Digital Rev!

[martti]

DigitalREv is living in a very competetive business environment and they have been around for a while.
My last purchase from them dates from 2008.
If a very visible company like theirs starts getting bad feedback, it wil cost them thousands of dollars daily.
Given the chance, they will do everything in their power to get the customer the product he will be happy with ASAP.
They cannot afford 95% satisfaction rate, it has to be 99%. The one per cent being French who did not understand the operating instructions. And, of course, if you do 10 000 transactions a month, statistics are against you how ever hard you might try. Many clients who have absolutely nothing happening in their lives, live fully the experience beuíng bullied by the International Capitalism.
Hogwash.
Those HK guys who have a 10-year track record are good.
That's the point where we should start. If there is a problem, they are more than willing to fix it at their own cost rather than let it go public.

That's their way of doing business. I have some experience.
Stay clear of the French sellers, however. They steal.
Also, it is a good idea to check that the seller's name corresponds to the billing eMail.
PayPal is your friend when you are buying but a bitchy SOB when you are the seller whose product has not arrived.

I think the Market has taught them to be bitchy...attack the guy whose money you have access to, not somebody in Azerbhaidzan Tribal Areas...

 

[MadHungarian]

Of course if you choose to buy gray-market stuff from overseas, I guess by necessity you're taking some chances and dealing with some non-top-flight vendors perhaps. So I suppose you just have to pick the best of the perhaps less than ideal sources.

Sorry though, forgot to mention that I resurrected an old thread here. Whatever may have happened with Kai was two years ago. Old history now.

 

[East Wind Photography]

Ordered my M3 from them. It arrived here in the U.S. in 4 days. Very happy with the service and the camera. I too would be put out if I got a used camera but I did not and only have great things to say about them.

 

[Admin US West]

Well i just had a less-than-ideal experience myself with my first order to digitalrev...

I decided that for some reason i needed an M3 and a couple lenses. Don't ask why -- there's not really any sane reason for it. And unfortunately, digitalrev seems to be the only real game in town for this sort of stuff for USA customers, as far as i can tell.

So i try to place an order, and my creditcard company immediately goes into a fraud-alert frenzy, rejects the transaction, and also places a fraud lock on my card. Okay, so i eventually get that taken care of with my bank. And I do eventually manage to place an order for a couple white-box EF-M lenses. So they show up okay. One of them was new, and the other one was relatively new but had clearly been mounted on a camera before and the front element had to be cleaned a little. Well, i guess that's the risks you take with random white-box stuff.

So then a few days later i place a second order (for the M3 itself). But the next day digitalrev cancels my order because they say they can't verify that my shipping address is legit or something. But they'd already delivered the first order, and also isn't it just a simple google query these days to see that person X lives at that address, if you have any concerns?

So now digitalrev insists that i send supporting documentation proving that i really live at that address. Like a copy of driver's license or something. Well it'll be a cold day in %#%!@ before i send that sort of thing to some random chinese company!

Anyone else had issues ordering from those folks? Or any suggestions?

You are looking at a issue which online sellers and bloggers must deal with.

There is a reason as to why you were flagged.

You are behind a proxy and that raises a red flag. That's exactly what online spammers and scammers do.


In your case, its your employer who is not sending information out with your IP address which identifies the origin of your order. Its common for companies and government agencies to do this, but its a big issue for online sellers.

Amazon and some of the large online retailers can afford smarter systems that know the IP addresses of cities, companies, and government agencies.

If you tried to order from within the same IP that you use to post here, its going to cause a issue with a small overseas company that receives fraud attacks by the dozen every day.

We often block new signups who hide behind a proxy, because 99% are spammers.

Send them what they requested, or don't hide behind a anonymous IP.

 

[East Wind Photography]

Well i just had a less-than-ideal experience myself with my first order to digitalrev...

I decided that for some reason i needed an M3 and a couple lenses. Don't ask why -- there's not really any sane reason for it. And unfortunately, digitalrev seems to be the only real game in town for this sort of stuff for USA customers, as far as i can tell.

So i try to place an order, and my creditcard company immediately goes into a fraud-alert frenzy, rejects the transaction, and also places a fraud lock on my card. Okay, so i eventually get that taken care of with my bank. And I do eventually manage to place an order for a couple white-box EF-M lenses. So they show up okay. One of them was new, and the other one was relatively new but had clearly been mounted on a camera before and the front element had to be cleaned a little. Well, i guess that's the risks you take with random white-box stuff.

