Post by "Pop" Stran on Nov 7, 2015 15:45:53 GMT -5
The old adage "Let the buyer beware" just may apply here, to some extent.
Specifically, it's the seller (you) who should be aware of at least a couple of pitfalls that are an inherent part of the giftcard exchange system as it is today.
First: Nearly all exchange sites ask for the card numbers and PIN to verify the legitimacy and balance of the card you wish to sell.
Once you provide this data, anyone with access to that site's form can easily steal your card balance.
This is not just a suspicion but a fact that occured during our initial testing phase. (see Testing/ Under Review here: scamalert.proboards.com/thread/241/cardpool-com
Second: Before deciding to test, we had received multiple complaints of cards vanishing in the mail, both inbound and outbound.
Experience has taught us that you can discount nearly half of the inbound complaints because the sender made some small error on the envelope that landed their mail in a "dead letter" box, or they simply marked their mail for thieves by making it look like it contains something valuable.
While printing a legible address on an envelope and mailing the letter may seem rather basic to most of us, you migh be shocked to discover how many grown adults find this simple task to be a challenge.
As for the outbound mail complaints:
People who wished to sell a card would mail in their giftcard, and the company would acknowledge receipt of the card and make the exchange for a similar giftcard to mail out, but the newly exchanged card would never arrive.
Of course, most will blame the exchange company which is understandable, but not necessarily the whole truth.
As a shipper in various forms, I have had a few experiences with less-than honest mail carriers who had pocketed an envelope that they thought may contain cash or valuables.
I have also replaced a few items because the buyer happened to live in a neighborhood that was plagued with mail thieves who wander the streets snatching any package that catches their eye.
The first assumption is that the exchange company is a professional shipper, and that the card was properly packaged to avoid mishaps at the post office. Nearly every responsible company treats their outbound mail with the same respect as their incoming orders. They all want happy customers, after all. Complaints are harmful to a reputation, and a time consuming waste of resources.
Specifically, it's the seller (you) who should be aware of at least a couple of pitfalls that are an inherent part of the giftcard exchange system as it is today.
First: Nearly all exchange sites ask for the card numbers and PIN to verify the legitimacy and balance of the card you wish to sell.
Once you provide this data, anyone with access to that site's form can easily steal your card balance.
This is not just a suspicion but a fact that occured during our initial testing phase. (see Testing/ Under Review here: scamalert.proboards.com/thread/241/cardpool-com
Second: Before deciding to test, we had received multiple complaints of cards vanishing in the mail, both inbound and outbound.
Experience has taught us that you can discount nearly half of the inbound complaints because the sender made some small error on the envelope that landed their mail in a "dead letter" box, or they simply marked their mail for thieves by making it look like it contains something valuable.
While printing a legible address on an envelope and mailing the letter may seem rather basic to most of us, you migh be shocked to discover how many grown adults find this simple task to be a challenge.
As for the outbound mail complaints:
People who wished to sell a card would mail in their giftcard, and the company would acknowledge receipt of the card and make the exchange for a similar giftcard to mail out, but the newly exchanged card would never arrive.
Of course, most will blame the exchange company which is understandable, but not necessarily the whole truth.
As a shipper in various forms, I have had a few experiences with less-than honest mail carriers who had pocketed an envelope that they thought may contain cash or valuables.
I have also replaced a few items because the buyer happened to live in a neighborhood that was plagued with mail thieves who wander the streets snatching any package that catches their eye.
The first assumption is that the exchange company is a professional shipper, and that the card was properly packaged to avoid mishaps at the post office. Nearly every responsible company treats their outbound mail with the same respect as their incoming orders. They all want happy customers, after all. Complaints are harmful to a reputation, and a time consuming waste of resources.