Hello Everybody, I was scanning the internet, and two online tobacco places quit taking money orders as of recently. Could somebody please explain to me why? I realize that it has something to do with this dumb PACT thing that they just passed into law here in the US. However, it just made it impossible for me to stock up on my favorite brands through mail order. So, I went to my local smoke shop with my wish list in hand, turns out they won’t even consider getting in Bernard’s snuff. All they carry is a very small selection of Poschl snuff, but I have a fairly good supply of Poschl snuff already. -Kate
Well, if you’re talking about NicotineRush or MrSnuff, that’s probably because they relocated to the UK, so cashing US money orders creates a string of charges for them at the bank. It’s a hassle cashing money orders or personal cheques from foreign banks, written in a foreign currency. Welcome to the year 2010 and the internet. Money orders are a pain in the ass and outdated. If you’re too paranoid about giving out your credit/debit card info, buy a prepaid one and use that for your orders.
Hi Kate, from another ‘paranoid.’ If it’s paranoid to be worried about identity theft, if it’s too old fashioned not to want to be in debt or to pay banks instead of myself, if cash is just too quaint, then the only loser is the retailers and I’m happy to accept whatever appellation someone wishes to call me. I am 60 years old, have no debts whatsoever, own my own place and pay cash or I don’t buy. I have never had a credit card in my life and I am not about to get one. I am sure there are plenty of other folks too, especially in the current economic climate who are maxed out on their cards or have had all their credit stopped. For them too, a m.o. would be the ticket. So ya, sometimes paying with money orders is a pain or impossible thanks to “rules” but I can live with that. The folks who sell mail order or online to me don’t seem to have any great trouble accepting what is essentially cash, seems to work fine for us. Anyhow, FWIW, Wilson’s of Sharrow accepts money orders no problem. When buying out of country I just buy the money order in the preferred dollars or pounds and Bob’s your uncle. Also seems a bit strange to me to castigate someone for not using plastic when the whole conversation is surrounding such an anachronistic behavior. I wonder how many think shoving a ground up weed in one’s nose is a tad “outdated.” Give Wilson’s a shout, they are most accommodating.
@ wildwilliam, I agree with you. I have never resorted to using credit card, or going into debt that for that matter and don’t plan to anytime soon. I always pay with cash, or a money order. @ shikitohno, thanks for your information. - Kate
I was going to suggest a pre-paid Visa, but was beaten to it. They have them at WallyWorld, probably other places too. I’ve never done the debt thing either.
@ Kate and wildwilliam- I couldn’t agree more, I like having cash in my pocket and no credit cards. I don’t care if it’s old fashioned I’m not in dept 
@ Carol, I had that idea too, but wasn’t sure if online tobacco shops could accept a pre-paid visa for payment. I will keep that in mind though.
Pre-paid Visa or Mastercard is great for online shopping and safe.
Kate, For several years now I’ve been using a debit card. This works just like a credit card and even has the Visa logo on it. The only difference is that the money comes directly from one’s checking account. Since the dawn of the WWW, credit cards and debit cards have been the de facto method of payment for online transactions along with the newer Pay Pal system. WoS will gladly take your old fashioned cheque or money order. In fact, if you live in the USA it is the only way they will do direct business with you. I believe this has something to do with their particular credit card processor or something along those lines. (My last dealings with WoS along with certain lurkers on this forum left me with the impression that there are some anti-American sentiments with them tho so who knows.) I don’t know which shops you are referring to or why they are not taking money orders. There is a very small security issue when using a credit/debit card to make online purchases. You are at a far greater risk handing your credit card to a waiter at a restaurant than having it compromised via an online purchase. I suppose you could always do a direct bank transfer. It just seems like a lot of hassle to go through and might involve extra fees. I don’t see how PACT would make a difference in using money orders. If anything it would seem to be just the opposite. Anyway, let us know which shops you are having trouble with so we can stay abreast of the changes. I hope you get it worked out and get your snuff.
What is really funny about idenity theft is that it is the most poorly named crime ever. It’s not your idenity they steal, I swear it makes people feel like it’s some kind of “face off” situation (you know where nicolas cage and John Travolta with surgical face transplants that also seem to be rest of body transplants). Most of the time when you hear about finacial information theft (that’s what it is) you hear about the worst cases like with most crimes. Plus banks want you to be as paranoid about informational theft as possible because they are usaly the ones left holding the bag, they also love advertising their anti-electronic-money theft policies like they did it for you not because they are really the ones that tend to be thefted. Plus if someone riskes their freedom on robbing a checking account that you keep a minimal amount of money in, that isn’t scary it’s funny. Oh and remember that “man bites dog” is a more popular headline then “dog bites man” and trust me that fido isn’t the one that should be worried about dentalrific assualt. Just saying get a checking account with a debit card it’s a crazy amount to go out of the way for something that probably won’t happen.
“I believe this has something to do with their particular credit card processor or something along those lines. (My last dealings with WoS along with certain lurkers on this forum left me with the impression that there are some anti-American sentiments with them tho so who knows.)” This has already been explained to you. It’s because American credit card companies refuse to allow use of the cards to buy tobacco products online. Many businesses outside the States simply refuse to mail tobacco products to the States at all, no matter how payment is made. You should be grateful that Wilsons will at least accept other forms of payment. The idea that Wilsons of Sharrow are anti-American is frankly laughable and your sniping at the company is beginning to look a little like a vendetta to be honest.
@ Spyro, Thank you for your advice. And thanks to all, who have given their advice, too.
Cheers, Kate.
Brad, if it were really the case that US credit care companies disallowed tobacco sales online, why is it that Snuffstore and Roderick have no issues taking mine? Aside from the bit about anti-Americanism, Spyro’s right. It’s their credit card processors, not our issuers, who refuse to process sales of tobacco to the US from overseas. Pulling it right from the little banner saying no US sales on mysmokingshop, “Due to new rules imposed by our credit card acquirer, we will no longer be able to accept credit card payments for Tobacco, Cigars or Snuff on this site.” Perhaps you’re mixing up US credit card issuers with Paypal, which does refuse to do tobacco transactions.
Its actually our credit card processors too. You may recall a few years ago all the US vendors had to stop selling tobacco until they found alternate processors. I think there are some old threads here with Mars doing this. It seems there are very few large (mega) CC processors that dominate the market, and presumably they are US based. Also presumbly the majority of the UK tobacconists use these.
@shikitohno: “Spyro’s right. It’s their credit card processors, not our issuers, who refuse to process sales of tobacco to the US from overseas”. Why on earth would a foreign credit card processor refuse to accept payment from a U.S. based card ? It is indeed your issuers, or more accurately Visa and Mastercard who have implemented the ban. Apparently under pressure from the National Association of Attorneys General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, American credit card companies decided in 2005 to ban the use of their cards for Internet tobacco sales - see here and here. “why is it that Snuffstore and Roderick have no issues taking mine?” I’ve no idea to be honest. Maybe Xander’s right and Wilsons are using an American processor, although since it’s the card companies themselves who have initiated the ban rather than the individual banks I’m not sure why using a non-American processor would make a difference. I guess it’s possible that snuffstore and Toque are using a company which is flying under the radar at the moment. Certainly Wilsons aren’t alone in restricting sales to the U.S. in this way.