of the gun forums I'm on, and we have a feedback system that helps in deciding on who to deal with. It works for the most part, but sometimes, people get burned with no recourse.

 

[martinc]

What is wrong with checking if you got negative feedback on fleabay?

Because that is all they can do you know...

And the vouching thing....just find 3 people!

 

[chuckie]

I put mine in 5 days ago still haven't got mine after putting in my "secret ebay message.Oh well,no great loss.

 

[Caridwen]

From Joker's blog-

In December of last year a cooperative panel consisting of ECF staff and frequent users of the Classifieds was created in an attempt to create a safer Classifieds for our membership. During this endeavor, the group designed a process called Verified Member. It was met with some opposition, as many changes will, but prevailed and resulted in a much safer Classified and CO-OP section. We are approaching 1 year of the process being in place and I can report that within that year, we have had only 1 instance of fraud and with the information obtained through the verification process, we were able to pressure this person into returning numerous items he had stolen from the members.So we are proud to say, the process is doing exactly what it was setup to do. We would like to thank the team that assisted in the design of the process, the supporters, and each member that sees the benefit.

 

[markfm]

Nothing is perfect, but I see it as a good attempt at cutting down on problems that had started to pop up (infrequent even then, but unacceptable).

I notice that ECF has continued to work this, adding verification methods not initially available (EBay and NetIDMe), providing more options for users -- a definite positive.

Also, things like Paypal verification should not be seen as overly intrusive. ECF doesn't magically have access to your bank or other information, they are simply able to see that your email address has been Paypal Verified -- the underlying info needed by that external trusted party (Paypal in this case) is not accessed by ECF.

Name and Address to be Verified shouldn't shake anyone up. When I buy things, or sell them, I do indeed like to know that the other person is "real", part of due diligence for any transaction. Buying or selling is an adjunct feature, a plus-up privilege not a right by any means. That ECF is doing a bit to assure that those participating are actual people, valid addresses, gets rid of the "are you who you say you are" part, would give anyone with ill intent pause.

It looks like the Classifieds still have a decent volume of transactions, and only 1 fraud issue in a year, which was resolved, so it seems to be working well

 

[Yokymo]

I personally don't see the big deal. Their are many sites that look for ways to verify you are who you are so people can feel comfortable trading/selling.

It's not like they ask for personal info they just asked for a way for you to verify. This isn't the 1st site to ever do something like this and won't be the last.

Confirming who someone is, just helps make buying, selling and trading, go alot smoother without having to get a 3rd pt involved. this way both parties can feel comfortable with the transaction. Some sites don't require stuff cause they use a 3rd pt, you will send your item/money to the 3rd pt and then they will distribute it when both items/money is received.

Anyway, thats just how i feel bout it, i don't feel its being intrusive, it's just a safety percaution so people can trade comfortably.

 

[Gunner83]

What is wrong with checking if you got negative feedback on fleabay?

Agreed. It appears the OP is already established with PayPal and EBay, so I'm not sure why he wouldn't use one of those to get verified here.

 

[Thompson]

To me, worrying about a cop some how getting a hold of your info from ECF, is phracking crazy.

I don't know any of my online vendors that personally. Few emails here and there, but I don't invite them over for the game and give em a brew. But I have given them my personal information and apparent access to my debit card.

IMO it just seems like unnecessary paranoia.

As is, it seems to be the only true way to verify a member to any true capacity. IMO the verification is a good step (and an easy one at that). Though I'm not certain how much it helps if something does go awry...it may just help prevent a person who wants to behave badly from even registering.

 

[sherid]

I have been here a very long time. I have sold some things, but I no longer know where to go to do that. Can someone point me in that direction/

 

[mrwilliams2]

Kick rocks.

 

[markfm]

I have been here a very long time. I have sold some things, but I no longer know where to go to do that. Can someone point me in that direction/

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/member-classifieds-swaps/

 

[Gunner83]

Everything else aside, regarding the OP's statement about warrants..........

A cop can't get a warrant without a judge. Sure, he can write one up, but until a judge signs it, it doesn't mean anything.

 

[zapped]

This is the obligatory monthly thread brought to you by a new member who doesnt understand the importance of keeping current members safe from scams and con artists.

 

[J.R. Bob Dobbs]

don't know if this is even feaseable but why not add an option for a mod to call you on the phone?
sure it would be time consuming, but no mroe so than the 5 minutes they likely spend getting the info gathered and sorted anyways.

i mean the point is to verify your a real person correct? I cannot imagine they have any use for the information beyond that.

 

[Mac]

Thanks for the laugh man. I needed it.