online pharms & dodgy payment processes

[29mUK]

What's with all the online pharmacies requiring payment via some shady looking third party money "host" site?

I've ordered meds before & paid through Western Union... which is admittedly shady in itself, but somewhat easy to follow at least!

However, every recommendation for places to get Pentox I've seen on here seems to want me to wire money into a third party account for use as "credits", then transfer it over to them. The company River are using not only looks completely Mickey-mouse, but is also incredibly confusing to use - esp for someone in the UK who's fairly novice with "fed" numbers & the like...

Does Gold use a similar payment technique?

[UrsusMinor]

I suspect that this has to do with not letting the Customs folks strike back at the parent company--or at least making it harder. But for all I can tell it might be some international money-laundering scheme.

It does seem to the the most common approach in this business, however.

[james1947]

Buying Pentox and Cialis from:
https://www.riverpharmacy.ca/index.php
I am not the only one on the forum.
Paid always with credit card, had never any problems with them.

James

[29mUK]

Buying Pentox and Cialis from:
https://www.riverpharmacy.ca/index.php
I am not the only one on the forum.
Paid always with credit card, had never any problems with them.

James

You can't use a credit card at River James. At least, I can't anyway. Maybe I'm missing something? Or perhaps something's changed recently?  

[UrsusMinor]

I've used one there just recently, but you have to call them and give it to them over the phone. There's a note (and phone number) to that effect somewhere along the purchase chain. And then they tell you the name under which the store will appear on your credit card.

They also e-mail a receipt which includes the information abut the order, and then gives you a username and password so you can log in and track your order.

I ordered on May 24. As of today, status is still 'PROCESSING.'

So we shall see. They definitely take cards somewhere along the way, and my card has been billed. Now to see whether the goods show up!

(I note that they are probably the most recommended pharmacy by folks on this forum, so I'm guessing they are reliable. But anything, even books, that has to clear customs, can be subject to all manner of delays and even rejections. I ordered a traction device from the UK, and US Customs turned it back as an unsanctioned medical device!)

[nemo]

That's correct, River Pharm will accept a card but you have to call.  It's a very nice lady.  I've ordered Cialis and Pentox twice and have had very good results - I trust them with further business.  

Nemo

[UrsusMinor]

As Nemo says, it's a very nice lady on the phone, and the way she explained things actually gave me more confidence than the usual online ordering.

Assuming that we had the same person, that it. If not, then they have at least two nice ladies working there.  

[29mUK]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

I've used one there just recently, but you have to call them and give it to them over the phone. There's a note (and phone number) to that effect somewhere along the purchase chain.

Now that you mention this, I do notice a number along the top of the page. I was reluctant to use it because I'm in the UK & wanted to avoid paying call costs if possible, but it looks like I might have to fold! Is this nice lady you mention easy to understand?

anything, even books, that has to clear customs, can be subject to all manner of delays and even rejections. I ordered a traction device from the UK, and US Customs turned it back as an unsanctioned medical device!

You're right. I once ordered some stuff from napsgear.net & UK customs opened the parcel (but let it through nonetheless! Added in a little note to let me know they were onto me though)

The other option for me is goldpharm. I believe they ship from within the EU so don't go through the same customs checks (this may be completely incorrect!). I've seen them recommended by a couple of users on here... anyone know if they have an easy to use payment system?

[UrsusMinor]

Now that you mention this, I do notice a number along the top of the page. I was reluctant to use it because I'm in the UK & wanted to avoid paying call costs if possible, but it looks like I might have to fold! Is this nice lady you mention easy to understand?

I encountered the number only when I was actually in the process of ordering and it offered me the option of calling instead--so I'm not sure if it's the same number at the top of the page. (In any case, it sounds as if you need to get Skype on your computer. Call internationally for only a few cents a minute.)

As to the nice lady, to my ear she sounded Anglo-Canadian--that is, Middle American but with a slight tendency to say "aboot" for "about" and "oot" for "out." I suspect she's actually in Canada somewhere! So I understood her effortlessly.

[nemo]

I think it's the same lady.  I suspect it's a "one man show" but I could be wrong.  At any rate, seems reliable and provides good customer service.  

[skunkworks]

With regards to River, I just emailed and said could you please send me a payment link as I'm in Australia and calling you would be a big hassle. They sent me a Paypal invoice link an hour or so later, and I paid with visa. Order is due to arrive in 6 days or so.

