Avoiding Amazon.Com

[Texas Star]

It's been awhile since I ordered anything from Amazon.com, and the guy who answered their phone (in the Phillipines, not in Seattle!) told me that they now only accept credit card orders.

I want the DVD I have in mind, but DO NOT want to use a credit card. In the past, they took checks and money orders.

Is there some other RELIABLE Online service that competes with them who will still take checks and money orders? Preferably one that you've dealt with several times?

Thanks,

T-Star

 

[bmhiii]

One way around this is to order from Walmart.com and pay with a previously purchased Walmart gift card. You can obviuosly get those at a Wally store and pay with cash or check.

I have not done this but know it's available. I have used walmart.com before w/ good results (credit card purchase). Had a 45 lb. ladder shipped to a store for pickup at no shipping cost... also an option for your DVD.

Hope this helps...

Addition: Sales tax is charged.

 

[Waldo]

I opened a separate checking account. It is a free account. I don't even have checks for it. But it does have a debit card. I keep about $200.00 in this account. I only use it for ordering stuff off the internet and amazon. I love amazon. I see a reference to a book or movie or cd that looks interesting, I look on amazon and if I like the price I order it. Have been doing this for about four years. Lady at the bank suggested it. I have not had any trouble. If I do they only get $200.00 or less. And they have no access to any of my other credit cards.

 

[GatorFarmer]

You can order from, and have shipped to, your local Borders or Barnes and Noble store.

 

[84CJ]

I do the same thing as waldo. No checks and I put enough money in to cover my purchase. No overdraft or anything.

 

[Texas Star]

So, Amazon accepts the number of your debit card, deducts the price, and ships your purchase?

I guess that your bank informs you of the transaction, in case anything goes awry? You'd want proof that you'd paid...

When I paid in the past with money orders, I always had to hassle them before they'd finally ship. They were lazy about accepting the payment.


By the way, I tried that Wal-Mart option mentioned above. They don't have the DVD that I want, and no Wal-Mart is really near me, anyway.

T-Star

 

[Texas Star]

I just called Amazon again, and the Filipina (?) chick on the line said that they do accept debit cards. They didn't mention that option earlier today.

Guess I'll talk with my banker next week about a debit card account.

Thanks, guys.

T-Star

 

[USAF385]

Most of my purchases are done with debit card. I have a separate account with a different bank (my main checking and savings is with a different bank then my "spending" account) that I only keep a few hundred bucks in and pay for everything with it.

 

[GatorFarmer]

What DVD are you looking for? Sometimes various Walmarts have different ones in their mammoth bargain bins. I have to go poke around to get a throw rug this week and can root around for you if you want.

Best Buy stores also stock surprisingly large DVD libraries at the large locations.

 

[Texas Star]

What DVD are you looking for? Sometimes various Walmarts have different ones in their mammoth bargain bins. I have to go poke around to get a throw rug this week and can root around for you if you want.

Best Buy stores also stock surprisingly large DVD libraries at the large locations.

Season Three of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. I've never seen it except Online. Here's a clip from the episode, "Finn." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdoJnXnoiVU&feature=related Episode, "Suspicion." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjdBffYqQjw&feature=related

I have all three seasons, but two of the Season Three DVD's don't work. They messed up after I'd had the set for awhile, so I probably can't get Amazon to exchange them. I've had the set for over three years. I may also get a spare set of the Second Season. But Third Season, for sure. Some of the "bad" disks have episodes with Lara Cox playing Finn, and I have a crush on her character. (Pretend there's a winking Smilie here. I can't figure out how to use Smilies within a post on this new board.)


I'm a big fan of the show, the only "fandom" of which I've ever been a part. Lara is a terrific, very versatile actress. She is Australian, so is seldom seen here. Apart from The Lost World, she is best known here for a Lunesta sleeping pill commercial, in which she played a teacher helping her class to make music with improvised objects. Not sure if it's still running, but it has been on quite recently. She had a voice coach on TLW, and can fake a US accent quite well.

Also, I liked those episodes in general, as well as them having a lot of Finn in them.

I really appreciate your very kind offer, but let me see about that debit account. This is bound to be needed again, as I do occasionally order from Amazon.com

T-Star

 

[nisamo]

So, Amazon accepts the number of your debit card, deducts the price, and ships your purchase?

I guess that your bank informs you of the transaction, in case anything goes awry? You'd want proof that you'd paid...
>
Amazon gives you a confirmation # with the order and then sends an email detailing the order and repeats the confirmation #. Couldn't be easier. Get an amazon Visa and earn 3% on purchases from Amazon.

Why the aversion to credit cards? They are generally free and if you pay the balance monthly you incur no finance charge. You are protected against fraud and often get extended warranties. I use a Chase card with auto pay and a Discover card with auto email reminders. I pay the bill on line and it is hassle free.

 

[Texas Star]

So, Amazon accepts the number of your debit card, deducts the price, and ships your purchase?

I guess that your bank informs you of the transaction, in case anything goes awry? You'd want proof that you'd paid...
>
Amazon gives you a confirmation # with the order and then sends an email detailing the order and repeats the confirmation #. Couldn't be easier. Get an amazon Visa and earn 3% on purchases from Amazon.

