Credit card payment - US to Australia Pls suggest vendors

[liz-e]

Hi There,

I have been lurking on the boards for a little while now and have finally decided to post a question.

I have been looking at vendors for Diamond prices etc. I found something at Whiteflash that I wish to purchase however they have insisted on bank wire via my email correspondence.

There are other organisations such as James Allen and Blue Nile that accept Credit Card for international purchases.

My fiance is VERY hesitant to purchase around $10k of goods using bank wire.

Can you lovely people at pricescope suggest vendors who accept cc as payment rather than bank wire?

Thanks in advance, Liz.

 

[LaraOnline]

This is an interesting question. I am surprised that WF, among others, does not allow CC payments from Australia, perhaps supported by emailed ID.
Although wire does come with a discount, surely a consumer should be able to choose from the convenience, and added protection, of using a credit card?

 

[liz-e]

Firstly the reason I had approached Whiteflash is that their diamonds get some great credentials on this forum.

Secondly, I have been able to confirm this myself by going on their website and viewing their goods.

In reality, this alone is not a reason for me to hand over my hard earned cash via bank wire. Everyone I have spoken to (including bank employees) tell me that is not a smart idea in particular when the company is in another country.

I think it is fair to say both the consumer and the company you buy from should have piece of mind when purchasing goods.

By the way Lara, I ADORE your house. Beautiful.

So if anyone has any other similar vendors to Whiteflash who accept CC for Overseas clients (From Australia) I''d appreciate your help.

Thank you

 

[LaraOnline]

Liz, I wholeheartedly agree with you.
I also was interested in working with WF. I still am interested, but of course my 'project' has been put off for sometime!

I am interested in what the vendors themselves have to say about the 'no credit card' policy for overseas buyers (living in Australia myself), I imagine it's got something to do with extra fees, as well as the ID / security factor- the large transactions involved in diamond trade probably has something to do with it.

I guess it's harder to track down CC fraud internationally? Still, it is an increasingly global world, and CC shopping internationally is something that I do quite easily (in other product types).

Thank you for your compliment regarding my new home! I am annoyingly estatic about it. Friends 'who know' do tell me that you DO get used to living in such salubrious circumstances, and it becomes ordinary! I scarcely believe it.

James Allen does have a feature whereby you can examine the diamonds in very fine detail. However, I don't think they have the returnability and upgrade policies of WF. Although, even with WF, you have to be careful about returning policy, as past threads has shown me that this policy can differ according to the origins of the diamond you buy from them.

 

[liz-e]

No response from the vendors, however Whiteflash have definitely no interest in an overseas customer who won''t do bank wire. This leaves me no choice but to purchase from another vendor. *sigh*

 

[MishB]

liz, this is one of the reasons I will probably purchase from Blue Nile when I am ready. Plus Blue Nile ships (with insurance) free to Australia. An international bank wire will be a substantial additional cost. Don''t forget to also factor in tax and (Australian) customs duty, but I am sure you know that.

 

[liz-e]

Yep am aware of the import cost which coincidentally can be paid with a credit card

Thanks for the heads up

Interesting that you would choose Blue Nile - I''m a little skeptical of their signature range being able to show Hearts & Arrows. Other than this at least they allow for credit card purchases.

 

[arjunajane]

Unfortunately it seems, at least to me, that the bigger vendors that don''t enjoy as good a rep as say, WF or GOG, are the ones that also offer CC payments..

I can''t speak for the actual vendors but yes I was told it was due to security and logistic issues.
Just speaking from personal experience, of the 3 wires I have done I was never warned or discouraged by the bank.
Not sure if this would work, but can you do a wire from your CC so you have that protection ?

 

[Indira-London]

I guess it''s harder to track down CC fraud internationally?

I cannot speak for Whitflash or other vendors but it is for the issue of potential fraud that we do not accept credit cards remotely - our credit card company simply does not cover payments if fraud is involved and the client has ordered remotely.

 

[liz-e]

Date: 9/23/2008 6:11:42 AM
Author: Indira-London

I guess it''s harder to track down CC fraud internationally?

I cannot speak for Whitflash or other vendors but it is for the issue of potential fraud that we do not accept credit cards remotely - our credit card company simply does not cover payments if fraud is involved and the client has ordered remotely.

I understand the issue with potential fraud, however Whiteflash accept from the US and Canada (I guess Canada is not counted as overseas then? lol)

Does the credit card company cover you for CC Fraud where the client has ordered remotely and is in the US?

Just doesn''t make sense if that is the case!

 

[Indira-London]

Date: 9/23/2008 6:32:46 AM
Author: liz-e

Date: 9/23/2008 6:11:42 AM
Author: Indira-London

I guess it''s harder to track down CC fraud internationally?