[james1947]

First order from River was paid by my sister from the US with credit card (initiated in the US).
I am paying from Indonesia with credit card (initiated in Indonesia).
Never had a problem with it.

James  

[UrsusMinor]

Got my shipment from River Pharmacy. They arrived promptly and as promised. (The shipper declared them as "Sample Meds" for customs purposes.)

The only inconvenience is that they were sent "signature required" so someone had to be around. I was in London at the time! (Someone went down to the Post Office to get them for me.)

As a data point, I ordered them on May 24; arrived in the USPS system in the US on Jun 1; went to customs on June 2; cleared customs on June 4; were delivered on Jun 5. I could track the order status on the River Pharmacy website until they dispatched, and since they gave me a link to the USPS International Express Mail shipping number, I could follow its movement through the US postal process. All in all, very professional.

The items themselves are in packaging (blister packs) that appear to be the standard packaging. In the case of the Pentox, they are labeled as Trental, and are in packaging where the labeling is designed for the US market (complete with stamped-on manufacturing date (Mar 2014 in this case).

The Cialis is labeled Megalis, uses British spelling (e.g. "colour"), has the name printed in Hindi as well, and appears to be for the Indian market. They are date-stamped as well (Sep 2013), have a 'recommended sales price' 'INCL. OF ALL TAXES' of 108.9 Rupees for a packet of 4 10 mg tablets (abuot $4.40 US per pill), and have an Indian manufacturing address.  

I am rather confident that these are the real goods. Setting up the packaging to sell fake Pentox would be more expensive than reselling real Pentox. And, in the case of the Cialis, if the goal is to sell fake goods overseas, then why make it so obvious it is from (and for) India? Why not fake up US or European packaging?

So, I'm quite satisfied with my purchase process.

[29mUK]

Thanks for the update, UrsusMinor. Received my aye-ok as well, within a week no-less! Likewise, appears to be legit - as far as I can tell. Impressed to say the least.

[UrsusMinor]

Received my aye-ok as well, within a week no-less!

Wow. Maybe things move faster within the Commonwealth?

I guess we're still being punished for that whole Revolution thing

[skunkworks]

Mine arrived also, certainly seems to give the same feeling of faint nausea that brand pentox does. Fingers crossed it is legit.

[james1947]

I am sure River Pentox is legit.
I had the same symptoms like with the ones got in the local pharmacy with the doctor prescription.
Just 20% the pharmacy price

James  

[29mUK]

certainly seems to give the same feeling of faint nausea that brand pentox does.

I only experienced this on the first day. Usually meds wreak havoc with my stomach, so - based on what people have said on here - I expected Pentox to cause me more jip. Not sure whether to be concerned that it hasn't; or just put it down to an unusual amount of tolerance from my body!

[UrsusMinor]

Not everybody experiences nausea. I do, but usually no more than I get from too many vitamins.

According to the clinical trials (which were for intermittent claudication), only 14% of users in the study group reported nausea. So it's actually a minority reaction.

[Voltage]

Hey guys, I've been in need of some cialis, so I ordered from riverpharmacy.ca and gave them my debit number. I saw mod James did that, so I figured these guys will be honest. I only have one transaction on record, but it appears two withdrawals have been made on my account, accumulating the same amount as each other. I'm skeptical about calling my credit union, because I'm worried wether or not I did something legal. (I live in the US). Any advice would be worth a million. Thanks guys

[nemo]

Don't panic - just call the lady at River Pharmacy - she's very nice and will gladly get your payment issue straightened out.  

Nemo

[Voltage]

Hey Nemo,

Thanks for the reply.

I ended up calling river twice. One lady insisted that riverpharmacy would never do such a thing and left it at that. But then I called again today and Karen answered the phone. She made absolutely sure to check our transaction records and cross referenced them for me. Finally, I called my credit union and it all checks out clean. Perhaps it was poor management on my end. Riverpharmacy has been extremely helpful and it doesn't seem to me they play games. I don't think I'll try any other online vendor.

[nemo]

Right, Karen, I couldn't remember her name, but that sounds right.  Always seems very helpful and friendly.  So far I've had two orders with them for Cialis and Pentox and had absolutely no troubles whatsoever, so glad you got things straightened out.  I think you'll find them on the up-and-up, and a GREAT resource for us.  

Best,
Nemo