In the upper right hand corner of your message are the words:

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Just hit REMOVE.

You can do that for this message, too.

Bill

But it is their job to police and maintain their website to make sure their customer is treated fairly and that the transaction process was proper. In this case it cost them business and some reputation which equals money. Plus they were flagged by Chase so their inattentiveness costs them even more as Chase refuses to transfer funds to them on future purchases by others. The joke is on them...Richy N2ZD


We only have the word of the "victim" here that they were so-called "flagged" by Chase.  If one only knew how hard it is to actually "flag" a legit business.  I think someone told "the victim" they MIGHT "flag" the business....IF something were out-of-the-ordinary.  Judging from just a few of their testimonials (some posted AFTER "the victims" post) I say this company is very much on the up-and-up and never was "flagged"!

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How great your company is to deal with. I only ordered at 2:08 p.m. today and I already got a e-mail that it has been shipped, time on e-mail was 4:57 p.m. with the tracking number.   I never dealt with a company so fast. You are great. Thank you so much for everything. My husband said you saved us a lot of running around looking for a scanner.

PLEASE INFORM EVERYONE THAT MY HUSBAND AND I COULD HAVE NOT FOUND A BETTER COMPANY TO DO BUSINESS WITH. WE ARE IN OUR 70'S AND NEW TO COMPUTER WORLD AND YOUR SITE WAS THE EASIEST TO WORK WITH. EVERYTHING WAS VERY SIMPLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH . LOVE YOUR COMPANY. I WILL MENTION IT TO EVERYONE. EVERYONE TELLS US TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS DOING BUSINESS ON THE COMPUTER, BUT YOU PROVED THEM WRONG. YOUR REPLY'S WERE QUICK AND SITE SAFE.

You people have been very helpful.  If you only knew what I went through dealing with Uniden directly, you all should be praised for your customer satisfaction.  If there is any way I could do a survey for you, I would.  Thanks again a bunch for your cooperation in this matter.  Please keep me informed of the status of the return.  Thanks!!!

Thank You Very Much !!!!!!!!!!!!  I received the scanner in time for the party.  It's been nice doing business with you.  If we like it, we might order one for ourselves.
Thanks Again,

On 8/27 I went online to search for the highest rated NASCAR scanner on the market. After reading several articles I decided to purchase the Uniden SC230. Your company offered a fair price and I ordered it that day. Much to my surprise the next morning I received an Email advising that it had already been shipped. UPS shows this shipment out for delivery, I should have it within a couple of hours. Thank you for your excellent service. I have rarely ever ordered anything online and had such rapid response. You can be assured that I would recommend you to others and use you again if I need any of your products.

Thank you for the phone update and the quick response to my multi order.
Greatly appreciate your quick response and shipping.

Dear Bearcat warehouse,

I wanted to take a moment and thank you and your staff, especially Malissa, for the prompt responses and detailed replies to my initial question when shopping for my first scanner for NASCAR . I took my new pre-programmed SC230 to the New Hampshire race this past weekend and thoroughly enjoyed my experience listening to ALL the drivers and crews and really make my day memorable. With all the different choices of sellers out there your staff is what sold me on purchasing here and I will be endorsing your site to any fans I meet at the track, or friends who ask me about buying a scanner.

Comments: Just wanted to say thanks. Recently ordered BCT15
Very happy with product and your service
Will recommend to others
Thanks,

Malissa, We wanted to let you know that we received the digital police scanner that we ordered, today. Momma is so excited!! Thanks again for all your help. We really appreciate everything you have done to help us & it's been great talking to you!! Who knows, she may need another one for the downstairs. Sincerely
Just a quick line to say thanks  My scanner came today ( that was fast ) and it works great.
 
Thanks Again

Just wanted to say thank you. I was very cautious and worried about buying from the web online. After purcasing my scanner from you i am very satisfied. you people were great from the day i placed my order. I received my purchase 2 days by ups. Got it working but had a few problems, You immediatley offered to let me return it and replace it with new.After talking to tech support i found out it was me and got the unit working.Ive got two other scanners but like the one i purchased from you the best. i would highly recommend your store and sight to anyone. GREAT PRICES GREAT SERVICE and pleasant phone cooperation, thanks again and am sure i will purchase more products from you.

