Good morning and thanks for the kind words everybody and my apologies for past errors and issues for the rest. We really do try our best to do a good job for everybody but for lack of a better excuse at the end of the day we really are human.
The adding of an authorized shipping address to the notes field of your credit card for orders over a certain size is something that was developed with the online credit card processing companies and the banks in order to help retailers protect themselves and their customers from the fraudulent use of your credit information. The banks know that while that nifty security code on the back of your card is handy and secure, what if your wallet or card was lost or stolen? Then the thief also has your security code in their hand. By checking the billing address, an automated function for American and Canadian Credit cards, and having the card holder authorize the shipping address, the retailer and the bank can be reasonably assured that there is no fraud involved as only the card holder should have the information to phone thier card issuing bank and make changes.
Is this a hassle? Not usually. But sometimes. It generally takes less than 5 minutes to add an authorized shipping address, and usually less than that. Even though this program is developed in lieu of a better system by the banks, often times smaller banks don't clue in their employees and they have no idea what you are talking about. Other times it is the newest person in the company stuck on the phones learning customer service, so they have not been taught yet.
In the case of Captain Jim, I am the one who took the order. Being the person who has been doing this since the inception of the company and has been involved in many of our policies here over the years, I can assure you that when we spoke on the second occasion, after the paypal order, I did indeed ask for a Billing Address as I do for every single order I take here. In fact, I often don't ask for the shipping address assuming if it is going elsewhere, you'll tell me. So, 100% of the time, you are asked for your billing address. There really is nothing else to say to that, as if you aren't asked for it, as you can see, your order won't get approved.
As for the cancelling of the order, again. I apologize. Calls are taken by our instructors, in the case of an order change or canecellation of some sort the order is printed and sent to warehouse to be stopped or changed. The order paperwork is then brought to customer service to have any alterations. Sometimes the request doesn't catch the guy shipping and the order makes it onto the pallet before it can be retrieved. Most of the time it isn't an issue.
Lastly, Paypal. Paypal is another animal entirely. We are 100% bound by what ever comes to us via Paypal. They verify their own addresses and information and handle all the money. We cannot alter any of the information on a Paypal order. That is not our rule, its Paypals. I can refund money but I can't take more, for example. For that matter you as a consumer don't want me or anybody else to have access to your paypal info. You may as well just call me with your bank numbers and password. So, again, that is a feature designed to protect you as a consumer.
So, in the case of Capt. Jim's order I do apologize for any errors we made or could have handled quicker. No excuses. But these checks were put into place not only to protect ourselves as a company but to also protect our customers and their credit information from theft and fraud. Since implementing them it is a very rare occasion indeed that we have to enlist the aid of local law enforcement officials to help recover stolen gear and/or deal with helping consumers work with their credit card companies to straighten out their credit info.
Honestly, as an online shopper myself, I find that ANY company who does not take these sort of steps is only doing it because they think it is more of a hassle to them than it is worth. Do you seriously want to trust your credit information to ANY company who feels your information is a hassle and not worth their time?
Kidding, of course. Jim....give me a heads up as you go through the buying process for various things. I've already done it (and somewhat recently). Between the wetsuit, drysuit, 4 tanks, two computers, vest bc and bp/w, etc, etc, I've done a LOT of shopping. Let me know what you're looking for next and I'll help ya get the best deal. Then you can buy me a beer at Avalon!!
