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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 181
Location: North Carolina | Tonight I started to order some Stringlife off of stringlife.com based upon the recommendation of our esteemed Paul Templeman. Several things scared me off, however. 1) I never got the Windows message that I was entering a secure site 2) there was no mention on their site that ordering was secure and 3) they asked for a security code off the back of my card and I never been asked this before when ordering online. Am I just paranoid or should I be a bit nervous here? Anyone have experience with online ordering from them before? Thanks for your help.
Franklin |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I buy mine over the phone from a supplier in the UK. I just checked the Stringlife site & the checkout does not appear to be SSL encoded. I really don't know enough about this to comment, maybe Miles does. The 3 digit thing is nothing to worry about, it's very common with online transactions to prevent fraud. If you have a stolen card number, but not the actual card, you won't have the 3-digit security number. Stringlife are a legit company so you are probably being a little paranoid. You'll be happy with the product, it works. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Franklin, take a look at your address window in your browser when you get to the ording part of the site --- the beginning should change from http:// to https:// ... the "s" at the end denotes that security is being enforced (essentially your data is being encrpyted before being sent) and you should have a pretty secure transaction; lurkers shouldn't be able to intercept your credit card information and use it for nefarious purposes. The 3 digit number request is actually an additional security precaution, and is an indication that the vendor takes the security issue somewhat seriously.
This does not mean, however, that the vendor is not unscrupulous ... you have to have confidence in the person/company you are buying from. PT thinks they're good so that would be good enough for me. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7236
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | The reality of online transactions is that you are more at risk of having your card stolen for fraud when you hand it to the server of your local burger joint. Actually it's more that you are at risk from the dumpster divers OUTSIDE that establishment who retrieve the carbons. Dumpster diving is basically not illegal. Maybe they can nail the person on trespassing but that is about it. Hacking a network for credit cards is a Federal Crime and frankly just not worth the risk.
The three digit code is of course to assist in preventing someone from using a stolen card number. If they don't actually have the card in hand, the number, experation date and all that is useless.
In any case, online credit card number theft is of minimal worries as such. Much easier to just steal someones mail, pick through trash, or whatever to get real statements that show real balances and have enough info to make real transactions.
Not saying online theft doesn't happen, but most online fraud is perpatrated by information obtained via other means. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | Here's another tip I learned a while back- always check the reciept when using CC's (offline) to see if the entire number is printed out or if it appears as XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX1234. If the entire number is there I scribble out the last half dozen numbers before I sign it. That way the dumpster divers or other lowlifes can't read it.
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | stringlife is distributed by DR strings.
I rarely have any requests for that stuff and have a bottle sitting on my desk that they sent me as a sample. I have to admit I never tried it.
I probably have to buy a case of it but if there was enough interest I would and get all interested parties the best price I can. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 181
Location: North Carolina | Thanks for the replies. Based on Paul's recommendation alone I'm sure that Stringlife is a legit company. My only concern was that some hacker might steal the info if there were no encryption. Sounds like I'll be OK. I'll order some today and let everyone know what I think.
Franklin |
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Online ordering
