Why do I have to verify my account?

Help Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by SStein, Jun 26, 2015.

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  1. SStein

    SStein Initiate (0) Dec 26, 2012 Colorado

    As an American Soldier stationed in Europe, one of the biggest complaints over here is how American focused this site is and this proves it. In the U.S. you are paying text charges to verify. For me to verify I have to pay the price of a decent 6 pack or a moderate bomber ( or for that price here In Belgium the price of any high end Cantillion at the brewery) to prove I am me. Normally I would care less, but verifying was made mandatory to be able to trade. Once again, I wouldn't care but I have an open trade, that is about to be complete and it screws my trading partner. How can someone honestly justify having people pay $10 to verify to do what we have been doing for free for years?

     
    #1 SStein, Jun 26, 2015
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  2. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Agree with OP. I'm not an active trader, but am currently in a BIF. I won't be able to participate in any more BIFs unless I verify, which I prefer not to do.
     
    #2 BBThunderbolt, Jun 26, 2015
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  3. woemad

    woemad Grand Pooh-Bah (5,601) Jun 8, 2003 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I verified a few minutes ago, and it shows on my account that I am officially Verified, but I'm still shut out of the BIF thread I was taking part in. Thus far, the benefits do seem slim.
     
    #3 woemad, Jun 26, 2015
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  4. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    We've already outlined some of the reasons why we've introduced validation, and we realize that some will have no desire to validate their accounts. But we've deemed it necessary to apply verification to portions of the site to help protect the community at large.

    And there's nothing stopping you from completing your trade. You still have full access to your Inbox, which is where I'm assuming the trade is taking place. The only thing you won't have access to is the feedback system. We can help clear any open trades if you opt to not verify.
     
    #4 Todd, Jun 26, 2015
  5. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yup, I started that thread, and I can't even give "likes" to the posts.
     
    #5 BBThunderbolt, Jun 26, 2015
  6. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    #6 Todd, Jun 26, 2015
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  7. andrejes

    andrejes Crusader (433) Jun 10, 2011 Netherlands

    Why do we (outside US) have to paid for verification??
    Does anyone know this???


    Account Verification
    Paid account verification is a one-time fee that's valid for the lifetime of your account. No refunds. No transfers. No exceptions. Learn more: How to Verify Your Account.
     
    #7 andrejes, Jun 27, 2015
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  8. FATC1TY

    FATC1TY Pooh-Bah (2,564) Feb 12, 2012 Georgia
    Pooh-Bah

    It's because you are not verified.. Has nothing to do with you creating it. You won't be able to like or post anything in the trading section, without it.
     
    #8 FATC1TY, Jun 27, 2015
  9. HopBelT

    HopBelT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,619) Mar 18, 2014 Belgium
    In Memoriam Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    You don't have to. It's optional.
     
    #9 HopBelT, Jun 27, 2015
  10. Hayley_86

    Hayley_86 Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2014 Netherlands

    Unfortunately BenBreeg the fact that it is optional doesn't answer the question posed above. And I am wondering the same thing.

    Why do we have to pay for verification?

    In the US and Canada it is free, but for the rest of the world it is $ 9.99

    Surely this means we get something in return for our payment of $ 9.99 Surely we are treated in a special way since we have to pay a special fee. Well maybe BeerAdvocate actually is looking more to the outside world and not just to North America anymore. Maybe more users will join from europe in stead of using RateBeer or Untappd. Unfortunately I can't find the special treatment for the members outside of North America just yet. But maybe it is so good and top secret that it hasn't been revealed yet. Well even though I am very curious I have decided for now not to fork over $ 10 to find out what this wonderful deal is just yet.

    So I will wait my time and see what comes. Untill then I will not be a verified member. I will not be able to volunteer at BA fests (does anyone know how many BA fests are held outside of North America). I don't get a cool user banner and I don't get the extra BeerKarma. And even though I just succesfully started trading beer obviously I can't do that anymore either.

    So far I have not gained much from this new feature but I have lost a lot. Maybe mostly I have lost some faith in the fact that BeerAdvocate is a community aimed at everyone around the world who loves beer and wants to share that with kindred beergeeks. I'm not saying I will leave BA because that is not a decission I will take this lightly, but I will consider it.

    But maybe I am wrong. So first, let's look for an answer to the question:

    Why do we have to pay for verification?
     
    #10 Hayley_86, Jun 27, 2015
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  11. Hayley_86

    Hayley_86 Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2014 Netherlands

    I can understand why verification is desireable even if I might disagree with it.

    What I however don't understand is why it has to cost me $ 9.99 to verify. Can someone explain that to me?

    That is as I read it basically the question the OP asked. But it has remained unanswered.

    I also have strong opinions about the US-centric vibe this sends and am puzzled why this comes mere weeks after the BeerAdvocate Store Goes International (Please note that additional fees will apply.). But I will not go into that to much.
     
    #11 Hayley_86, Jun 27, 2015
  12. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    @Hayley_86: International SMS support is complicated and very expensive (over 600% more expensive) in comparison to US/Canada (dirt cheap), but we still wanted to give the rest of the world an option. So we picked a fee that wasn't too cheap, but still had enough value in which someone who pays to verify their account will take it as serious as someone who binds their number to their account for life.

    We're exploring support for other countries, but there's no timeline or guarantee given the technical and financial considerations.
     
    #12 Todd, Jun 27, 2015
  13. atpca

    atpca Pooh-Bah (1,652) Jun 10, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    US & Canada are verified via SMS. I assume that they either are using a lame SMS gateway and/or that they've not invested the (admittedly considerable) time in writing all the validation rules for all possible global mobile numbering schemes. Must say $9.99 USD does sound quite extreme. I understand they don't want to loose money on Paypal fees for every verification but you'd think you could do that for a small fraction of that cost.
     
    #13 atpca, Jun 27, 2015
  14. kbuzz

    kbuzz Initiate (0) Jan 22, 2011 North Carolina

    What if I don't have a cell phone? Am I completely screwed?
     
    #14 kbuzz, Jun 28, 2015
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  15. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    #15 Todd, Jun 28, 2015
  16. kbuzz

    kbuzz Initiate (0) Jan 22, 2011 North Carolina

    Gotcha...thought that was only available for international folks...thanks.
     
    #16 kbuzz, Jun 28, 2015
  17. kscaldef

    kscaldef Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2010 Oregon

    Wait, what happens if someone changes their phone number?
     
    #17 kscaldef, Jun 28, 2015
  18. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes, I understand that. I was expressing disappointment that I'm no longer able to play along.
     
    #18 BBThunderbolt, Jun 28, 2015
  19. PA-Michigander

    PA-Michigander Grand Pooh-Bah (3,372) Nov 10, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    You update your number on verify page.
     
    #19 PA-Michigander, Jun 28, 2015
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  20. HopBelT

    HopBelT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,619) Mar 18, 2014 Belgium
    In Memoriam Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I really don't see any advantage in this 'verified membership'.
    It's like paying €18 for a bottle of Westvleteren in some random Brussels beershop. :wink:
     
    #20 HopBelT, Jun 28, 2015
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