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[Tenrius]

Most online retailers in Moscow operate this way. You usually have to register on their website etc to complete an order, there is some form of email confirmation and yet you have to wait till their manager calls you to finalize the order.

This is really annoying, as you can't usually specify the time of the actual call. They tend to call in the early morning, when I'm either sleeping or in class, which is not very convenient to say the least. And I don't really understand why it's necessary: they have my damn email and everything. Those stores usually use their own courier services rather than shipping by mail, so they probably need to ensure that you're not playing a prank with them, but you have to wait for those calls even if you're ordering something by regular mail (like from a different city, etc).

So I'm not sure if it's standard practice overseas. Does any online store in your area do this?

 

[TheAbsolution]

Most online retailers in Moscow operate this way. You usually have to register on their website etc to complete an order, there is some form of email confirmation and yet you have to wait till their manager contacts calls you to finalize the order.

In the US- no. Never have. They got my email.

 

[Alucrid]

Nope, never had this happen.

 

[CheesecakeRecipe]

Never had that happen in the US, even for ordering food delivery online where they state they may call to confirm.

 

[CorrisD]

I had never come across this in the UK for an online store.

The only time anyone has phoned me when buying something online was when I ordered a takeaway a few weeks ago via an app and they called to confirm my order, and that has only happened once.

 

[akira28]

i guess with all the hacking and identity theft going on, that's a local way to deal with it? How are the laws if fake purchases are made and proven? Do customers usually get their money back?

In America you may either be fucked, or it goes on the bank as a write off.

 

[Zoned]

What in the hell is this?

Seems like some 3rd world practice to me. Honestly didn't expect something like this in a city like Moscow.

 

[Striek]

Sounds like anti-fraud to me. I know some of those dodgy Eastern-Europe CD key resellers require you to upload ID/phone call since they get a lot of users with stolen credit cards.

 

[MikeHattsu]

So I'm not sure if it's standard practice overseas. Does any online store in your area do this?

Nope, never experienced that with online stores here in Norway.

I did order something from the US once and they called to verify. Only happened one time though.

 

[Tenrius]

i guess with all the hacking and identity theft going on, that's a local way to deal with it? How are the laws if fake purchases are made and proven? Do customers usually get their money back?

In America you may either be fucked, or it goes on the bank as a write off.

I'm not entirely sure about the fake purchases, but you can usually return the goods your purchased with a certain time frame limit without any issues (except for certain items like underwear, etc). I think next day unconditional refunds are guaranteed by law, but multiple retailers have their own 30 days policies.

I agree that it's probably anti-fraud, but in that case it's not very clear why businesses in the US don't it. Must be some difference in local laws, don't really know how to investigate that.

What in the hell is this?

Seems like some 3rd world practice to me. Honestly didn't expect something like this in a city like Moscow.

It's a 2nd world practice apparently, lol.

 

[KPJZKC]

I've come across this with some US companies that sell time codes for MMO's (shattered crystal?).

Was quite annoying as I live in Ireland.

 

[Zoned]

I'm not entirely sure about the fake purchases, but you can usually return the goods your purchased with a certain time frame limit without any issues (except for certain items like underwear, etc). I think next day unconditional refunds are guaranteed by law, but multiple retailers have their own 30 days policies.

I agree that it's probably anti-fraud, but in that case it's not very clear why businesses in the US don't it. Must be some difference in local laws, don't really know how to investigate that.



It's a 2nd world practice apparently, lol.

How big is ecommerce market in Russia? Do people generally shop at brick and mortar stores there?

 

[Caayn]

Never seen this before. In my country we transfer money directly from our bank account to a intermediary which requires a text verification that's send to you or a code generated from your bank pass.

Credit Cards are seldom used here.

Sounds like anti-fraud to me. I know some of those dodgy Eastern-Europe CD key resellers require you to upload ID/phone call since they get a lot of users with stolen credit cards.

And then? They can't come to the conclusion that the credit card is stolen from a phone call.

 

[Tenrius]

How big is ecommerce market in Russia? Do people generally shop at brick and mortar stores there?

Oh, it's pretty big, especially for certain kind of products. The most popular way of shopping is still going to big malls. People primarily buy food, other necessities and other necessities there, while electronics, gadgets etc are often bought via online stores (most of the big ones have retail version featured prominently in said malls, but there are ones that don't, as well as tons of smaller ones). The only kind of shops still out there which don't have any online version and are not associated with some big brand are small cornerstores with cheap food and/or miscellaneous household stuff and, in some cases clothing.

I forgot to mention that you usually have to go through this procedure even if you're doing in-store pickup, and even if you're paying by cash (it's pretty common to give cash to the delivery guy).

Never seen this before. In my country we transfer money directly from our bank account to a intermediary which requires a text verification that's send to you or a code generated from your bank pass.

Credit Cards are seldom used here.
And then? They can't come to the conclusion that the credit card is stolen from a phone call.

Yeah, most people prefer to use debit cards in Russia as well. If they aren't by cash, that is! It's not at all like the US, where everything seems to be about building your credit rating, etc.

The most sensible anti-fraud scenario I can come up with is that they don't want to get fake orders, as they often only get paid upon delivery (either in cash or by debit/credit card, you usually can pay in advance, but you don't have to). But calling by phone is not a very good way of actually ensuring the delivery either.

 

[TheContact]

I've only had this happen when I bought gold in world of warcraft a long time ago

Some Chinese lady had to call my cell to verify info

 

[realalbedo]

I dont't think it's even possible to pay with cash in USA. But most people in Russia choose that way.

 

[Rootbeer]

As a standard practice for every order, I think this is a very poor way of doing business.

For special circumstances it may be acceptable though, maybe there's a good reason for this over there. Payment theft may be a big issue? Or fake orders?

 

[Tenrius]

I dont't think it's even possible to pay with cash in USA. But most people in Russia choose that way.

Yeah, I didn't even think about that at first, lol. A fake order would mean waste of fuel and time, so they have to make sure. It's weird though that it would have to apply to in-store pickups as well.

 

[Futureman]

So whenever they call a thief they say, "Oh shit you caught me! That's not my card!"