Using gift or prepaid cards for online e-cig purchases?

[Cavediver]

After one fraud attempt and a canceled CC to go with it (for once, thanks BOA!), I've decided to pursue other forms of payment that are not linked to my checking account. At this time, I also do not want to sign up for an additional account or CC with my bank (or any other). Below are my options as I see them, starting with the most reasonable option (again, as I see it).

As a BOA customer, I have an option for using Shopsafe. It sounds like a good idea, however, I've read that the CC account still gets closed down if fraudulent activity is detected on the generated Shopsafe number. I've looked through the BOA site but can't confirm this. Can anyone here shed some light before I blow an hour on hold with customer service?

Prepaid / non-reloadable gift cards look like a good option, except for the 6%-10% upfront fees, and the apparent problem of vendor rejection due to not having an address that matches the card.

Reloadable cards: Reloading fees, monthly fees, and yet another place I'd need to submit my SSN. If my SSN is required, it's not going to happen. Period.

Paypal: Yeah. I' be happy to use it if I could, but we all know that story as far as most vendors are concerned.


So... If anyone can make sense of this half-question / half-rant, what are my best choices? I've overloaded myself with information and cannot seem to make a clear, informed decision.
HELP!!!

 

[cocacola31173]

I have a CC card with a 250 limit. I only use it for online purchases. That way if anything happens its not a problem til they get it straighten out. Plus its a bonus if I want to make an order before payday.

 

[hvac999]

I too keep a CC with a low limit so no real harm can be done. I rarely use my debit card, ANYWHERE, for security reasons.

 

[JJOOHHNN]

The fees are that high?

 

[BennyBlanco]

i just buy $100 prepaid cards every month (its an extra $3 up front) for juice and buy hardware from places that accept paypal

 

[Cavediver]

The fees are that high?

For a straight Visa gift card at Walmart, it's $2.88 for a $25 card, $3.88 for a $50 card, and $5.38 for $100.
http://www.walmart.com/c/kp/visa-gift-cards

 

[Cavediver]

i just buy $100 prepaid cards every month (its an extra $3 up front) for juice and buy hardware from places that accept paypal

What cards are you using, and where do you get them? Are these one-time gift cards or reloadable debit cards? If they're one-time cards, are they always accepted at online stores, or do you have rejection issues (with the card ).

Thanks for your input!

 

[Cavediver]

Double post.

 

[kuritaro9]

i have tried those "online shopping specific" visa prepaid cards (vanilla visa) before, but how are you guys getting around the shipping address thing with them? i always had a problem because there was no registered shipping/billing address associated with the cards, so basically they were useless to me for shopping online. havent tried them in a year or so. have they changed the way they work now?

 

[stevegmu]

Haven't had any issues using a check card or credit card for vape supplies. I don't buy from shady vendors, who skimp on security and credit card processing, though.
I have received gift cards as gifts and was never able to use them online, as there is no billing address associated with the card. If a vendor does accept them, that would be a good indication to me they are lax on security, and will process any card- whether tied to an address, or not. I basically just end up using gift cards at Target, because of the type of CC processing they have at stores. They don't work at Target online, though, or Amazon.

 

[jefsview]

i have tried those "online shopping specific" visa prepaid cards (vanilla visa) before, but how are you guys getting around the shipping address thing with them? i always had a problem because there was no registered shipping/billing address associated with the cards, so basically they were useless to me for shopping online. havent tried them in a year or so. have they changed the way they work now?

Well, you go to the website listed in the instructions and register the card with your zip code.

That's it, you're done. Go shop online.

 

[kuritaro9]

Well, you go to the website listed in the instructions and register the card with your zip code.

That's it, you're done. Go shop online.

i did that with the vanilla visa site, but never had one that actually worked for an online purchase. maybe they have changed the process a bit since i last used them. ill snag one today and see if its something i could use.

 

[candimccann]

Our out of state family always sends us/the kids prepaid walmart visa cards at christmas and birthdays. You go to the website printed on the card and register it with an address. Once that is done, we've not had any trouble using them online.

I'm thinking of going the same route for vape spending, but admit that the fee is what's holding me back. But I am getting increasingly leary about cc/debit card use since I do so much shopping online now. (I've always shopped online, but maybe one transaction a month...since vaping it is more like 6 transactions a month).

 

[spider362]

I use BoA's ShopSafe for my online and phone orders.

I've had one instance where someone attempted to use the ShopSafe number. BoA called me and I asked her if I could just close the ShopSafe number without affecting my regular CC account. She said she could do that, so I closed the ShopSafe number and my regular CC number stayed intact.

I will never shop online or by phone without using ShopSafe.

 

[Crocky]

I had a separate account set up through my bank that is not linked to my other two accounts. I just transfer the amount I am getting ready to spend and it is ready immediately. I went through searching for alternate ways as well about a month ago when my account was wiped clean of $1497.00. After that there was no way I was going through that again.
But if you don't want to set up a separate account with your bank you could always get a Paypal card linked to your Paypal account. I was going to do this but I often times buy spur of the moment and to out cash in your account sometimes takes a couple of days.
So another account through my bank was the ticket for me. The account shows up on my online banking like my other accounts but with no overdraft Set up. I tried it one day just to make sure as I had $5.00 in there. Tried to check out at a store for about $15.00 and it was declined. So I felt pretty good after that. I also took my primary bank account off of Paypal and linked it to this "shopping" account in the event I want to buy something from someone on here, that way my primary account is not linked at all when shopping on line, Paypal or not

 

[murphyramone]

I use a pre-paid walmart mastercard. Its $3 to add money to it and $3 a month. The $3 dollars is worth it to me to not have to worry about any fraud with it. I only buy things 2x a month and just put that amount on the card and go home and pay. I used the giftcard visa/mastercards one time but it took 24hrs for the money to be available on it, i didnt like that.

 

[J.R. Bob Dobbs]

i use the 3 $ green dot cards from wal mart. I load them, make my purchase and cancel it 24 hours later. This prevents the 3$ monthly fee if you do not load 1000$(this card has an additional fee if you do not add 1000$ in a month).

normally i get a check back for a few bucks in a couple days.

 

[kilroyst]

I have an American Express Serve, reloadable from your bank account with no fee & funds available immediately. No monthly fees. Only bad thing I've found is that not everyone takes american express and they do require your SS number to get one if thats an issue for you

 

[BennyBlanco]

What cards are you using, and where do you get them? Are these one-time gift cards or reloadable debit cards? If they're one-time cards, are they always accepted at online stores, or do you have rejection issues (with the card ).

Thanks for your input!

they're visas and non reloadable afaik, i get them at shoprite


never had a problem using them at ave juice or good life vapors which are the only places i use regularly (when they're open )

 

[cags]

..........I don't buy from shady vendors, who skimp on security and credit card processing, though. ............

just an fyi for those who don't know, but ecig vendors have a hard time getting CC processors..... and several prominent vendors have been "hacked", it's not just "shady" or "cheap" vendors..........