Capitalist Tyranny!

[sparrowhawk]

I had been having problems in trying to order tobacco online--the computer seemed to go into a loop eveytime I tried to confirm an order. Then or course there was the problem with receiving PMs from the folk here....periodically I would have to check archives to see if anyone contacted me. Thought this was a computer problem as well.

Making my most recent tobacco order of Cult a few days ago, I learned the horrifying truth: my server, AT&T, would not allow my orders to be processed or my emails to go through because they were tobacco-related! Who needs Big Brother in the much maligned government when the moneyed interests of Ma Bell will be there sure to protect me? I can't imagine how this is legal, but if has anything to do with tobacco, I guess it's OK. Of course you can buy firearms and porn through the net, but not that nasty tobacco!
I can't believe how our rights are now infringed for the major money interests of this country. So much for allowing Big Business to know what's best for all of us. And damn it, if we don't know or care, that's just tough. Big Business will decide for us.
ARGHHHHH!

 

[macaroon]

Ye gods, what a mess! I sincerely hope you're able to sort this nonsense out!

 

[mlaug]

Yes, imagine if it was similar to a firearm internet purchase and a gov. background check had to be run before you could pick up your order from a licensed fed tobacco dealer. :roll:

 

[fluffie666]

F them. I'm withholding a rant but just f them. Freedom now means you have to find ways around things. F them thoroughly.

 

[papipeguy]

Something sounds very wrong here. I just looked at AT&T's privacy policy and there is no mention of denying services for tobacco orders. Frankly, it would be an illegal act on their part to deny any ordering service.

There has to something else happening if you have trouble ordering from a legal site.

Supposedly, MasterCard is playing a similar game by allegedly denying purchases of tobacco products but I have not seen any proof of that either. I don't use MC so I have no first hand experience. All I know is that VISA is accepted everywhere.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I call BS on AT&T stopping the order from going through. There has to be something else going on there. That would be eleven ways illegal sideways and upside down.

 

[mso489]

The ploy may be protecting the under-age or deflecting litigation by their parents. Considering all of the other objects and/or entertainments that can be ordered online, this sounds fanciful. As mentioned, do the orders by phone, and it should work fine; call on an AT&T line!

 

[papipeguy]

billkay, I have ordered from the UK through Mr. Snuff with no problems. You are right that most UK retailers won't sell to the USA but the reasons are not very clear to me whether it is because of the credit card companies or some internal English regulations.

edit: I just looked at the MasterCard site re purchases. It seems that unless the purchase of certain items is done on a face-to-face they can deny services for purchases deemed as having an age requirement to purchase. I take that to mean tobacco, alcohol, etc.

 

[papipeguy]

The real crime is that it's easier for a kid to get heroin than a 6 pack or cigs.

 

[sparrowhawk]

I've been ordering by phone for a few months now . I just finished a online chat with an AT&T rep : he said there was no such policy. But PM Told me a couple years ago that the server didn't want to permit emails to go through that particular server; P&C Told me something similar. It's the principle of the thing that riles me , not having to phone my orders isn't it. We tried to solve the problem while I was on while I was on chat, but no success.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The real crime is that it's easier for a kid to get heroin than a 6 pack or cigs.

I don't know about that. You assume that every moron who works at convenience stores will follow the law. My daughters told me that kids will use these apps like yelp or google reviews to communicate which stores don't card. I have even seen one store sell a six pack to a twelve year old before my eyes, and when I asked the idiot whether he was scared of losing his job, I realized that he was a complete moron the moment he opened his slack jawed mouth. The children of siblings have to work somewhere I guess. It's either the convenience stores or law enforcement. :nana: JK Billkay. ::

 

[ravkesef]

Not sure I understand this. I use AT&T andI just placed orders online. Also I ordered from Pipeworks and Wilke, and Carole told me she accepts MasterCard. I think some clarification is in order. By the way--change of subject: I just ordered some Nut Brown Burley from Carole, and she tells me that it will become generally available if enough people want it.

 

[sparrowhawk]

Ravkeset, do you use your AT&T email? This is weird: I have no problems with other vendors like Amazon: however, both vendors that I use like SP and P&C started using a "capcket" or some such before processing orders. Can SP and P&C chime in, or Kevin?

 

[perdurabo]

Sparrowhawk, Att is powered by yahoo. I recieve emails about my orders and Sales promotions from Pipesandcigars and smoking pipes all the time. Capitalism doesn't begat tyranny, That's government 100%. Can't really say what the problem would be. Do you have child restrictions set on the computer?

 

[sparrowhawk]

Time to ask ATT about Yahoo. The vendors might accept orders if processed through the Yahoo connection, although it smarts to use Yahoo. (Anyone who's read Swift will know why I despise the name, "Yahoo"--a little thing, I know, but it bugs me nonetheless. A lot of things bug me today.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Try using a different browser. P&C has a website that sucks sometimes when I try to use Firefox or one of the others. Whenever I run into a problem with their website, I just switch browsers. This has been an issue for me since they've gone to this new website format. But, not so much an issue these last few months. YMMV

 

[gtrhtr]

Also check to make sure you haven't activated any child protection software or settings in security/access.

 

[mcitinner1]

My internet provider is AT&T Uverse. I buy tobacco online all the time. My email is Gmail and I use Yahoo also.

 

[sparrowhawk]

Do you use an @att.net mail? That might be my problem.

 

[ravkesef]

I think the childproof setting is the likely culprit. My email is sbcglobal, which is a yahoo company, same umbrella as AT&T,