Ken Cranes
Jason Ingram
any of my corrspondence (no names) for no apparent reason, I have taken the
decision to but direct from the states. Therefore does anybody have an
experience, good or bad, buying LD's from Ken Cranes.
Simon Arnold
Funnily enough, I had the same experience with my usual LD supplier (no
names), so tried importing from Ken Cranes (FWIW the titles I was intending
on ordering would have had no trouble getting past UK Customs).
However Ken Cranes weren't prepared to accept my custom since I wasn't
prepared to snailmail them my last months credit card bill (they did say
that I could fax it, but I don't have access to a fax machine for personal
use). Why do they need such info? They weren't prepared to accept my
perfectly valid Sainsbury's VISA card, on the grounds that my credit card
company wouldn't divulge my billing address (quite right too!).
I'd be interested to know if any UK based customers have similarly been
rejected by Ken Cranes, or if you have managed to deal with them, just how
you managed to achieve it. My experience of Ken Cranes is that they are
very rigid and dead arrogant, and I'd advise any uk.m.h-c members to be wary
of them.
Simon
Richard Wood
>
> However Ken Cranes weren't prepared to accept my custom since I wasn't
> prepared to snailmail them my last months credit card bill (they did say
> that I could fax it, but I don't have access to a fax machine for personal
> use). Why do they need such info? They weren't prepared to accept my
> perfectly valid Sainsbury's VISA card, on the grounds that my credit card
> company wouldn't divulge my billing address (quite right too!).
Think about it a bit.
If someone steals your credit cards, they are unlikely to know where you
live (billing address).
KC can check this with the CC company, but the CC company will not
give out your address, only verify a given address.
So for a phone order, only you (or someone who knows your home address)
can use your CC.
Or are you saying that KC wouldn't accept you home address over the phone?
--
Cheers,
Richard Wood
From: address anti spammed, please use:- rich...@cdex.ericsson.se
Home Cinema questions? See my Home Cinema FAQ : http://www.therock.force9.co.uk
Andy C
>
> However Ken Cranes weren't prepared to accept my custom since I wasn't
> prepared to snailmail them my last months credit card bill (they did say
> that I could fax it, but I don't have access to a fax machine for personal
> use). Why do they need such info? They weren't prepared to accept my
> perfectly valid Sainsbury's VISA card, on the grounds that my credit card
> company wouldn't divulge my billing address (quite right too!).
Actually, any company that does accept a credit card order without your
home address is acting in a dodgy way. If someone steals your credit
card
and starts ordering things you will be most pissed that the company
that took the orders didn't have some sort of security check.
Andy C
http://www.r2-dvd.org The region 2 Database project
Simon Arnold
--
Andy C wrote in message <365E99D6...@mic.dundee.ac.uk>...
>Actually, any company that does accept a credit card order without your
>home address is acting in a dodgy way. If someone steals your credit
>card
>and starts ordering things you will be most pissed that the company
>that took the orders didn't have some sort of security check.
I did give them my billing address (the same as the delivery address). This
wasn't good enough for them! They wanted my past financial records as well
(which they shouldn't have any need for whatsoever) , which is why I am so
suspicious of them.
Simon
Simon Arnold
>Or are you saying that KC wouldn't accept you home address over the phone?
Yes, but actually it was by secure email, rather than over the phone.
I gave KC my billing address (which was the same as the delivery address),
along with all the usual credit card details that one provides when
purchasing mail order. They told me that this wasn't good enough, and they
wanted me to either snailmail my last credit card bill to the USA before
they would do any business with me, or fax my bill to them (I don't have
access to a fax machine for personal use, OK so I could pay an extortionate
sum to use the one in the local newsagents, but there are plenty of other LD
dealers on the web who are happy to accept my custom with a lot less
hassle.) I politely told them to fuck off.
This raises the question of exactly *what* KC want with my credit card bill
(Its surely none of their business, and wouldn't give them any more
information about me than what they already have). Furthermore, I have
contacted my credit card company, who have told me *not* to send my bill
(and they couldn't think of any non-fraudulent reason as to why KC would
want it either).