Thank you sooooooo much, that did the trick. Although my Uniden Bearcat Scanner is getting old it still works great. However I am considering getting a newer more up to date scanner and you can bet it will be a Uniden Bearcat.
 Thanks again.

I would like to take some time out to say thank you very much for your great service. I ordered a bct15 from you on 8-5-08, and had it the very next day (something that does not happen very often). It was not what I wanted, so I sent an email about returning it and there were no problems in getting a return for it. I have since ordered a bct8 and again got that the very next day. It has been a pleasure doing business with such a fast and great company, I will be recommending your company to my friends. Thank you very much again.

                                                          Jim

I do have to say, I have ordered many things from many different companies and you have made things easier than if I had you standing right in front of me to answer my questions. I will pass along to all I know how easy you are to work with and I hope it will send you some extra business.

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Where does one assume that just because someone has posted something negative on Eham (or any of the other ham sites....), it automatically results in a negative reputation and decreased sales?  

Quite the contrary.  Often people who see these types of posts view them as REASONS for purchasing from the company!  After all, can you really believe everything you read on the Internet?    

What's that old expression?  Word of mouth advertising....good or bad....it's still advertising!  

Heck, if everyone quit buying over the negative posts that take place on Eham, EVERY HAM BUSINESS would be out of business!    

73, Bill - WA8MEA
Go Bearcat!

I never noticed any of these little verifying changes until my wife discovered on line banking.
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Bingo!  And that's where the irony comes in.  If we kept a large enough balance in our accounts to cover twice the amount we order (and just to prevent against overdrafts....period....) nobody would know about the verifies and the holds......and see nothing but actual charges on a once-per-month statement.

Of course PayPal has their own unique names for their system: pending and complete

73, Bill

Just placed two online orders this morning.

I see a $1 verify deducted from my account.  It is either from AES for a balun or Lights-101 for a marker light assembly for my Buick.

Again, VERY common place in today's mail order world....

73, Bill - WA8MEA

Oh, BTW.  The first company KA1MDA unknowingly, unfairly and irresponsibly called a "fly-by-night' is far from that.  Here is their corporate profile:

http://www.happ.com/images/pdf/corprofile.pdf

They've been around since 1955....

73 ya'll,

Bill - WA8MEA

Probably why I don't do business with either one of those...
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Please address the rest of the issue.

Or do you need more evidence that the $1 verify is more common than you think?

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Authorization hold (also card authorisation, preauthorization, or preauth) is the practice within the banking industry of authorizing electronic transactions done with a debit card or credit card and holding this balance as unavailable either until the merchant clears the transaction (also called settlement), or the hold "falls off." In the case of debit cards, authorization holds can fall off the account (thus rendering the balance available again) anywhere from 1–5 days after the transaction date depending on the bank's policy; in the case of credit cards, holds may last as long as 30 days, depending on the issuing bank.

Signature-based (non-PIN-based) credit and debit card transactions are a two-step process, consisting of an authorization and a settlement.

When a merchant swipes a customer's credit card, the credit card terminal connects to the merchant's acquirer, or credit card processor, which verifies that the customer's account is valid and that sufficient funds are available to cover the transaction's cost. At this step, the funds are "held" and deducted from the customer's credit limit (or bank balance, in the case of a debit card) but are not yet transferred to the merchant. At the end of the day, the merchant instructs the credit card machine to submit the finalized transactions to the acquirer in a "batch transfer," which begins the settlement process, where the funds are transferred from the customer's accounts to the merchant's accounts. Contrary to popular belief, this process is not instantaneous: the transaction may not appear on the customer's statement or online account activity for one to two days, and it can take up to three days for funds to be deposited in the merchant's account.

For example, if an individual has a credit limit of $100 and uses a credit card to make a purchase at a retail store for $30, then his available credit will immediately decrease to $70. This is because the merchant has obtained an authorization from the individual's bank by swiping the card through its credit card terminal. If the billing statement was sent out at that point, the actual charges would still be $0, because the merchant has not actually collected the funds in question. The actual charge is not put through until the merchant submits their batch of transactions and the banking system transfers the funds.

