Hacker Safe

[candypam]

Has anyone received the phone call from Hacker Safe people about the new service they are selling. I was told its running side by side with pricegrabber and Yahoo!.
I questioned why they were calling because I already have Hacker Safe, he told me this was something different, I said "show me"
He took me to pricegrabber site, typed in laptops and then look for a laptop that you like and click on "compare price. That page takes you to the stores lsiting that laptop, but he then pointed out the ""hacker safe" logo beside certain companies. He then told me it was soon a new feature with Yahoo stores. I said, rediculous, I already paid for Hacker Safe, and now I have to buy the new service to put the logo on other sites except my own? He said yes....hmmmmmm anyone else get the call?
Thanks
Pam

[Cactus_Robyn]

Hi! I looked into this, and although we feel Hacker Safe is a reputable designation, it would take time and testing to see if it is worth the extra fee for placement on Comparison Shopping Engines (CSE's).

[sgusa]

Can the CSE's get any more complicated? I'm getting tired of all the added "extras" to appear like a quality store on CSE's.

[spytown]

we also got the call from hackersafe in regard to that new service. we decided it was not worth the additional costs..

[2smokingbarrels]

I've read in more than one place that you can simply create your own using, you know, a padlock, effective copy and logos of the payment methods you accept and they can be just as effective. Of course, I have no data to back this up but I've thought it myself and think this would probably work. I've worked with VeriSign and TRUSTe, both very good but quite expensive. HackerSafe is more affordable but they're now becoming McAfee Secure so who knows if this new trustmark will be as effective. I imagine it will. I wouldn't pay to list it with a CSE unless they gave me a 30-day period to gather conversion data to see if the additional costs could be justified. A side note for McAfee: I contacted them a year ago because, like you guys, I wanted to add some more cred to our site (plus we didn't really have much to list on our press page) so I asked if I could state on our site that we were deemed safe by McAfee SiteAdvisor. They said sure, no problem ... cost = nothing. I wish our designers had used their actual logo when creating the page but again, a no-cost alternative. I've been working in e-commerce since '02 and I know these "trust insignias" work but I'd really like to know how they perform vs. one you create yourself.

[candypam]

Well I just read a rant on here from Liz about campaigner, so I thought maybe I should share my McAfee/Hacker Safe... ordeal to some of you that your contract is about to run out!!

yesterday I was reveiwing our May charge card statement with my accounting department. I noticed a $1800 charge from Scanalert ( McAfee/ Hackersafe). I couldn't figure out what that was for considering I had a call from them 2 weeks ago and a email, but it was all about an upgrade that was free of charge. SO I called them.
After going though SEVERAL people ( none had any explaination why I was charged) I finally get mad ( which is rare) and ask to speak to someone in accouting management.

She gets on the phone, and says, you were charged because your contract is up. Oh I said, she said look at the fine print from the contract you signed last year ( yeah right)...
she said it states there that we automatically charge you... ok.. she was right, but #1 my contract wasn't up, and #2... they were just bought out and just 2 weeks ago no one there that called me mentioned any price for anything, I actually asked and was told, they had no idea I would be contacted come that time...( yeah right)

so I told her all this, and she says "wait a minute till I review your website... hmmmm... ok I'l hold again, been only on hold now 6 times and 67 minutes later.. but I hold because I am furious. She gets back on and says.. Oh, it looks like we made a mistake ( no kidding) .. she says you were billed our highest rate, I said huh.. so then she explains, they are now billing per how many hits your website gets a day ( and that they scan)
and they take an average.. I said ok.. and? .. She says we owe you some money.. I said ok.. so you owe me money, but first how much is this service going to cost me? She says $800 something and change ( I forget real amount) I said ok so your crediting my card right, she says yes and we'll pro rate it for you. I said well that's great, but... what if i didn't notice this... how many others have you forgot to call or email with their new rates..
or are you banking on their fine print too..
i said your company called me 2 weeks ago and sent me a email about an upgrade period.. I said I flat out asked them there when my contract is up what will it cost and he told me he had no clue ( I have that email).. I said didnt your compnay know 2 weeks ago what a website like mine would be charged, or was this just made up today?
She again says.. we made a mistake, ( yes I know but i was trying to prove a point)... my point was.. I felt like they tried to sneak me in with out ever even telling me what my new rate was! She replys, oh no Pam, don't worry we are still the same employees from Hacker Safe and offer even better service.. ( oh really) I can still remember when I signed on with them last year how the hounded me and floode me with emails and offers and a PRICE to sign up, but now that they "have" me.. i don't even get a call... whats better about that service?
Anyway, Im never mad, and I was red hot on this one, because I felt taken advantage of in a sneaky way. SO check your contract dates and call them and ask just how much their going to charge your card! Oh... I fell into the billing structure of a website that gets between 6 and 10 thousand visits a day average, so if you get that many, you're looking at about $859 a year...
Done moaning now ;o)
Pam

[cactus_donnat]

Check out this blog post from a former HackerSafe employee (pre McAfee)-- basically the new HackerSafe badge is a link OFF your site....

What is McAfee thinking????? Crestapillsbury’s Weblog

Thought I'd share.

[Charmlady]

Cresta worked for Hacker safe and this an update to her earlier post about it...

Crestapillsbury’s Weblog

[cactus_donnat]

Originally Posted by Charmlady

Cresta worked for Hacker safe and this an update to her earlier post about it...

Crestapillsbury’s Weblog

Liz- great update- thanks for posting. It sure will be a blog to follow!! I can't believe the response McAfee gave!! In summary- "We know it's not good for our client...." Wow!

[candypam]

All I can say is Thank God Cresta had the guts to say it... kinda shows the power of a blog post huh!
Pam