cooper34

Some time ago, I ordered from Nashbar and my credit card information was stolen. I understand that others had a similar experience. Is it safe to go back? Has anyone had issues lately?

Thanks

cycleheimer

Ordered again from them...with the 30% 'sorry your credit card info got ripped-off' discount...no trouble. Unfortunately...IMHO...they haven't had any really fantastic specials lately.

7speed

You can always place an order with them over the phone. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that would be safer.

Schnayke

ya' the routing company is who stole the info. Nashbar had nothing to do with it. I suppose it is as safe as any online retailer. I have been told that you should get a prepaid visa for use on line that way they can only steal the small amount on that card, and it does nothing to your credit, or personal info safety.

cooper34

I guess that it would depend on how and where the cc numbers are stolen. If ordering on the phone, they likely still put in thier computer where it can be stolen.

Saddle Up

Here in Canada we have a payday loan company called Money Mart. They also have prepaid Mastercards for people that don't qualify for credit. These cards are perfect for online transactions, it's all I ever use when making net purchases. Of course you need to have the cash to load on the card.

sonatageek

I have ordered from them a few times since I had the credit card problem. The one thing I started to do with them and all the other online vendors is to create a vendor specific cc number (Discover, Master Card etc all let you do that from their websites) so that if it is ever stolen it will only work at that vendors site.

beech333

How did you get that? I never got any discount.

TejanoTrackie 

Wherever possible, I use PayPal or one-time virtual credit cards. Impossible to get account info or rip you off that way. A few places like Peter White Cycles and World Class Cycles are safe by phone.

mparker326

I got one too. If your credit card number(s) got stolen from them, they were supposed to send you a 30% discount. The expiration on the 30% discount on mine was about a month out from when I received the discount.

I'm in good with my LBS and anytime I need anything they don't have, they order it for me from QBP and charge me a competitive price. I haven't felt the need to go back to Nashbar/Performance.

Panthers007

Their prices aren't the wondrous bargains they once were. I find better deals by using Google. I think the hit they took from the credit-card fraud (I still have that Chinese pink cubic zirconia ring the crook(s) sent us victims) must have sent them reeling. I doubt their business-plan had this contingency planned. If they did - not informing their customers for months! - they should be torched. But I have no doubt they have some bills to pay - such as all those crappy rings. But is it 'safe?'

Probably is my answer. Does that hole in credit-card security still exist? Dunno. Has the credit-card service <koff> upgraded their security? Dunno. All in all - it should be safe. But.....

I treat this whole incident to be like the proverbial puppy that keeps crapping on the bed or rug. I'm not going to give 'Widdle Nashy' a dogie-treat yet. Is this punitive of me? Somewhat. But the real driving-force behind my refusal to re-establish relations has more to do with:

1.) Their prices aren't a real bargain.

2.) I can find the product I need for considerably cheaper from reputable businesses.

3.) Their treatment of customers remains on the low end of the scale.

Conclusion: Not yet. Not until they show a significant improvement. I don't need the anxiety that the OP is feeling - which is the reason this question was posed. Safe - likely yes. Worth it? No way in my opinion.

gomango

After becoming a victim of credit card fraud/id theft and ensuing grief to get it sorted, this company would not be worth it.

KLW2

Haven't been back since my was stolen...just wary I guess...they didn't send me a discount but I wouldn't have used it..

Bioflamingo

I purchased a returned Nashbar Touring frame for $50 and a pair of vittoria randonneur pro road touring tires for $17 each about a month ago. Since then I've been bought 10-15 other items whenever something I wanted was on sale. I've never had any problems with theft or any other issues for that matter. I just use a debit card and keep track of my checking balance. I check it every other day, so if money were to disappear I could rectify the situation quickly. I wish I had a decent LBS to get stuff from, but that's wishful thinking. When there's only 1 LBS within 70 miles they can raise their prices to match the demand. Purchasing online(even with shipping) saves me money, so I'll continue to do it.

rhm

Last time I ordered from Nashbar I was extra-special careful to get a $10 refund (which is useful) rather than a "free" subscription to Outside Magazine (which is not). But it looks like I got the useless subscription anyway, and haven't seen the refund.

DiegoFrogs

You can request a ten dollar refund in lieu of the subscription? Can you explain further? I rather enjoyed the six issues, but I'd prefer the cash instead.

As others have stated, I don't think they have the good deals any longer. They used to have some unique items, like quill stems and such, that they no longer carry. They also turned up all those neat old saddles for a song.

In my opinion, they *are* responsible when their subcontractor, the credit card processor, allows customers' information to be ripped off. Luckily, they didn't get me, but I'd be pretty furious.

rhm

On theory, you go to this page, print it out, fill it in, mail it out, and your subscription gets turned into cash. Didn't work for me, at least not yet.

beech333

I haven't either, nor do I think that I would, for the same reason as you. I did think about mailing in a check for some items out of the paper catalog they send me, but decided it wasn't worth it.

daveinduluth

[QUOTE=Panthers007;10298464] I still have that Chinese pink cubic zirconia ring the crook(s) sent us victims

That's not fair either, all I got was anti wrinkle cream!

Shimagnolo

BankOfAmerica credit card has a "ShopSafe" option that lets you generate a unique CC# with a specified credit limit and a specified expiration date.
This is what I use these days.
I generate a separate # for each vendor, and round the limit up to the nearest $10.
When you re-use the number, you can edit the limit and the expiration.

Discover also lets you generate a unique CC#, but it has the same credit limit and expiration date as the real card, so it is less useful.

cooper34

OP here. Thanks for the suggestions and insight. I am convinced not to go back to nashbar. So . . . which online stores are recommended?

cycleheimer

It was part of a letter they sent out about internet ordering security. I almost used it to buy their AL-1 road bike, which would have been a mere $419 plus S&H. It was on "sale" for $599 before the 30% ($899 M.S.R.P.), so that's a decent savings. Wound up with a Giant OCR3 instead. Still, that was an excellent deal in my opinion.

sonatageek

If you are patient and looking for a particular item they can be a great deal. Most things have a normal price and 2-3 sale prices at different discount levels. Not this year, but the previous few years they would have Panaracer Pasela TG tires for under $10. (wish that would come back). By waiting until they were on the deepest sale, got panniers, trekking bars and some other stuff at very attractive prices over the past year.

Bioflamingo

As far as what sites to use other than nashbar, I use amazon for new stuff and get many used parts on ebay. The only thing I buy locally is the occasional random item at walmart/target.