A debit card works slightly differently. Similar to the previous example, if one has a balance of $100 in the bank and used a debit card to make a purchase at a retail store for $30, then his available balance will immediately decrease to $70 as a hold on the $30 is enacted. This is because the merchant has obtained an authorization from the individual's bank by swiping the card through its credit card terminal. However, the actual balance with the bank is still $100, because the merchant has not actually collected the funds in question. However, unless this authorization hold expires without being finalized the user cannot access that part of their account. The actual balance will not be reduced until the merchant submits their batch of transactions and the banking system transfers the funds.

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Why do I see a $1 charge from RSA on my credit or debit card statement?

When using a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card for online purchases, some merchants will offer card holders the opportunity to participate in Visa’s Verified by Visa or MasterCard’s MasterCard SecureCode services at no cost to the cardholder.  This additional level of security is used to ensure that the proper cardholder is conducting the online transaction.

As part of the Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode services, some credit and debit card issuing banks may choose to validate the card using a process called a “$1 preauthorization.”  This preauthorization is used only to verify transaction and credit card information.  The $1 preauthorization shown on a credit or debit card statement involves no transfer of funds and will be dropped from the account within 1-5 days (depending on the card issuing institution).

RSA is the leading provider of Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode services to financial institutions worldwide.  As such, card issuing banks will sometimes show the RSA name associated with the preauthorization charge on a customer’s statement.

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From yet another "fly-by-night"....Amazon.com....

I received a $20 Visa gift card from AT&T as a rebate. I tried to use it yesterday to buy a $20 Itunes gift certificate for myself, and I just now tried to use it to make a $19.18 Amazon purchase. Both times it was denied.

Turns out from calling Amazon customer service, a $1.00 charge is made to check the card's validity, then the transaction is applied. So, not enough was left for either transaction. So, $20 was there, then $1 was provisionally subtracted, leaving $19, so $19.18 didn't clear.

So, how exactly do I get the full $20?

It is a $1 hold, not a $1 charge. It will expire. To get the maximum value out of a prepaid visa card, you need to add it to your amazon account as a payment method and then wait a few weeks for the test hold to expire. Then make your $20 purchase.

That sounds like a fly-by-night operation! In the 20+ years I have ordered things via phone and internet using credit/debit cards, I have never had a vendor place a "test charge" on my account.
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OK.  By your definition, Netflix is "fly-by-night".  Oh!    PayPal is also "fly-by-night"!

Look!    Here's an entire article on the topic!


Alternatives to the $1.00 Authorization
One ($1.00) Authorizations vs. Zero ($0.00) Account Verification / AVS Only

Many online merchants and merchants with recurring billing programs have long used $1.00 Authorizations to test account validity. When an issuing bank places an authorization on a cardholder’s credit card or debit card the merchant and the acquiring bank lose control of the transaction. An issuing bank can leave an authorization on a cardholder’s account for an extended period of time: sometimes up to 7 days and the merchant and acquiring bank have no say on when it comes off the cardholder’s account. Sometimes the authorization amount may be subtracted from the cardholder’s available balance and an online statement may show the held funds as an actual charge. In the case of a debit card can these authorization can be held against the available balance in the cardholder’s checking account. One dollar authorizations followed by the full amount of the sale can appear to a cardholder to be a double billing or extra charge and can generate disputes and chargebacks. If a merchant charges a low sign up fee and a higher monthly membership and authorizes the card for the membership amount and settles for the sign up fee amount it can appear to the cardholder as a double billing for twice the membership fee. With a debit card this can result in double the amount the cardholder expected being held against their available balance and their bank’s online statements can make it appear that the funds are already out of the account. These “ghost authorizations” can cause anxiety among cardholders and result in chargebacks, disputes, and cancellations.

Visa has responded to cardholder complaints and confusion over $1.00 ghost authorizations with two new mandates designed to discourage merchants from performing $1.00 authorizations to test account validity:

Effective July 1, 2009, Visa implemented an Account Verification Fee for each account verification ($0 authorization or AVS Only) request transaction. This Account Verification program provides an alternative to the $1.00 authorization: merchants will be able to do a Zero Dollar Value authorization request which can include Address Verification (AVS) and CVV verification. MasterCard has a similar verification process.

