Legends of the Playground
Undercover
I want something. Who's going to order?
Ravi's 10% off sale
- Thread starter Legends of the Playground
- Start date
Legends of the Playground
Undercover
OK, you slackers, I did it myself. I used the alternate gateway. I also called Ravi and had a fantastic conversation with him.
I have a some Party Coronas, Monte #2s and Monte #1s coming.
I have a some Party Coronas, Monte #2s and Monte #1s coming.
Fresh50
Here to Learn and Burn!!
Ravi's:dunno: :scratchhe
Legends of the Playground
Undercover
He thinks the worst of it is over especially with the European banks not cooperating anymore and the pressure that the FBI is getting from US politicians. He referred to the OFAC page where the two examples have been made public (people settling) and mentioned that no one who has answered with either a 5th amendment reply or a "I have no idea what you're talking about" one has had any follow up from the government.
He also told me how the new payment gateway works. It's with a local Hong Kong bank that is not affiliated with any entity like World Pay. There was also the reminder that whatever info World Pay/Visa gave OFAC did not include anything of value other than transaction dates (which we knew.) While the government may ask us for info, they have zero ability to really challenge whatever you were to tell them. He also hinted that if the need arose, he'd be able to produce invoices for a client to document non-Cuban items.
One thing he did say that surprised me was that the bulk majority of his clients are in Asia and Oceania.
He also told me how the new payment gateway works. It's with a local Hong Kong bank that is not affiliated with any entity like World Pay. There was also the reminder that whatever info World Pay/Visa gave OFAC did not include anything of value other than transaction dates (which we knew.) While the government may ask us for info, they have zero ability to really challenge whatever you were to tell them. He also hinted that if the need arose, he'd be able to produce invoices for a client to document non-Cuban items.
One thing he did say that surprised me was that the bulk majority of his clients are in Asia and Oceania.
Legends of the Playground
Undercover
It's still a good old fashioned credit card setup but the local Hong Kong bank is the processor not an outside third party with multi-national locations giving OFAC leverage. As I understood it before this all started, Hong Kong's banking laws are very privacy minded. But World Pay has business dealings in many different countries so OFAC had an easier time asserting it's power. Whether they actually subpoenaed World Pay or simply asked for info, that I do not know.
Everyone assumed that Visa was a culprit in the first go round but it was really World Pay. Visa wouldn't have any idea where you make purchases without the 3rd party processor helping provide answers.
There's always the chance that Visa and/or MC could lean on a bank/processor to stop transactions with a vendor (of various things besides tobacco as well) that violate their rules. But they have a hard time doing so since A LOT of companies sell tobacco plus other items. And a company could be called "Acme Tools" and Visa would have no idea what kind of merchandise they sell. How can they say to Ravi's bank "stop processing his orders" when Wal-Mart sells cigarettes in store? In Ravi's case, his clients are all, at least legally, outside of Hong Kong proper. This means all of his business is either done via phone or internet. They can use the fall back position that CoH has no way to check ID. But they still have no idea whether a purchase was for cigars, humidors, whatever. And they'd be hard pressed to shut down a processor who handled his transactions solely on the basis of being a tobacco seller. Because then they'd probably have a stink raised by these guys to Visa over your Wal-Marts (that's why I brought them up earlier.)
This is really two issues: Visa/MC trying to prevent tobacco purchases from being made on-line by minors (which has to be a tiny, tiny amount of money) and OFAC trying to crack down.
In both cases, neither entity really has a way to tell what was purchased unless the vendor or client turns over transaction records. Which so far, from the vendor side, has not happened.
Everyone assumed that Visa was a culprit in the first go round but it was really World Pay. Visa wouldn't have any idea where you make purchases without the 3rd party processor helping provide answers.
There's always the chance that Visa and/or MC could lean on a bank/processor to stop transactions with a vendor (of various things besides tobacco as well) that violate their rules. But they have a hard time doing so since A LOT of companies sell tobacco plus other items. And a company could be called "Acme Tools" and Visa would have no idea what kind of merchandise they sell. How can they say to Ravi's bank "stop processing his orders" when Wal-Mart sells cigarettes in store? In Ravi's case, his clients are all, at least legally, outside of Hong Kong proper. This means all of his business is either done via phone or internet. They can use the fall back position that CoH has no way to check ID. But they still have no idea whether a purchase was for cigars, humidors, whatever. And they'd be hard pressed to shut down a processor who handled his transactions solely on the basis of being a tobacco seller. Because then they'd probably have a stink raised by these guys to Visa over your Wal-Marts (that's why I brought them up earlier.)
This is really two issues: Visa/MC trying to prevent tobacco purchases from being made on-line by minors (which has to be a tiny, tiny amount of money) and OFAC trying to crack down.
In both cases, neither entity really has a way to tell what was purchased unless the vendor or client turns over transaction records. Which so far, from the vendor side, has not happened.
Quadry
Master Shake
Thanks for all of this info. I may place an order now, makes me feel a lot more comfortable.
Legends of the Playground
Undercover
Just make sure that you use this page and click on the first bank link before you start shopping...
http://www.coh-hk.com/index.asp
" Click here to make payment in US$ via PayDollar (Hong Kong based Bank)"
http://www.coh-hk.com/index.asp
" Click here to make payment in US$ via PayDollar (Hong Kong based Bank)"
Quadry
Master Shake
Thanks for this, my wife now hates you.
Legends of the Playground
Undercover
My wife is only vaguely aware of what I do. :nodlaugh:
I pay the bills and the keys to my humidor are in a secure location.
I pay the bills and the keys to my humidor are in a secure location.