Having used to have worked in a shop, IIRC all one has to do is telephone
the VISA clearing house with the customers details, and get an authorisation
code. That was a few years ago. Have things changed since then? Is it no
longer enough to provide credit card details along with the billing address
when buying stuff mail order? Maybe I'm wrong, but if I'm right, then KC
are up to some very dodgy (possibly fraudulent) business. I'd advise
uk.m.h-c members to give Ken Cranes a miss.
Can anyone recommend a cheap, web-based US supplier that provides a
no-hassle service?
Simon
Steven Roberts
<SPAMBLOCK...@reading.ac.uk> wrote:
>This raises the question of exactly *what* KC want with my credit card bill
>(Its surely none of their business, and wouldn't give them any more
>information about me than what they already have). Furthermore, I have
>contacted my credit card company, who have told me *not* to send my bill
>(and they couldn't think of any non-fraudulent reason as to why KC would
>want it either).
I can see your point about not wanting to send your bill, doubt I
would either. But can you see that doing this would provide evidence
that the address you have given is actually the billing address? I
remember once upon a time when mail order goods would only be shipped
to the card holder's address. Although I now regularly have goods
shipped to my work address without any problems.
--
Steven
Brian McIlwrath
: Simon Arnold wrote:
: > use). Why do they need such info? They weren't prepared to accept my
: > perfectly valid Sainsbury's VISA card, on the grounds that my credit card
: > company wouldn't divulge my billing address (quite right too!).
: Actually, any company that does accept a credit card order without your
: home address is acting in a dodgy way.
But I thought it was supposed to work that YOU gave company you want to deal
with a card number and an address - or separate billing and delivery addresses.
They phone for an authorisation code saying "card nnnn, amount zzzz,
delivery address is this, billing address that" - the CC company either
says "Yes - code is abcd" or "No"
Andy C
>
> Andy C (aco...@mic.dundee.ac.uk) wrote:
> : Actually, any company that does accept a credit card order without your
> : home address is acting in a dodgy way.
>
> But I thought it was supposed to work that YOU gave company you want to deal
> with a card number and an address - or separate billing and delivery addresses.
> They phone for an authorisation code saying "card nnnn, amount zzzz,
> delivery address is this, billing address that" - the CC company either
> says "Yes - code is abcd" or "No"
Yes that is how it is meant to work. I misunderstood before, no company
should need to see your credit card statement. I would have been
tempted to fax
through the statement with the financial information blanked out.
But then I don't use Ken Cranes either, I use Digital Eyes
(www.digitaleyes.net)
Andy C
www.r2-dvd.org The region 2 database project (news, and rumors)
Simon Capstick
around the problem by using my American Express (MBNA) card which they
accepted.
Simon C.
>However Ken Cranes weren't prepared to accept my custom since I wasn't
>prepared to snailmail them my last months credit card bill (they did say
>that I could fax it, but I don't have access to a fax machine for personal
>use). Why do they need such info? They weren't prepared to accept my
>perfectly valid Sainsbury's VISA card, on the grounds that my credit card
>company wouldn't divulge my billing address (quite right too!).
>
Jason Ingram
KC have accepted my AMEX card without proof of address. I only faxed them my
delivery and card holder address on the fax order.
The funny thing now is that they have not told me when I will get the discs
(despite 3 emails), nor confirm exactly how much they are going to bill my
card for. I am becoming more wary by the minute.
Incidently, I received a mail from a guy who also had some dodgy experience
with KC's and he recommended C&L in canada, could'nt give them enough
praise, and they don't give you any hassle over credit cards. Ithink I will
try them next, their web page is www.cnl.com
Jason
----------
In article <365ed...@interalpha.net>, "Simon Capstick"
Symanski
back. As for DVDs, I think all companies only give you a one month warrenty.
J.
Gareth Young
Steven Roberts wrote in message <365eb468...@news.demon.co.uk>...
american law is stricter.
my regular video game supplier said they could only ship to another address
with the express permission of the credit card company-it's the law.
the shop owner was very surprised by the way it works over here-no wonder
credit card fraud is so widespread.
