A word to the wise:

While at the ECCKS, a great show, by the way, I heard reports that there are supposed buyers in Indonesia and Singapore that will "buy" knives with a credit card. This has been going on since at least last June, see links below in Bob Warner's comment. You then ship the knives after which they cancel the payment and report the knives as unacceptable, or lost, or whatever. The maker is left holding the bag. An empty bag.

I've recently had experience with two individuals in Indonesia and when the first one's card didn't clear, and he insisted that I keep tyrying, I insisted on a money order and he never got back with me. The second one, I, right off, said I couldn't take a credit card and he never answered. The transaction is done by email, it appears.

Be careful with credit card orders. If you haven't delat with them before and KNOW that they are safe, insist on an International Money order or something, to make sure you get your money and that you can KEEP it once you have it!

With a credit card the buyer has 30 days to basically cancel the sale. He ought to reutrn the goods that he purchased, but how are you going to make smeone in a foreign land do that if he isn't willing?

Clue us in on more details and informaiton regarding the above if anyone out there knows more than what I've reported, OK? Any suggestions on how to deal with such a situation will be welcome.

Steve,

This was discussed further in these threads:


http://www.ckdforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12134
http://www.ckdforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11637
http://www.ckdforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12744

Thank you, Bob.

I just thought it best to get the word out as far and wide as possible. I kniew it was being discussed on the Guild site and other places, but was not sure exactly where.

Thanks for the info and for supplying the links, that will help alot.

Hello everyone. I was going to paste one of these Indonesia emails so you could see all this.
Here are my suggestions with a new customer that only is willing to pay by credit card.
If you can take credit cards, call you customer service at Merchant Services. Tell them you want to verify the name on the card and that you need an 800 number.
This is where you realize that the banking system in the world is controled by four or five bank in the world. You will find out why.
When you call the number you can ask to verify the name on the card and to have them contact the credit card holder to approve the charges.
Not because someone refused later on, or my say that the charges were unauthorized, does not mean you can not fight that back if you did your homework before.
A bank wire works great and American traveler checks are good too.
Good luck
Ricardo Velarde