Don't forget that they plan to make money on the "float!" So time is on their side.

All kidding aside, hopefully this will be resolved quickly and amicably.

Carl:

I think you stumbled across the before-asked question, "and just how do they make money?". It now looks fairly obvious to this glad-I-did-not-subscribe observer.

And as for "BEAMING", money or otherwise, I always have been just a little suspicious of this type of activity (or anyone previously or presently actively promoting it). And is Mr Schatner really getting wider day by day?

Nah! It must be the wonders of cleaning my TV screen.

ps: I too hope you resolve it soon. Keep FT informed so others may learn from your experience. Oh yes, as previously stated, I dont do referrals. Never have.....never will. Dont do other types of pyramiding either. Not a respectable or legitimate way of doing business IMHO, also I dont buy bridges, only sell them.

Referral-based marketing is becoming more and more prevalent, like it or not, because it is highly effective. Some of you may be interested in an article I've written on the subject:
http://www.memecentral.com/mu/mu0033.htm

[This message has been edited by QuietLion (edited 02-14-2000).]

QL- Thanks for the link and info. While MisterNice makes a good point, which I've had a past tendency to even agree with, I think things are changing- perhaps even dramatically so. All companies have a problem or two or three... ut the real test is in how they resolve them!

Well, he's very correct that many referral-based companies in the past have been shady at best. But the physics of the technique are so powerful that it's bound to continue to pervade world business... just watch.

IMHO, Viral Marketing makes more sense than most traditional forms of advertising. Think about it: a company like X.com could spend millions (or billions) on traditional advertising or they could instead give everyone $20 as a new account bonus and pay you $10 for spreading the word while building a better bottom line. I know which method I prefer. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

As for the concept of beaming money electronically, it's not only here to stay but is really here to dominate. I've long argued that businesses should surcharge people for using cash. Think about it: the transactions take longer and it causes the business to incur all sorts of liability issues. Then there's the labor factor: think how much time is spent handling money in a typical cash-oriented retail environment. You've got a cashier who must verify their till before starting their shift and count it when they're done. If they take a break, they may have to put the till in the safe, which necessitates the need for a full-time person to be available to deal with those recurring safe transactions. Need change? Gotta have people available to do that as well. Then there's someone (or several people) to handle the daily deposit. Finally, you need to pay an armored service to pickup the money and bring you change. It's nothing but total inefficiency.

If you've been involved in retail, you know that cash handling is a huge part of your operation. Now imagine that same scenario if everyone is required to pay electronically instead. We've already moved a step closer by eliminating food stamps and replacing them with EBT cards. The next step is to start heavily surcharging the arrogant checkwriters (sorry if that sounds offensive, but nothing's more irritating than being in line behind someone that actually still writes checks and then takes the time to write a detailed description of the transaction in their register!).

No, it may not happen this year or even the next, but we're definitely evolving towards a world without currency. There may be a time when, instead of getting a paycheck, you may get a prepaid debit card containing your salary. No more wasted time rushing on Friday to stand in line at a bank, because there will be no more traditional banks.

Some of the larger banks like First Union have already begun this process (not necessarily in a user friendly manner) by automating the most common branch transactions. Want to open/close your account, ask a question, or check your balance? At many FUNB branches, you'll be sent to a phone to call customer service since the employees there only exist for cash transactions. There are even branches in some places with no human beings at all: you talk to the teller on a TV screen and put your money in a canister, where it goes safely behind a firewall. Sure eliminates bank robberies. Are these places fun to visit? Hardly. Which is perhaps one more reason why people won't miss going to banks.

I agree. SmartCards should really be the future of "cash". Refill it at any ATM using your bank account.

Had a Trial run of the 'Smart Card' up here.
People hated it because the money could be traced. When you downloaded the money from your account who is to say the bank isn't lifting info about you? The experiment did not work because people still wanted to do business without anyone knowing about it.
The other problem was that if you lost your Smart Card 'Mondex Card' you lost all your cash. People figured that if they wanted to use a card, the Debit card was just as fast and your cash was safe in your account if you lost the Debit card.

For anyone interested in my friend's dilemma with PayPal.com, I thought I'd give you an update. It has now been nearly three weeks since she first attempted to beam me the money, at which point her credit card was charged but the funds never delivered. She has now left eight voicemails (no humans to talk to) and we both have sent countless emails to them. Not even a single autoresponder from them. Nothing. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif

I realize that the original problem may be isolated and some sort of bizarre bug, but the fact that there is no way to contact or get any response from Confinity is quite frightening. They make a point of throwing around big names, "Confinity is backed by the venture arms of industry leaders Nokia, idealab, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank" but that's like me saying I'm partnered with Fleet Bank because I send them a mortgage payment each month.

If you haven't already signed up with PayPal, I'd still recommend doing so just to get your free $10, but let that be the end of it. You can transfer money to friends in much the same way using X.com instead, where you can talk to a real person 24 hours a day via their toll-free number. Confinity (PayPal) doesn't even have a toll-free number, much less someone to talk to. If you haven't signed up for X.com, it's actually a bit quicker than joining PayPal (and NO requirement to register a credit card number and wait on a verification code to arrive in the mail). You'll get $20 for signing up and the option to earn $10 for each person you refer. I'm very pleased. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif

Paypal Customer Service: 1 (800)836-1859x1. I wish your friend the best - I have been having good luck with them so far.

Much of the difficulty may actually be "growing pains." Remember, this service is absoultely FREE and you get FREE money for just signing up! They have been swarmed! See: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/000561.html

Has anyone used paypal to have the money directly deposited in your bank account or have you just been requesting checks that they say take 2 weeks to receive? I want to try sending/recieving some money now that I've signed up and was wondering what everyone has found to work best.

Thanks!

I signed up when it first posted under this link and have had no problems with it. I have to use something myself before I suggest it. Thanks for the info DOC!

If you'd like to earn me $10 as well as yourself, use the link below! www.paypal.com/refer/pal=sleone%40aol.com

[This message has been edited by Miles Man (edited 02-25-2000).]