Online shops requesting ID

callum9999

artbaron wrote: »

Cancel immediately (IMO). That's absurd. I really don't like this concept spreading through the UK and Europe that the customer is a criminal until they can prove otherwise.

I take it you're against PINs, security codes, passwords etc? The retailer should just believe you instead of accusing you of being a criminal...

JuicyJesus

billbennett wrote: »

Coolshop.co.uk's prices aren't that great.

4GB Xbox with Kinect - £219 from them, or £209 from Amazon.

I really don't know why people seem obsessed with buying expensive goods from fly-by-nights they've never heard of before, and then wonder why they get scammed or stuff like this happens. As opposed to, say, using Amazon or other trustworthy websites.

Shades of that Gary Cooper character, anyone?

ChemicalGeek

It depends which bundle you want - they have the 250GB Xbox with Forza/Skyrin for £159 vs £195 at Amazon. I did check them out on some review sites first to check they weren't dodgy, though no mention on any of these that they would ask for this type of information. And I'm trying to have an Amazon free Christmas in favour of companies that (hopefully) pay their taxes. :xmassmile

Gromitt

JuicyJesus wrote: »

As opposed to, say, using Amazon or other trustworthy websites.

Even though a lot of stuff on Amazon isn't actually sold by Amazon, but another company thats just using Amazon as the front-end? So really, they could scam you just the same. Then of course there's the Amazon tax avoidance scam, so you never know what will happen.

But other trustworthy websites, I agree.

JuicyJesus

ChemicalGeek wrote: »

It depends which bundle you want - they have the 250GB Xbox with Forza/Skyrin for £159 vs £195 at Amazon. I did check them out on some review sites first to check they weren't dodgy, though no mention on any of these that they would ask for this type of information. And I'm trying to have an Amazon free Christmas in favour of companies that (hopefully) pay their taxes. :xmassmile

Fair dos on wishing to avoid Amazon, but places that are too good to be true often are. Amazon are currently selling the 250GB Xbox on its own at £170-odd, with high street prices at around £190. You have to wonder how or where a retailer nobody's ever heard of manages to not only undercut Amazon, a company who are well known for undercutting RRPs quite harshly (tax avoidance or no), but also give you extra stuff as well.

£159 is a very good deal, and I'm not saying these guys are scam artists but it's a very bad deal indeed if you don't then receive the goods.

As for asking for ID, I can see the reasoning; fraudsters often buy expensive consumer goods with other peoples' cards which they can then resell for untraceable cash. When they do this, it isn't the person who's card was stolen who loses out or the fraudster, it's the retailer who gets stiffed (not just once, but twice - they lose the money and the goods, with no recourse to anyone) - hence them (and other shops) being extra careful with sudden orders from new customers for very expensive goods with a high resale value.

callum9999

JuicyJesus wrote: »

Fair dos on wishing to avoid Amazon, but places that are too good to be true often are. Amazon are currently selling the 250GB Xbox on its own at £170-odd, with high street prices at around £190. You have to wonder how or where a retailer nobody's ever heard of manages to not only undercut Amazon, a company who are well known for undercutting RRPs quite harshly (tax avoidance or no), but also give you extra stuff as well.

£159 is a very good deal, and I'm not saying these guys are scam artists but it's a very bad deal indeed if you don't then receive the goods.

As for asking for ID, I can see the reasoning; fraudsters often buy expensive consumer goods with other peoples' cards which they can then resell for untraceable cash. When they do this, it isn't the person who's card was stolen who loses out or the fraudster, it's the retailer who gets stiffed (not just once, but twice - they lose the money and the goods, with no recourse to anyone) - hence them (and other shops) being extra careful with sudden orders from new customers for very expensive goods with a high resale value.

It's a major Danish company that operates in 5 countries and, according to them at least, have served over 650,000 customers. Hardly a "fly by night" company...

System

op does it have games with it maybe they are trying to confirm your age before sending say a game rated 18 .

ChiefGrasscutter

Gromitt wrote: »

Even though a lot of stuff on Amazon isn't actually sold by Amazon, but another company thats just using Amazon as the front-end? So really, they could scam you just the same. Then of course there's the Amazon tax avoidance scam, so you never know what will happen.

But other trustworthy websites, I agree.

Those third party retailers/partners operating through amazon's web site never see your credit card details at any stage.
All the transaction handling is done by amazon.

RetiredInThailand

Asking for ID is fairly common with a first order from online shops located outside the UK, even for relatively small purchases. It's happened to me several times. The scan of ID you provide doesn't actually prove anything of course as it could easily be forged, but I suppose it makes the shop think you are a little less likely to be using someone else's card.

Voyager2002

Gromitt wrote: »

Even though a lot of stuff on Amazon isn't actually sold by Amazon, but another company thats just using Amazon as the front-end? So really, they could scam you just the same. Then of course there's the Amazon tax avoidance scam, so you never know what will happen.

Sellers on Amazon Marketplace pay Amazon a hefty fee for each order. So anyone concerned about Amazon and tax would do well to find a seller there but then use Google to contact the seller directly. (Marketplace does not allow sellers to give links to their own websites.)