I cannot speak for Whitflash or other vendors but it is for the issue of potential fraud that we do not accept credit cards remotely - our credit card company simply does not cover payments if fraud is involved and the client has ordered remotely.

I understand the issue with potential fraud, however Whiteflash accept from the US and Canada (I guess Canada is not counted as overseas then? lol)

Does the credit card company cover you for CC Fraud where the client has ordered remotely and is in the US?

Just doesn''t make sense if that is the case!

In my case, I am in the UK - our credit card company does not cover ANY remote transacrtions from ANYWHERE if they turn out to be fraud. (In the UK, the credit card companies have invested heavily in chip and pin for example) When I get clients from Australia, US, New Zealand, Honk Kong...etc physically walk into my London office and order then it is not a problem for them to pay by credit card.

As for fraud - it can happen by any means whether remotely or in person and via credit card or otherwise - its just that some combinations are covered by banks/credit companies if we the vendors have followed their procedures but no insurance can cover against fraud if we do not follow their rules.

So far I had a bad experience from someone in the UK who assumed someone else''s identity and tried to purchase a £25K ring (he deposited a cheque into my account but told me he had done a direct bank transfer...fortunately I figured this out just in time before handing him the ring) - that same week, he had successfully defrauded other large organisations (which I later found out from the police).

 

[arjunajane]

Great info Indira, thx for posting. This is what I had suspected, but its great to hear it direct from a vendor.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 9/23/2008 7:32:45 AM
Author: arjunajane
Great info Indira, thx for posting. This is what I had suspected, but its great to hear it direct from a vendor.

Ditto - excellent info Indira!

 

[Indira-London]

Thank you - I know it must be frustrating for Liz-e but when viewed from the fraud prevention/credit card company rules hopefully she can now see why many vendors ask for bank-tranfer.

 

[honey22]

Problem solved fellow Aussies - you can do what I did. I opened a Paypal account, which is free and only took a few minutes online. You can link you credit card to your Paypal account. I got the WF Paypal details from my SA and did a Paypal transfer for the whole amount.

You won''t be able to get the bank wire discount though, but you can still use your credit card!

Also, this gives you double the insurance (not that you would ever need it with WF), as you have Paypal insurance (limited) and the CC company will cover any problems too.

 

[LaraOnline]

Date: 9/23/2008 8:45:51 AM
Author: honey22
Problem solved fellow Aussies - you can do what I did. I opened a Paypal account, which is free and only took a few minutes online. You can link you credit card to your Paypal account. I got the WF Paypal details from my SA and did a Paypal transfer for the whole amount.


You won''t be able to get the bank wire discount though, but you can still use your credit card!


Also, this gives you double the insurance (not that you would ever need it with WF), as you have Paypal insurance (limited) and the CC company will cover any problems too.

AHA! This looks like a real solution! You do have to provide additional security when using a credit card, don''t you. For such a large amount, do they have to ''certify'' you? I think this involves holding the Paypal account for a certain period of time, and making sure that payment address and mailing address is the same as is registered on the CC...

Anyway, I am happy that BN, and others do see fit to offer cc services to Australian customers. It''s another reason to buy from them, in any case!

Thanks for the idea, honey!

 

[Cachette]

I understand your frustrations Liz-e.

I`m from Canada and had the same problem with WF. The wire transfer for my diamond studs was a real pain in the butt. My bank was really difficult to deal with and the delay between the transfer being sent and received was nerve wracking (it got "lost" along the way - long story).

I understand the dilema for WF and others but in all honesty, and I speak only for myself at this point, I have bought elsewhere just to avoid the hassle.

I`d love to do more business with them and other online vendors who chose to only deal with wire transfers, but for me, a credit card purchase is much much easier! But I see from honey22 that there is a way with Paypal. I`ve never used Paypal but I guess I could look into it....

.

Wish there were times when these online vendors would make an exception though....
What about a call in order? Would they accept a credit card payment that way I wonder??? I`m getting close to deciding on an upgrade.

Cachette

 

[honey22]

Ladies! We are talking DIAMONDS here! There is always a way

 

[arjunajane]

I was wondering about that, cheers for posting Honey!

 

[honey22]

Date: 9/24/2008 12:10:06 AM
Author: arjunajane
I was wondering about that, cheers for posting Honey!

No probs! I have just emailed the lovely Lesley from WF to enquire about wbands - yay!!!! Going for a 2mm channel set band with baby ACAs, how cute!!