G.Young video sales.
Want to buy ex rental horror and martial arts films for only £5?
live in uk or europe?
email me for a list!
>http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sjrejr/dvd.htm
Pete Green
statements. I have nowbeen buying from KC for 5years and their service is
great. They will ship to any address for me in the UK or USA, once you have
an account number it's easy.
If you dont want to get your disc's at good prices then dont go along with
them. They turned over $17M last year, so they are fairly big and trust
worthy, I wont use anyone else.
Pete
Symanski <9a...@dial.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:365F2CCE...@dial.pipex.com...
Simon Arnold
Gareth Young wrote:
> Steven Roberts wrote in message <365eb468...@news.demon.co.uk>...
> >I can see your point about not wanting to send your bill, doubt I
> >would either. But can you see that doing this would provide evidence
> >that the address you have given is actually the billing address? I
> >remember once upon a time when mail order goods would only be shipped
> >to the card holder's address. Although I now regularly have goods
> >shipped to my work address without any problems.
> >
> american law is stricter.
> my regular video game supplier said they could only ship to another address
> with the express permission of the credit card company-it's the law.
> the shop owner was very surprised by the way it works over here-no wonder
> credit card fraud is so widespread.
In my case the billing address was the same as the delivery address, so this
difficulty shouldn't have arisen.
Further, this morning, I just had an email back from Ken Cranes confirming that
they will not trade with me - and - the cheeky cunts - insinuating that *I* am
in some way involved with involved with trying to defraud *them* (it looks more
the other way round to me).
Suffice to say I'll take my custom elsewhere ...
Simon
Petteri Jantti
>Jason Ingram wrote in message <365dc...@newsread1.dircon.co.uk>...
>>any of my corrspondence (no names) for no apparent reason, I have taken the
>>decision to but direct from the states. Therefore does anybody have an
>>experience, good or bad, buying LD's from Ken Cranes.
>
>names), so tried importing from Ken Cranes (FWIW the titles I was intending
>on ordering would have had no trouble getting past UK Customs).
>
>prepared to snailmail them my last months credit card bill (they did say
>that I could fax it, but I don't have access to a fax machine for personal
>use). Why do they need such info? They weren't prepared to accept my
>perfectly valid Sainsbury's VISA card, on the grounds that my credit card
>company wouldn't divulge my billing address (quite right too!).
>
>I'd be interested to know if any UK based customers have similarly been
>rejected by Ken Cranes, or if you have managed to deal with them, just how
>you managed to achieve it. My experience of Ken Cranes is that they are
>very rigid and dead arrogant, and I'd advise any uk.m.h-c members to be wary
>of them.
>
I was asked to fax them the _top_ of the credit card statement (they wanted
enough to see the card number and address on the bill) which I did. Since then
it has been a pleasure doing business with them. Orders arrive promptly and
I have had absolutely no problems with them. And their prices for LDs are
very decent.
-Petteri
Simon Arnold
Petteri Jantti wrote:
> II was asked to fax them the _top_ of the credit card statement (they wanted
> enough to see the card number and address on the bill) which I did. Since then
> it has been a pleasure doing business with them. Orders arrive promptly and
> I have had absolutely no problems with them. And their prices for LDs are
> very decent.
After surfing around a few sites, KC's prices do look highly competitive, but they
have an astoundingly bad attitude if ever you try and deal with them.
All I did was fill up my virtual shopping basket on their website, then fill out
the form to pay for it, as one is supposed to. Today they have confirmed to me by
email (and it took 2 additional emails from me to get them to clarify exactly what
they were doing) that they have cancelled my order, in a rather nasty email
insinuating that I may be in some way responsible for 'mail fraud' (which is total
bollocks), and that they have to protect 'the cardholder' (as if it wasn't my card
that I was trying to pay with).
This is a real shame, as to be fair to them, they look like a well established
company (I had even had them recomended to me) with a good website, and offer
very good prices. Maybe, as they are such a large company (as a previous poster
has highlighted) they can afford to let their staff treat the occasional customer
with unwarranted contempt and arrogance.