Effective October 1, 2009, Visa implemented a Misuse of the Authorization System Fee ($1 Authorization) which will be applied to any authorization transaction that is not followed by a matching clearing transaction (delay capture), or in the case of a cancelled or timed out transaction, any transaction not properly reversed (voided). These fees apply only to transactions processed by U.S.-based merchants and does not apply to partial or full authorization reversal requests.  These fees are billed by Visa directly to the merchant account provider/acquirer, who may pass it on to the merchant. These mandates apply only to U.S.-based merchants whose Merchant Account is provided by a financial institution that is a U.S. Visa member.

Differences between a $1.00 Authorization and $0.00 Account Verification.
$1.00 Authorization

Merchants submit an authorization transaction for one dollar, never intending to settle this authorization. An approved authorization response shows the merchant that the cardholder’s account, address and CVV2 value are valid, and that it is generally OK to proceed with the transaction. The authorization only decreases the cardholders spending limit by $1, with this decrease eventually expires or “falls off” of the cardholders account within 7-30 days. These “ghost authorizations” can appear to cardholders on online statements as extra charges or double billings and cause anxiety among cardholders and result in chargebacks, disputes, and cancellations.

$0.00 Account Verification (AVS Only)

Also referred to as an “AVS-only” transaction. It is also used to test account validity. The difference is that with a $0.00 authorization, $1.00 ghost authorizations no longer appear in the cardholders billing statement, eliminating confusion.  Visa’s new Zero Dollar or Zero Dollar Floor Limit Account Verification program will includes Address Verification (AVS) and CVV verification. Visa would prefer to see merchants using the $0.00 Account Verification Program, for which they will charge a transaction fee, and discontinuing $1.00 Authorizations. Visa is encouraging merchants to change to this new practice through the second mandate:

Misuse of Authorization System Fee

Visa requires all authorization transactions to be followed by a clearing (delay capture or settlement) transaction or, in the case of a cancelled order, for the transaction to be fully reversed (voided). Visa is charging a fee for each authorization request transaction that is not followed by a delay capture transaction or which is – in the case of a cancelled order – not voided within 72 hours. This fee applies only to U.S.-based merchants and does not apply to partial or full authorization reversal request messages.The fee is billed by Visa directly to the merchant account provider/acquirer, who may pass it onto the merchant.

To avoid the fee, merchants must either perform a delay capture within 10 calendar days of the original authorization request or void the authorization within 72 hours of the original authorization request.

Obviously some "moderator" from this website doesn't understand sarcasm when they see it and deleted my satirical post.

My point: You are going to have duplicate charges whether you like it or not.  We live in a digital age where not everything works 100%.  It can be as simple as a double transaction at McDonald's, to a PROCEDURAL double whammy when ordering a radio or parts.

ALWAYS have TWICE the amount of your purchase price on your credit/debit card balance.  Here's why:

I order wire from a Chicago firm.  The first thing that happens IMMEDIATELY after I place the order is that the system makes sure my debit account is legit by charging $1.  After that is verified, they then place a HOLD for the purchase amount....let's say for $75.

Now, if they are speedy about deliveries, they will ship immediately and then CHARGE my account for $75 upon shipping.  Yes, on many banking accounts this will appear as two charges totaling $150.  HOWEVER, the first $75 hold and the $1 test will come off in five business days.

I recently ordered $100 worth of parts from another company and the company waited five business days, letting the HOLD drop off and then submitting the charge upon shipment.  That way, I didn't get the double whammy.

If you use a PayPal debit card you never have to worry about overdraft fees.  I always use it with those companies that have a double whammy charge system.

Before ordering from a unfamiliar company, find out what their debit/credit withdraw practice is.

I can guarantee you that just from looking around Bearcat Warehouse's website, they aren't crooks, con artists, frauds or rip-offs.  You just got caught up in the wonderful world of credit/debit card technology.  And most likely it was the fault of the merchant bank.  Many times the merchant has no control over their merchant bank's procedures.