Sorry for the threadjack

 

[katebar]

Date: 9/23/2008 8:45:51 AM
Author: honey22
Problem solved fellow Aussies - you can do what I did. I opened a Paypal account, which is free and only took a few minutes online. You can link you credit card to your Paypal account. I got the WF Paypal details from my SA and did a Paypal transfer for the whole amount.

You won''t be able to get the bank wire discount though, but you can still use your credit card!

Also, this gives you double the insurance (not that you would ever need it with WF), as you have Paypal insurance (limited) and the CC company will cover any problems too.

Gee honey22 that''s great to know! I accidentally sent a payment of 900.00 to the bank by wire when i was getting my ring done by WF and was crazy with worry. Next time and (yes there will certainly be a next time

) I will ask vendors about paypal.

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 9/24/2008 2:01:59 AM
Author: honey22

Date: 9/24/2008 12:10:06 AM
Author: arjunajane
I was wondering about that, cheers for posting Honey!

No probs! I have just emailed the lovely Lesley from WF to enquire about wbands - yay!!!! Going for a 2mm channel set band with baby ACAs, how cute!!

Sorry for the threadjack

YAY!!! How much longer until your wedding day?

I don''t have a date set or anything yet, but starting to think I should so I can look at bands, Lol!

Oh yeah, and if I start buying diamonds on my CC you are officially to blame !

 

[honey22]

Date: 9/24/2008 5:02:42 AM
Author: arjunajane

Date: 9/24/2008 2:01:59 AM
Author: honey22

Date: 9/24/2008 12:10:06 AM
Author: arjunajane
I was wondering about that, cheers for posting Honey!

No probs! I have just emailed the lovely Lesley from WF to enquire about wbands - yay!!!! Going for a 2mm channel set band with baby ACAs, how cute!!

Sorry for the threadjack

YAY!!! How much longer until your wedding day?

I don''t have a date set or anything yet, but starting to think I should so I can look at bands, Lol!

Oh yeah, and if I start buying diamonds on my CC you are officially to blame !

We are running away to Palm Cove next September with immediate family and a few close friends only - YAY!! We will decide on a venue and a date in Oct when we will be there for a little holiday and visit with my parents. So can''t wait!!
When are you thinking of getting married?

 

[Pandora II]

I was going to say to try PayPal - I use it almost always for overseas payments and have never had any problems.

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 9/24/2008 6:44:03 AM
Author: honey22

Date: 9/24/2008 5:02:42 AM
Author: arjunajane

Date: 9/24/2008 2:01:59 AM
Author: honey22

Date: 9/24/2008 12:10:06 AM
Author: arjunajane
I was wondering about that, cheers for posting Honey!

No probs! I have just emailed the lovely Lesley from WF to enquire about wbands - yay!!!! Going for a 2mm channel set band with baby ACAs, how cute!!

Sorry for the threadjack

YAY!!! How much longer until your wedding day?

I don''t have a date set or anything yet, but starting to think I should so I can look at bands, Lol!

Oh yeah, and if I start buying diamonds on my CC you are officially to blame !

We are running away to Palm Cove next September with immediate family and a few close friends only - YAY!! We will decide on a venue and a date in Oct when we will be there for a little holiday and visit with my parents. So can''t wait!!
When are you thinking of getting married?

Thats QLD right Honey? My mum''s family live in QLD, its lovely up north.

..We don''t have a date set at the moment, we kind of always planned on having a longer engagement. Both of us want to finish uni and get all of that on the road first..But there''s always eternity and RHR rings, right?

 

[sydney80]

ps - just wanted to say thanks all for the thread.

I live in Sydney and was wondering how to get around the bank wire issue - a few hundred bucks extra in fees is definitely worth it for some security.

speaking of which liz-e - do you mind sharing what the total fees from paypal came to?

 

[Allison D.]

Believe me, we hear your frustrations, and we share them.

As a vendor, we aren''t in the business of turning down customers.

Unfortunately, though, we do have to operate within the boundaries set by the credit card companies.

We do quite a bit of work with folks overseas, and we''re willing to work with any information/options we can to make us a possibility for overseas clients who want to work with us.

 

[honey22]

Date: 10/1/2008 8:18:52 AM
Author: sydney80
ps - just wanted to say thanks all for the thread.

I live in Sydney and was wondering how to get around the bank wire issue - a few hundred bucks extra in fees is definitely worth it for some security.

speaking of which liz-e - do you mind sharing what the total fees from paypal came to?

I didn''t pay fees using paypal, they do however set the exchange rate obviously, but it was within 1-2 cents that I expected to pay anyway.

You will pay fees importing the ring into Autralia - customs duties and GST etc, which comes to roughly 15%, you need to pay this amount to Fedex before they will release your package -