Simon
Paul Dundas
s.p.a...@reading.ac.uk "Simon Arnold" writes:
> > american law is stricter.
> > my regular video game supplier said they could only ship to another address
> > with the express permission of the credit card company-it's the law.
> > the shop owner was very surprised by the way it works over here-no wonder
> > credit card fraud is so widespread.
>
> In my case the billing address was the same as the delivery address, so this
> difficulty shouldn't have arisen.
I certainly wouldn't defend Ken Cranes attitude, but their policy regardless
of whether your shipping address is the same as billing is standard USA
mail order practice - many, many USA companies have similar policies and
I've had to fax credit card statements on numerous occassions.
>
> Further, this morning, I just had an email back from Ken Cranes confirming that
> they will not trade with me - and - the cheeky cunts - insinuating that *I* am
> in some way involved with involved with trying to defraud *them* (it looks more
> the other way round to me).
To be honest, particuarly if large figures are involved, I'd be a bit
suspicous of a USA company who _didn't_ insist on a CC bill copy, it's
just a fact of life when buying from the USA - like the fact that many
of their card readers work back to front compared to ours.
>
> Suffice to say I'll take my custom elsewhere ...
>
> Simon
>
>
--
Paul Dundas
Simon Arnold
>: > perfectly valid Sainsbury's VISA card, on the grounds that my credit
card
>: > company wouldn't divulge my billing address (quite right too!).
>
>: home address is acting in a dodgy way.
>
>But I thought it was supposed to work that YOU gave company you want to
deal
>with a card number and an address - or separate billing and delivery
addresses.
>They phone for an authorisation code saying "card nnnn, amount zzzz,
>delivery address is this, billing address that" - the CC company either
>says "Yes - code is abcd" or "No"
That's what I thought too (speaking as someone who used to work in a shop,
and regularly had to phone up the VISA/MASTERCARD clearing agent for
authorisation codes for larger orders, including mail order).
Furthermore, KC claim that my CC comany would not verify my address. Having
since contacted my CC company, this turns out to be KC telling porkies (my
distrust of them growing ever more intense), as a VISA company will verify a
billing address for purposes of mail order authentication. Part of the
problem might be that it appears that KC were just too plain lazy to do
this. This doesn't sound like the work of the well organised, professional
company that KC are made out to be, does it?
Simon
Jason Ingram
----------
Well since posting the original article on this debate, KC's were very
responsive to receiving and acknowledging my order without a CC bill header
(i used Amercian Express). Since then, 1 week ago, despite 5 e-mails, two
faxes and one phone call, I am still no wiser as to where my discs are or
how much they have billed to my card.
Their after sales service is diabolical to put it midly, and I will be
faxing them ASAP to cancel my outstanding orders.
They may be cheap, but I would rather pay a little more, and get peace of
mind from after sales service.
Jason Ingram
Simon Coward
>Due to my local UK laser disc supplier suddenly deciding not to acknowledge
>any of my corrspondence (no names) for no apparent reason, I have taken the
>decision to but direct from the states. Therefore does anybody have an
>experience, good or bad, buying LD's from Ken Cranes.
I had a lot of argy-bargy trying to get my order accepted in the first place - because of the
problem with the credit card details. I faxed them a copy of the header of one of my statements
which they said the received but it was too dark to make out the details. They emailed me about
this and suggested I could scan the header in and send it to them that way (exactly what I'd done
for the fax, as I used the PC to fax them). I sent them this but they didn't appear to get the
attachment as they asked for another fax copy. I re-faxed and re-emailed and this time it was OK.
Having accepted the order - the discs arrived in under a week. A subsequent order went through
without any problems at all. The only major problem is that for international orders they use DHL
who are damned expensive - it adds quite a chunk to the cost. This isn't so much of a problem if
you're ordering a large quantity, but does make ordering one or two at a time quite expensive.
Regards,
Simon
Simon.
--
-- http://www.invisible.demon.co.uk/ace/ace.htm - The Ace Of Wands WWWeb Site
--