So then a few days later i place a second order (for the M3 itself). But the next day digitalrev cancels my order because they say they can't verify that my shipping address is legit or something. But they'd already delivered the first order, and also isn't it just a simple google query these days to see that person X lives at that address, if you have any concerns?

So now digitalrev insists that i send supporting documentation proving that i really live at that address. Like a copy of driver's license or something. Well it'll be a cold day in %#%!@ before i send that sort of thing to some random chinese company!

Anyone else had issues ordering from those folks? Or any suggestions?

It's also common practice for companies to only ship to the same address on record with your cc company. This helps prevent people from using stolen credit cards to purchase items online. If your shipping address is different you can call your cc company and let them know you are having an online order shipped somewhere else to pre-approve the order.

Not sure if this was the case for you or not but could be one reason for an order issue.

Just because they did it once doesn't mean someone didn't make a mistake at the store and released the order without verifying.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

It's also common practice for companies to only ship to the same address on record with your cc company. This helps prevent people from using stolen credit cards to purchase items online. If your shipping address is different you can call your cc company and let them know you are having an online order shipped somewhere else to pre-approve the order.

Not sure if this was the case for you or not but could be one reason for an order issue.

Just because they did it once doesn't mean someone didn't make a mistake at the store and released the order without verifying.

Store owners do not actually process credit cards by hand, its a bit more complex. When you enter your card info, it is entered into as gateway, which usually is a company specializing in taking credit cards and screening them for errors, fraud, etc. There are settings in the gateway for basic checks, address match can be full address, postal code, verification code, etc. They also look at the IP to determine if the country matches that of the CC, and, of course, the cc number is a different number of digits for the USA.

Depending on the risk level for the type of business (Cameras and Lenses is a high risk target), the merchant can set restrictions tighter or looser. If a card fails one test, its going to be rejected. If it fails multiple tests, its going to trigger a fraud alert. When I buy a $3,000 lens or camera from my local merchant, my phone rings 1 minute later with Amex asking if I purchased the item. That's because Amex looks to see if you have done business with that merchant recently. Since I only purchase a big ticket item from him every 2-3 years, the phone usually rings.

I buy from Adorama and B&H frequently enough that I usually don't get those calls about purchases there.

I ran a online store and dealt with gateways, card processors, etc. There are multiple levels of checks, and still fraudsters occasionally get thru.

The OP should be happy that the store takes security responsibly and is protecting his credit card from a possible unauthorized purchase.

 

[East Wind Photography]

It's also common practice for companies to only ship to the same address on record with your cc company. This helps prevent people from using stolen credit cards to purchase items online. If your shipping address is different you can call your cc company and let them know you are having an online order shipped somewhere else to pre-approve the order.

Not sure if this was the case for you or not but could be one reason for an order issue.

Just because they did it once doesn't mean someone didn't make a mistake at the store and released the order without verifying.

Store owners do not actually process credit cards by hand, its a bit more complex. When you enter your card info, it is entered into as gateway, which usually is a company specializing in taking credit cards and screening them for errors, fraud, etc. There are settings in the gateway for basic checks, address match can be full address, postal code, verification code, etc. They also look at the IP to determine if the country matches that of the CC, and, of course, the cc number is a different number of digits for the USA.

Depending on the risk level for the type of business (Cameras and Lenses is a high risk target), the merchant can set restrictions tighter or looser. If a card fails one test, its going to be rejected. If it fails multiple tests, its going to trigger a fraud alert. When I buy a $3,000 lens or camera from my local merchant, my phone rings 1 minute later with Amex asking if I purchased the item. That's because Amex looks to see if you have done business with that merchant recently. Since I only purchase a big ticket item from him every 2-3 years, the phone usually rings.

I buy from Adorama and B&H frequently enough that I usually don't get those calls about purchases there.

I ran a online store and dealt with gateways, card processors, etc. There are multiple levels of checks, and still fraudsters occasionally get thru.

The OP should be happy that the store takes security responsibly and is protecting his credit card from a possible unauthorized purchase.

It depends upon the store. Pure online stores can deal with processing a bit differently than a brick and mortar store that has to deal with inventory levels and a separate point of sale system to integrate. We are also dealing with a Chinese company here so what we do here in the states and what they do may be completely different.

