How do we feel about direct online sales from an author?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the legitimacy and safety of purchasing books directly from an author's website, specifically focusing on Benjamin Wallace's 'Duck & Cover Adventures'. Participants explore concerns about online payment security, alternative payment methods, and the implications of authors selling directly to consumers versus through established platforms like Amazon.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses hesitation about providing credit card information directly to an author’s website, despite the author's responsive communication on social media.
  • Another suggests using a Visa gift card as a safer alternative for online purchases.
  • A participant clarifies that using PayPal for payment can protect credit card details, contrasting it with Google Pay, which may share information with the seller.
  • One participant shares their experience of testing the purchase process on the author's site, noting that it redirected to PayPal, which they found to be a standard practice for online transactions.
  • Another participant mentions seeing a Facebook advertisement for the author's work, highlighting a trend where authors sell directly to avoid platform fees, suggesting a potential benefit for both authors and consumers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of comfort with direct online sales, with some advocating for alternative payment methods to mitigate risk, while others share positive experiences that suggest the site is legitimate. No consensus is reached on the best approach to ensure safety in online transactions.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference the creation date of the website and their personal experiences with online shopping, which may influence their perceptions of legitimacy and security. There is an acknowledgment of differing practices in online sales, particularly regarding how payment information is handled.

DaveC426913
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TL;DR
What can I do to satisfy my concerns about the legitimacy of the direct sale of an author's book(s)?
I've just stumbled across a set of books I might want to read. Benjamin Wallace's 'Duck & Cover Adventures' (described as "Monty Python meets Mad Max").

I would have liked to buy them through my Kobo account but he only sells them direct from his website: https://hello.benjaminwallace-books.com/the-complete-duck-cover-collection-in/

I guess, considering
  • his works are widely-reviewed on Goodreads
  • he immediately replied when I commented on Facebook about not being able to buy it via Kobo
it's likely legit. I just hate giving my shredit card to strangers. I guess I could set up a Google Pay thingy. They'll protect me from fraud, right?
 
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You could get a visa gift card. They are also available on amazon.
 
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DaveC426913 said:
I guess I could set up a Google Pay thingy.
There is no need to set anything up if you click on the PayPal button under 'Express Checkout' (NOT the 'pay with PayPal button).

You will then be taken to the PayPal payment gateway - check the "www.paypal.com" address at the top of the browser - where you can enter your credit card details which will only be used by PayPal.

Note that the Google Pay gateway will share your credit card details with the site so don't use it.
 
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I entered some made-up details on the buy now page, and then I did a test purchase, and it did take me to the PayPal page, where I would enter the card details to make a purchase. I didn't buy anything, just tested through to the final payment stage. It looked normal to me.

I've never used an online shop where you GIVE the seller your card details, they always direct you to a card processing company's site. I've built some online shops for clients, and that's the way things work.

The domain name was created on 2023-11-07, so it's unlikely to be a scam, as other buyers would have reported the site to the webhosts to get it closed, which is what I do to fake shops. (It's a hobby of mine ;) ) Fake shops often show multiple changes of web host over a short period of time.
 
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And having had a look at the above site yesterday, I've just seen a Facebook advert for the author's work.
Same thing happened after I bought some kindle books and visited the author's own site. He too sells from his own site to avoid the cut Amazon take. He sells at less than amazon charge but more than he gets from Amazon. Win-Win.
 

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