Easier Payment Options (08/23/2011)

[wildsprite]

In case anyone hadn't noticed, the company that owns Click also owns T-Mobile. I really don't think C&B is as shady as people are claiming. It a international company which is why banks aren't keen on it.

not anymore, AT&T now owns T-Mobile, pretty sure they didn't buy click n buy too

[Korpg]

Not always. The supermarket chain I work for is constantly being influenced by the company that owns it and several other chains. They pressure us to cut costs when we're doing fine and even though our stores are ranked some of the best in the area for good customer service (especially at check out) and basically propping up all the other chains the parent company owns, they want us to consider doing away with front-end service associates (e.g. baggers and general help). The company goal for the year is "earn even more customer praise," but how are they going to do that when they let half the people providing the customer service go?

Additionally, they have been unifying the store brand across all of the chains that they own (e.g. every chain sells the same store brand name instead of it having the store's name). Just because a parent company doesn't typically interfere with day to day operations of its children, doesn't mean it isn't ever the case.

Well, while I did state generally, there are special cases, as you have provided for us.

Generally, the parent companies are in a completely different industry than the subsidiaries, and therefor, don't have enough knowledge of how to do business in that said industry. The ones who are in the same industry (two grocers, for your example), it would be more like a merger than an parent/sub comparison. Even though that the companies may have the same name, they operate in the fact that the parent company has complete control over everyday activities, which is the key characteristic of a merger.

What was used as above, which I quoted, is treated as a parent/sub relationship whereas the parent's role in the relationship is pure ownership interest. In that case, the parent has left all responsibilities of the running of the sub in the hands of the sub's Board of Directors and CEO, which is how businesses generally run.

But thanks for bringing that up, that is a classic example of merger vs parent/sub relationships.

[Riggs]

if we are getting extra time to swap over why are we still getting the change over message everytime we log in?

[Sparthos]

if we are getting extra time to swap over why are we still getting the change over message everytime we log in?

To get the Rounsey Wand if you want it?

[Zemzerrett]

Although it says: "...to benefit our customers in Europe as well as players in other countries". The only Payment Method I have available is: Credit Card/Debit Card *ClickandBuy account required. Still can't buy Crysta - I guess if Crysta wasn't available initially in your country, then you're still not allowed to purchase it. "

http://www.zemzerrett.com/images/misc/payment.png

Looks like I'm going to be stuck with the ball and chain of paying via a ClickandBuy account for September

[Winrie]

anyone else having trouble purchasing crysta? i did it last month so i know it works, but i keep getting damned error code 401 everytime i go to purchase more.. this crap is stupid.

[Byrth]

I've heard you can only purchase $100 worth of Crysta in any one month period. Depending how many accounts you have on the same SE ID (server hopping, mules, etc. as well), maybe that's your issue?

[RAIST]

anyone else having trouble purchasing crysta? i did it last month so i know it works, but i keep getting damned error code 401 everytime i go to purchase more.. this crap is stupid.

If I remember right, 401 is either a protocol or authentication error. Likely there is a temporary communication breakdown somewhere in the server chain (router stall or something strange like that). Might be worth it to try again later...who knows.

[Komori]

The problem concerning some NA banks is this international status. The call center rep that I spoke to told me that because CnB were international vendors and the types of transactions they dealt with could be used for fraudulent purposes, my bank would flag the transaction every time CnB tried to charge my account. Consequently, they would either freeze my account or call me to clear the transaction, which defeats the purpose of creating an account for an automated service. It's inconvenient.

I don't know why people keep saying things like this. As a consumer can't I simply choose not use a company when doing so creates annoyances for me? Why do they have to be proven to be shady or larcenous first?

Hopefully, there will be a move back to direct billing with these new options, that way people who couldn't use the verified system can pay without fighting with SE's old payment options while offering the rest of us the convenience we already enjoyed. That's good customer service.

I'm not quite understanding it either. Seems people think these days that they can tell others what to do with their money and who to give it to. Whether it be from their own hard work or government help. But anyway, I'm glad to see that maybe not all hope is lost with SE.

[Korpg]

You know, you could talk to your bank. They would set it up so they know that this 1 per month charge from Click and Buy every 30 days for XX.95 is going to be normal, and that they shouldn't need to flag it because not only have you authorized it, but you even went to the next step and told your bank that this will occur every 30 days for XX.95. Which you just did.

But that requires work, and nobody here wants to do that to make their life easier. That is why there is that 100+ page thread complaining about Click and Buy instead of actually trying to fix the problem. There are at most 50 posts that bring up serious issues about the new system and SE is going to actually correct it.