One thing is for sure if the shipping and billing addresses are different, that raises a big red flag...no pun intended there. Once you get burned, you question ALL of the red flags.

Also people don't realize while you as a consumer are offered great protection against fraudulent purchases, the merchant does not. He therefor needs to get it right.

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi Mt Spokane.
Well said.
This is done to protect your credit rating, (and the credit company) it may seem inconvenient, but not as inconvenient as having to cancel your card (or having it cancelled automatically) because of fraudulent activity. It would have been nice if the seller had informed you when they cancelled your order that they had and why, but then it might not have been you they contacted anyway! ;D
Just do what we all have to do from time to time, jump through the hoops they have set up for you and move on!

Cheers, Graham.

It's also common practice for companies to only ship to the same address on record with your cc company. This helps prevent people from using stolen credit cards to purchase items online. If your shipping address is different you can call your cc company and let them know you are having an online order shipped somewhere else to pre-approve the order.

Not sure if this was the case for you or not but could be one reason for an order issue.

Just because they did it once doesn't mean someone didn't make a mistake at the store and released the order without verifying.

Store owners do not actually process credit cards by hand, its a bit more complex. When you enter your card info, it is entered into as gateway, which usually is a company specializing in taking credit cards and screening them for errors, fraud, etc. There are settings in the gateway for basic checks, address match can be full address, postal code, verification code, etc. They also look at the IP to determine if the country matches that of the CC, and, of course, the cc number is a different number of digits for the USA.

Depending on the risk level for the type of business (Cameras and Lenses is a high risk target), the merchant can set restrictions tighter or looser. If a card fails one test, its going to be rejected. If it fails multiple tests, its going to trigger a fraud alert. When I buy a $3,000 lens or camera from my local merchant, my phone rings 1 minute later with Amex asking if I purchased the item. That's because Amex looks to see if you have done business with that merchant recently. Since I only purchase a big ticket item from him every 2-3 years, the phone usually rings.

I buy from Adorama and B&H frequently enough that I usually don't get those calls about purchases there.

I ran a online store and dealt with gateways, card processors, etc. There are multiple levels of checks, and still fraudsters occasionally get thru.

The OP should be happy that the store takes security responsibly and is protecting his credit card from a possible unauthorized purchase.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

We are also dealing with a Chinese company here so what we do here in the states and what they do may be completely different.

The credit card companies call the shots, they publish a extensive set of requirements that sellers must follow. They have issues a common set of rules that apply Globally, no matter what country you are in. If you want to accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AMEX, you must abide by them, and the rules require a independent verification that you are following the rules.

That's one of the reasons that I finally stopped taking credit cards last July. It had become expensive for a small business. There are indeed different procedures for Brick and Mortar, but everyone is connected to the internet now, and card data is transmitted over the internet, so the computer security is very tight (Some still don't get it).


The PCI Data Security Standard
PCI DSS is the global data security standard adopted by the payment card brands for all entities that
process, store or transmit cardholder data and/or sensitive authentication data. It consists of steps that
mirror security best practices.

https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/documents/PCISSC%20QRG%20August%202014%20-print.pdf

 

[East Wind Photography]

We are also dealing with a Chinese company here so what we do here in the states and what they do may be completely different.

The credit card companies call the shots, they publish a extensive set of requirements that sellers must follow. They have issues a common set of rules that apply Globally, no matter what country you are in. If you want to accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AMEX, you must abide by them, and the rules require a independent verification that you are following the rules.

That's one of the reasons that I finally stopped taking credit cards last July. It had become expensive for a small business. There are indeed different procedures for Brick and Mortar, but everyone is connected to the internet now, and card data is transmitted over the internet, so the computer security is very tight (Some still don't get it).


The PCI Data Security Standard
PCI DSS is the global data security standard adopted by the payment card brands for all entities that
process, store or transmit cardholder data and/or sensitive authentication data. It consists of steps that
mirror security best practices.

https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/documents/PCISSC%20QRG%20August%202014%20-print.pdf

Yes but there are some that still get around that practice...for example..I go into a restaurant to buy food, I never have anyone ask me for my billing address. When I order online some but not everyone ask for the CID...which I thought was a requirement.

Anyway, I think we can say for the fees charged, the system still is not perfect.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

We are also dealing with a Chinese company here so what we do here in the states and what they do may be completely different.

