Attack on vaping vendors starts here?

[markus]

Anyone seen this on FT forums ?....wonder if it applies to us here in europe ?

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE REF PAYPAL
I have had 4 Claims in with paypal for items NOT RECEIVED all 4 were closed down today as "INTANGIBLE" .. I have rang Paypal & asked WHY this is ..Here is the response I received

As Paypal is owned by E Bay & Ebay class Electronic Cigarettes as "restricted items" you are NOT COVERED by the Paypal 45 day money back policy if the item is "lost" / NOT received / received broken or damaged.

well Hells Bells now here a thing isn't it !!!!! .... Waste of time opening a dispute with Paypal as YOU WON'T WIN IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......

All I can suggest to others who are about to or are currently pursuing claims is DO NOT TELL PAYPAL ITS AN "ELECTRONIC CIG" YOU HAVE PURCHASED .............. Tell em its a flash light .. tell em ANYTHING but DO NOT tell its a "E Cig" ..

Your claim will get Closed down as "intangible" & you get NOTHING .. NO second chance ..NO RE-COURSE to Appeal .. NOTHING................

BEWARE MEMBERS .... This is HUGE NEWS to all who buy E Cigs & associated equipment from Fast Tech

You are NOT covered by the Paypal 45 day "guarantee"......

If Fast Tech CHOOSE to inform Paypal that you HAVE purchased E Cigs & equipment .. YOUR SUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted]

That's always been the way with paypal and ecigs and anything else on their prohibited list. Buyer beware

[markus]

Oct 28, 2014 22:09:57 GMT @spikeyfridge said:

That's always been the way with paypal and ecigs and anything else on their prohibited list. Buyer beware

really?....I never knew that ...I wonder if FT would tell them its e-cigs though ?....on both parcels ive had from FT it just said electronic parts, so I guess you could argue that point?

[VapingBad]

Oct 28, 2014 22:12:49 GMT markus said:

Oct 28, 2014 22:09:57 GMT @spikeyfridge said:

That's always been the way with paypal and ecigs and anything else on their prohibited list. Buyer beware

really?....I never knew that ...I wonder if FT would tell them its e-cigs though ?....on both parcels ive had from FT it just said electronic parts, so I guess you could argue that point?

Don't use phrases like e-cig in your calim, FT often put electronics parts on the customs declaration I would do the same.

[sleedale]

So that would mean the same applies to purchases made using paypal with UK vendors?

Well, that's me decided then, I will stop using paypal, and use the debit card payments systems instead. And only buy from trusted vendors?

[Greg]

I think you'll be fine if you combine paypal with trusted UK vendors

[VapingBad]

Oct 28, 2014 22:26:41 GMT sleedale said:

So that would mean the same applies to purchases made using paypal with UK vendors?

Well, that's me decided then, I will stop using paypal, and use the debit card payments systems instead. And only buy from trusted vendors?

Technically yes, but you should be OK if you don't mention the e-cig word and I believe you are covered by your CC company if you pay PayPal from that for each purchase.

[dreamylittledream]

Paypal are not the only electronic wallet by any means.

Neteller and Skrill/moneybookers offer an equally good service (Skrill are also a UK regulated financial services company so as 'safe' as a bank and covered by the FSCS) and currently cater largely for the online gambling market (which Paypal also treats with pariah status - unless it suits them of course) so I doubt they would have any issues with handling payments for the e cig market.

Problem is that's fine for the hobbiest market but harder to get the public at large to use as a mass market payment provider

[sleedale]

I'd never heard of them dreamylittledream but it's good to know there are options for people. Even if they aren't widely known, they soon could be if paypal and others starts playing 'ethics' (or pressured by big companies tactics maybe?).

[VapingBad]

Not allowing e-cigs is not new by Pay Pal, taking away a vendors payment service is.

[flavourtank]

if your a computer boff would it be easier to create a safe secure payment system for the vaping shops?

[dreamylittledream]

Oct 28, 2014 22:41:28 GMT sleedale said:

I'd never heard of them dreamylittledream but it's good to know there are options for people. Even if they aren't widely known, they soon could be if paypal and others starts playing 'ethics' (or pressured by big companies tactics maybe?).

They are both fairly niche but carved out a place in the market by allowing payments to gambling companies in the early days of online gambling when Visa/Mastercard were refusing to service them.

I've had accounts with both for years - they work just like Paypal in that you can have a balance in the account funded from your bank account or use a card - if you pay by card directly using them the vendor can pay their fees (just like they do by handling card payments) so no cost to the end user.

The main barrier is that you have to have an account with them to use their services - they don't offer a guest checkout service like Paypal do - but if things start getting rough then they'll be a good option for vendors I suspect.

[VapingBad]

Oct 28, 2014 22:47:19 GMT flavourtank said:

if your a computer boff would it be easier to create a safe secure payment system for the vaping shops?

It would have to plug into an existing financial system and who would trust it?

[flavourtank]

VapingBad ahh yeah point taken.

[chykensa]

I suppose we must remember that, although copyrights are either not taken out (or if they are, actually enforced), we are in effect talking about us buying counterfeit goods. I have a clone Caravela in my hand right now, total price from FT in the region of £15. The real deal is nearer £70, I believe.
Apart from Paypal/eBay refusing to support or condone vaping-related products (have you done a search of eBay for vaping kit recently!!!?), there is always the issue of allowing vendors to sell goods that are really illegal.
The bit that really worries me is the fact that Paypal have been leaned on by the government to come down hard on e-cig vendors. That smacks of something potentially serious and worrying, if you ask me.