So, are we going to have a 42 page thread where we all preach to the converted, or do we actually do something this time?
We're going to have a 42 page thread, dammit! Same as we always do!
As to providing copies of documents as proof of age, this is pretty standard. The fact that a customer was contacted immediately after making an online purchase is a sign that things are probably legit and, frankly, I'm quite impressed. If you are worried, you ask the caller to state their name, the company they work for, and then call them back after you've checked the number on the web.
There is a simple answer for those 'oi don't be trusting the interweb, they be wanting to rip me orf!' types - if you don't want to confirm your ID, don't buy the goods, but don't complain about it afterwards. There's nothing wrong with businesses trying to protect themselves from fraud and illegal activities. Don't try and worry Iona abut being part of a vendor's process to avoid court action/TSOs, etc - not helpful at all and a very Daily Mail/Express thing to do. Surely we should applaud this type of check as it will help the case for continuing online sales?
My dad won't buy anything from the internet as he's too scared because of hyped articles in the Daily Mail/Express/GMTV/etc. I buy loads of stuff through eBay, online websites, etc, and have confirmed age/ID a number of times too, and I have never - REPEAT NEVER - been ripped-off/cloned/etc. It's just a matter of being careful and, if you don't feel comfortable about something, don't buy. Simple.
As for knife sales, I suspect that it will go the way of airguns with face-to-face deals only. This won't make any difference to kids stabbing each other as they'll just take a knife from the kitchen. I believe it's a cultural/peer-pressure/fear issue and won't be resolved by cutting off the supply of Bernie Garland bushcraft knives - what 13-year old is going to spend £150 on a bushcraft tool?
I worry that banning online sales will affect the small, specialist makers who cannot get their products into shops. Their only outlets will be the moots/shows/festivals or personal contact. Part of me says that if someone wants a Dave Budd creation that much, they'll travel to the South-West to get one anyway! However, this will still result in reduced revenues for those that deserve better.
What about if you buy a knife at a game fair? If the vendor asked for a copy of your ID for their records, so they could prove at a later date that their sales were legal, would you do it? Or, would you say 'No way!' and give them a hard time, quoting 'human rights', 'data protection', 'personal privacy', and so on?
So, if Dave Budd or Bernie Garland, or any other of the makers on this site, ask you to send a copy of your ID, is your answer going to be 'No' because you trust no-one? Or are you going to help these guys make a living?
I'd choose the latter. What would you do?
PS - Before anyone has a go at me as I'm selling a couple of knives and an axe in 'Member Classifieds', not only do I demand a declaration, I also check age through the forum membership pages (if possible), and I will only go ahead with the sale if that person pays using a Paypal account in their name. I have already refused a sale previously as someone wanted to use a family member's Paypal account as they didn't have their own. Not a perfect system, I know, but the best I can do at the moment. I hope others follow a similar process.