The credit card companies call the shots, they publish a extensive set of requirements that sellers must follow. They have issues a common set of rules that apply Globally, no matter what country you are in. If you want to accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AMEX, you must abide by them, and the rules require a independent verification that you are following the rules.

That's one of the reasons that I finally stopped taking credit cards last July. It had become expensive for a small business. There are indeed different procedures for Brick and Mortar, but everyone is connected to the internet now, and card data is transmitted over the internet, so the computer security is very tight (Some still don't get it).


The PCI Data Security Standard
PCI DSS is the global data security standard adopted by the payment card brands for all entities that
process, store or transmit cardholder data and/or sensitive authentication data. It consists of steps that
mirror security best practices.

https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/documents/PCISSC%20QRG%20August%202014%20-print.pdf

Yes but there are some that still get around that practice...for example..I go into a restaurant to buy food, I never have anyone ask me for my billing address. When I order online some but not everyone ask for the CID...which I thought was a requirement.

Anyway, I think we can say for the fees charged, the system still is not perfect.

The billing address is optional, and a cid check is also optional. Its up to the business. PCI deals more with security of data and protecting credit card numbers. In cases where a customer I have dealt with for years places a order with just his card number, I don't bother him for the CID, I just turn the check off for him. Another thing about the address check, is that its just for the zip code. I don't know why, but that's all the card companies provide to the gateway companies for a address check. They all act as though its a check of the address, but its not. Scammers know this. I can set it to the basic 5 digit code or the zip plus 4 (US customers). When accepting International credit cards, many banks still do not have all the data online, or its unreliable, so its common to ask for a scan of some ID.

If a business is not worried about a customer, they are allowed to take the risk, but are fined for a excessive number of chargebacks. Those engaging in professional fraud are usually looking for something in high demand, cameras, lenses, video games, smart phones, anything they can resell quickly and easily.

 

[TeT]

oops... but that is probably all it is oops and not malicious intent on a grand scale...

 

[East Wind Photography]

We are also dealing with a Chinese company here so what we do here in the states and what they do may be completely different.

The credit card companies call the shots, they publish a extensive set of requirements that sellers must follow. They have issues a common set of rules that apply Globally, no matter what country you are in. If you want to accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AMEX, you must abide by them, and the rules require a independent verification that you are following the rules.

That's one of the reasons that I finally stopped taking credit cards last July. It had become expensive for a small business. There are indeed different procedures for Brick and Mortar, but everyone is connected to the internet now, and card data is transmitted over the internet, so the computer security is very tight (Some still don't get it).


The PCI Data Security Standard
PCI DSS is the global data security standard adopted by the payment card brands for all entities that
process, store or transmit cardholder data and/or sensitive authentication data. It consists of steps that
mirror security best practices.

https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/documents/PCISSC%20QRG%20August%202014%20-print.pdf

Yes but there are some that still get around that practice...for example..I go into a restaurant to buy food, I never have anyone ask me for my billing address. When I order online some but not everyone ask for the CID...which I thought was a requirement.

Anyway, I think we can say for the fees charged, the system still is not perfect.

The billing address is optional, and a cid check is also optional. Its up to the business. PCI deals more with security of data and protecting credit card numbers. In cases where a customer I have dealt with for years places a order with just his card number, I don't bother him for the CID, I just turn the check off for him. Another thing about the address check, is that its just for the zip code. I don't know why, but that's all the card companies provide to the gateway companies for a address check. They all act as though its a check of the address, but its not. Scammers know this. I can set it to the basic 5 digit code or the zip plus 4 (US customers). When accepting International credit cards, many banks still do not have all the data online, or its unreliable, so its common to ask for a scan of some ID.

If a business is not worried about a customer, they are allowed to take the risk, but are fined for a excessive number of chargebacks. Those engaging in professional fraud are usually looking for something in high demand, cameras, lenses, video games, smart phones, anything they can resell quickly and easily.

When I've had to deal with big charges, I've actually called the card issuer and asked to validate the address I was given in the order. If it didn't match then I cancelled the order or had the customer call his card company to register his shipping address. It was huge manual PITA but it helped root out fraud. Any of these automated verifications are also suspect. Once a hacker gets into a merchant he pretty much has access to all of the resources needed.

While the manual person to person address verification was a BIG pain, it was the best way at the time. I now outsource all of that so the liability is not on me as a merchant.