Subscription service seems to be a big hassle

[ChipmunkPDX]

As a new Pathfinder Player (The Strange Aeons Path brought me on board), I signed up for 6 different subscription services. Well, it might just be because of my bank (a smaller military bank) but it seems that way its done causes me issues. Why they charge a hold of the entire amount, then release it later, and then a few days later charge it again, it keeps flagging it as fraud. I know I can call my bank, which I plan to if it happens a third time, but it is just frustrating. Just charge me the first time... I made the order. Then when it can't process, because of the way they are doing things, it seems to put me at the end of some sort of cue. My current order has now been pending for a long time. I have placed an addition order since then. It was processed and shipped, but my subscription order is still pending. Honestly, it would be cheaper for me to get things through big discount chains, but wanted to deal with a local (I live in the Pacific Northwest) company. While the free PDFs are nice, not sure if all this is worth the hassle. Anyone else have issues with the charging and release and recharging their bank card? Or if the first time they charged it not going through almost "punished" by them taking forever to then get to you?

[Anguish]

I'm sure a Paizo CSR will offer you more details, but I can explain part of what's going on here.

The first "charge" isn't actually a charge. It's an authorization.

Imagine this. You go to a gas station, and you swipe your card. The pump lets you select "up to $20, up to $40, up to $60" or whatever. When you make that selection, the pump contacts your bank and attempts and authorization for that amount, to confirm that a charge can be placed. Then you pump your gas. When you're done, the authorization is dropped and the actual amount is charged to your card.

Point is, your bank should be viewing the authorization and charge as two separate but related events. It is not fraudulent.

Paizo only charges you when they ship product, unlike most online vendors that charge you when you place your order, and ship whenever they get around to it. I imagine the authorization process for subscription products is done to avoid the labour of packing up a shipment only to discover the credit card is declined.

[ChipmunkPDX]

And my bank usually is ok with this... I think it is because of the time it takes. Usually, like at a gas station, there is a check and then it charges usually within 24 hours. I just noticed the hold was for about a week, then goes away, then charges with days between. I will talk to my bank, but was curious if I'm the only one experiencing it. I would prefer them to charge the card when I make the order personally.

[Steve Geddes]

They aren't allowed to charge you until they ship your goods. That's a Credit Card Company rule that many producers ignore, as I understand things. (FWIW, I'd also prefer they take my money at order and then ship the things whenever, but you do often see people make changes when they realise they're getting items they don't want - so I guess this way provides a kind of "are you sure?" window for subscribers).

In terms of going forward, the subscription process takes a varying amount of time each month. Sometimes you'll be at the front of the queue and your payment will be charged close to the authorisation. Other times it will be late in the process (like this month, by the sounds) and the auth will expire. I daresay every bank is different - my bank queried the first time it happened but now obviously has Paizo set as some kind of 'approved merchant' on my account, since I've had zero problems since then.

The algorithm for queue-creating is complicated, I believe. From my experience, having preorders of non-paizo products in my sidecart nearly always creates an issue that needs a Customer Service prod. In fact, any sidecart items from other publishers seem to push me to the end of the line - if I have a particular desire for a rapid subscription shipment, I generally try to have nothing in my sidecart. <-- That's all conjecture on my part based on experience. I don't have any special knowledge about it.

Ultimately, the 'problem' stems from Paizo having an opt-out subscription service. They like to warn you "this is what you're about to get this month" so you can look at postage, payment method, shipping address and the various items you're about to receive and make any changes you want. They could just hold off and auth/charge/ship on the same day - but there are a number of people each month who post after authorisation and before shipping with issues along the lines of "Oh, I meant to cancel. Please don't send me this month's products." so I guess it's a courtesy to us.