What is a
Verified Member?
If a member is Verified,
that means Audiogon has confirmed a mailing address for that member, which
matches that of a credit card issued to that member. Since banks and
credit card issuers are very careful about mailing addresses, this process adds
another level of assurance to transactions on the internet.
"Registered" is NOT the same as "Verified"
Bidding or selling
requires registration, which includes the mailing address. However,
the information is not verified by Audiogon, unless the member actively
applies for Verification. This option is currently available to USA
residents only, as a voluntary step beyond registration.
How do I know if a member is Verified?
Within all listings such
as classifieds, the seller's Username will be followed by a "Verified"
link if the member has completed the process. You can also perform a Member
Lookup, which will indicate whether the member is verified or not. If
a member is verified, you will see the date of verification, but not their
contact information. If a verified member gives you their mailing address, you
will be able to compare it against the database for reassurance.
What does Verification do for me?
The goal of the
verification system is to instill more confidence in trading, by reducing the
likelihood of deception or fraud. Almost all transactions on the internet
reach a perfectly happy conclusion for both parties, but there are always
exceptions. Criminals are getting better at using the internet for
deception, and high-end audio buffs can make for lucrative targets. You
will be buying and selling based upon your level of trust for the other party,
so the verification system gives you one more tool with which to weigh the risks
of any given transaction.
Does Verified mean Guaranteed?
NO. Audiogon does
NOT guarantee anything other than the fact that we have confirmed the member's
recorded mailing address, against the mailing address on a credit card
statement. Audiogon in no way endorses or guarantees a verified member's
products, services, or transacting abilities. Please read the disclaimer
below. All users should consider Verification as a means only to reduce the
likelihood of problems - not eliminate them.
How fool-proof is the system?
Audiogon's verification
system is based upon the validity of data provided by a credit card
issuer. Thus, our verification system is no more fool-proof than the
current credit card system in the United States. The key factor is that very few
people have the willingness or ability to acquire a credit card under a false
identity, or be able to sustain such a financial record for any length of
time. This process is by no means completely secure, but it offers
considerably more assurance than no verification at all.
How does the address comparison work?
The two parties involved
in a transaction would exchange contact information privately (not provided by
Audiogon). If either or both parties are verified members, then they can
submit the information they received, for a comparison
against the data on file for the verified member. The system will return a
"Match" or a "Mismatch", but will not reveal the information
itself. Thus, each verified member's contact information remains
confidential, while allowing other members to confirm its validity.
This method provides an added
level of safety, because you will be sending your item or payment to a verified
address. Exception: some buyers may have a different address for
receiving shipments than their mailing address on file. In this case, you
should request both the shipping address AND the mailing address from the other
party, and compare the mailing address with the database. While not as
safe as shipping to the address on file, it is still safer than no confirmation
at all.
What happens if a Verified Member deceives me?
Audiogon can not
guarantee that a verified member will be any more honest or thorough than an
un-verified member. However, verified members are certainly less likely to
commit fraud or otherwise cause a provable loss, simply because they have had to
register a valid credit card and a valid mailing address. At the very
least, you will have a definite address that law enforcement can trace.
Thus, the verification process is designed to reduce the likelihood of criminal
activities, even if can not guarantee any results.
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