Why the aversion to credit cards? They are generally free and if you pay the balance monthly you incur no finance charge. You are protected against fraud and often get extended warranties. I use a Chase card with auto pay and a Discover card with auto email reminders. I pay the bill on line and it is hassle free.

Well, some of us can't always pay the full balance monthly, and the interest charges are horrendous. I think consumer TV features have recently made it clear that the credit industry is crooked, and cheats the consumer every way that they can. Using a card for small purchases really mounts up, and some companies hold your payment until they can declare it late, and add more interest and late fees.

Moreover, I just prefer not to do anything financial Online. I doubt that all places taking credit purchases are as secure as they claim. I wouldn't be surprised if their own personnel are sometimes thieves, or sell information to those who are. That also happens at brick and mortar stores, of course. I prefer to avoid using credit whenever I can.

T-Star

 

[Onomea]

Re credit cards, I was reading an article that says the term within the credit card industry for those of us who pay our bills monthly, before interest is due, is "deadbeats" 'cause we get a free ride. And now that the Obama Admin is putting limits on the usurious interest rates they can charge those in arrears, they are coming after us, i.e., they intend to make us pay for what has been a free service so far.

That debit card sounds like a good idea. Just use it like a check book. Are there no charges at all other than whatever charges are normally associated with a checking account?

 

[Texas Star]

I talked with a brother who uses debit cards. He cautioned that he was once overcharged by a company that tried to get far more from his account than what he'd ordered cost. Had a hard time convincing the bank that his acct. wasn't overdrawn, just that an attempted theft had occurred.

I note that the debit carders here have those accounts in a separate bank from their "normal" accounts. I think I know why, but would they tell us?

In particular, do you fear that someone will overcharge the debit card, and the bank will pull funds from your other accounts to cover it? Or, that a crooked firm will get data on your other accounts, once they know your bank and your name? That concerns me.

And I think that there are a lot of dishonest people in the banking and credit industries. I once had a car dealer boast to me that if there was a problem in getting a car financed, he had a "tame" girl in the credit bureau who would temporarily alter my account info so the sale would clear. He was paying his girl and sending her on an occasional vacation. I'm amost sure that this was a crime and woukld get her fired, but some people just think they won't be caught.

 

[Texas Star]

I just read their payment options. You can use your checking accout, IF it is enabled for electronic transfers. BUT...they will then have your name and your checking acct. number. This just seems unwise.

What I'm really looking for is a service similar to Amazon.com that has what I want to buy, but which accepts money orders. I can get those at the grocer or post office, they should clear immediately, enabling an order to be shipped without waiting for a check to clear, and they don't have my bank info.


T-Star

 

[Texas Star]

Using paper checks actually puts you at MORE risk for identity theft:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/FinancialPrivacy/YourPaperCheckIsAThiefsBestFriend.aspx

Thanks. Interesting article, one that everyone should read.

 

[Davwingman]

A couple years ago I ordered an item through Amazon that was advertised with a mail in rebate. After jumping through all the hoops I still did not get a rebate. Amazon would not help. I have not & will not order anything else from Amazon. FWIW

 

[Texas Star]

A couple years ago I ordered an item through Amazon that was advertised with a mail in rebate. After jumping through all the hoops I still did not get a rebate. Amazon would not help. I have not & will not order anything else from Amazon. FWIW

I also have had some problems with them, and I do NOT like having to talk to people in the Phillipines! It was bad enough when I could talk to Americans in Seattle.

So, once again...does anyone here do business with a similar company that does better by the consumer? Stocks lots of DVD's?

T-Star

 

[nisamo]

I'm well satisfied with amazon and I've got enough financial restraint not to charge more than I can pay in full. The credit card protects me and I schedule the payment online, in advance, so there is no risk of late charges. I've been doing this for years with no problems. Far more risk in a debit card than a credit card.

Walmart was already suggested to you. Buy gift cards for cash/check and then redeem them online.

 

[Texas Star]

http://www.booksamillion.com/product/K014381182729?id=4463186458313

Here is Books-a-Million's listing for the product. The cost of the DVD is $35.99. Amazon wants just $19.49! But I have had problems with them, and don't want to deal with someone in the Phillipines.

I called Books-a-Million, got an AMERICAN service rep, and was told that they have one lady (a specialist customer service rep, I guess) who does still process orders by conventional check or (maybe) money order.

And, Books-a-Million has their 800 phone number listed prominently on their site. I had to call the operator for Amazon's. If it's on their site, I'd have had to waste precious time finding it.

I will check one other book service recommended by a friend. I ordered from them once, and was well satisfied. When I locate the name of the company, I'll post it if they have DVD's. (My pal is away for a week; he'll know the company when he returns, if I can't find it in the meantime.)

I hope this helps someone else here who may have similar interest in avoiding Amazon or other credit-debit only companies.

Nisamo, if you don't mind using a card, that's certainly one option. It just isn't what I want to do. But thank you for your input. And Wal-Mart is not an option; they don't have the title that I want.

T-Star