Remember!  Many banks are now profiting off of fees because loans have gone belly-up.  The more overdrafts they can create, the better the profit margin.  And debit cards are ripe for producing overdrafts.

73, Bill - WA8MEA

I've got some good news and some bad news. 

The good news is, for a little while longer, you can still enjoy the benefits of your Visa & Mastercard purchases, which means a company cannot charge you a minimum purchase price, cannot charge you a restocking fee and must pay back the original shipping and handling PLUS the cost of sending the equipment back to the ham dealer.  This is a little known secret many mail order companies have been hiding for years.

The reason?  The credit card industry states you are making an intangible purchase via mail order because you are personally unable to see, touch or even operate a floor model when ordering mail order.  So your first experience was when you received the equipment.  Therefore, the customer is afforded EVERY right when it comes to mail order purchases.

Now the bad news: You remember that new banking bill that was just passed into law?  Well they are now going to allow banks to charge higher fees (including restocking fees on mail orders....), require minimum purchase prices and eliminate having to repay shipping and handling.

Go Congress!! (No, I mean it.  Just GO!)

73, Bill

Is this the only source for 1 x 1 calls?: http://www.1x1callsigns.org/

Just curious.  W7W operated Feb. 28, 2010 of this year.  They have photos of the event here: http://wb7tjd.org/wiki/W7W

HOWEVER, the callsign is NOT LISTED at the above 1 x 1 callsign website.

73, Bill

You might take a look at the YoYo-Tenna line of portable dipoles.  Or even a single reel used as an end fed.

Put 'em up and take 'em down.  Or leave 'em up.  I've had 40 & 60 meter YoYo-Vee's up for years....

Very stealth....

http://HamRadioFun.com

73, Bill

This explains mucho....

I see why she was so upset.....after that hideous tornado/storm weekend down there last week.  She's not only in thunderstorm alley, but spring tornado alley.

I could picture an F-1 picking that tower up and tossing it around....

I was taking a drive along U.S. 12 yesterday, and noticed the numerous guys on utility poles....all with at least one strain insulator, a huge hook-eye either corkscrewed by machine into the ground....or encased in concrete.  The guys also had plastic tubing around the bottom, rising up about ten feet.

Then I noticed a cell tower with guys.  Not a single insulator!  Then I realize, they are probably using a non-conductive guying product.  However, what difference would that make when wet??

73, Bill

Alan:

I told her that the installation was "damn dangerous" and for her to seek assistance in this matter immediately, even if it means that the two of them won't be neighborly any longer.  Better to be safe and sound than toast....

I really thought this was going to be someone asking about RFI/TVI.  I sure didn't expect this situation to evolve!

Anyway, I told her to get an electrician or building inspector out there ASAP....especially since this ham insists his installation is correct....

Whatever happened to insulators, turnbuckles and huge industrial hook-eyes buried deep into concrete? 

I have a tilt over....not much on top.  However, I went to my neighbor (a non-ham) for advice.  Why?  He was a machinist, a metallurgist and just plain smart when it came to mechanical engineering.  He owns his own machine shop. 

He convinced me to replace the entire base and bolts used for tipping the tower up and down and even brought over specialty metals and bolts from his shop for me to reconstruct the entire tilt over section. (No charge!)  I'd work on it a little bit each weekend and he'd come over....without me asking....to make sure I was doing the job correctly.  A cool dude and great neighbor.

73, Bill 

I just got the same photos, too....Alan.

However, the wooden post does seem to have a heavy bolt going through it a then the cable to the ground rod.  Still not right....

And that's no tree, that's a bush!

I hate to see neighbors become enemies but this installation is dam dangerous!

I'm telling her the same thing.  Plus, have an electrician back her story up.

She can always give the handy-talkie back to the guy and buy herself a scanner.

73, Bill

Well, if Alan got an e-mail, too....it is obvious she is using the archives of eHam to find her contacts.

I vote for Tom's response, also.

Since I now feel a little "used", I believe I will sever my communications with this YL.  If she picked names off of this website, I'm sure she can find this thread and make her own judgments about solving her issues....

73, Bill