Yo. Attn: ASC: Payment options

[shadowborn]

Hi ASC.

You don't have a contact option on your website (nor, you know, the other things that are required in the EU, but that's besides the point).

Hence, the only way I can possibly send you a heads-up is this forum, as odd as that is.

I just wanted to let you know what I just pre-ordered the C130J. However, I did that in the ED store. I am kinda assuming that you get the same revenue no matter where stuff is bought, but on the other hand, there are loads of people claiming "support your local DCS developer (by buying on their website)". I don't know which one it is.

I would have happily bought on your site, but you seem to only offer Google Pay and various credit cards? Much like many, many people and primarily Europeans these days, I don't have a credit card; only a VISA Debit card, which very likely would not have worked. Also, I prefer some sort of abstraction/non-proliferation stragegy with credit card numbers, and as much as I generally despise Paypal, they are still my go-to method.

Please consider adding Paypal in the future, should you desire more sales on your own website.

Best regards.

Edited Tuesday at 11:11 AM by shadowborn

[BIGNEWY]

Hi shadowborn, 

I can not answer your questions about ASC website, I am sure they will when they see your post. 

But to answer your question about if buying from the 3rd party developer or ED direct matters, it does not, ultimately ED are the ones that issue the key to the third party. 

I hope that helps answer at least part of your question. 

best regards

bignewy

[GUCCI]

4 hours ago, shadowborn said:

Please consider adding Paypal in the future, should you desire more sales on your own website.

Funny enough, (and I don't speak for ASC, im merely a member in their community discord)

they had set up their paypal account to take orders, and the influx of money/orders on august 1st got them flagged and shut down by paypal.

after fighting their case with PP support, they couldn't get it opened again.

IDK if or when they'll offer paypal after that negative experience.. LOL!

 

[shadowborn]

Quote

after fighting their case with PP support, they couldn't get it opened again.

Sadly, this is exactly what I meant by "as much as I despise Paypal". I had my own struggles with them and they deserve to go bankrupt and down in financial flames more than probably anyone else on the planet. Their support is beyond infuriating.

Yet, as matters stand, they are also the only one who is nearly universally accepted. 

Edited Tuesday at 04:54 PM by shadowborn

[AhSoul]

I used a debit card to pay on the ASC site, so a credit card was not necessary.

Edited yesterday at 01:29 PM by AhSoul

[Someone]

On 10/7/2025 at 3:43 AM, BIGNEWY said:

Hi shadowborn, 

I can not answer your questions about ASC website, I am sure they will when they see your post. 

But to answer your question about if buying from the 3rd party developer or ED direct matters, it does not, ultimately ED are the ones that issue the key to the third party. 

I hope that helps answer at least part of your question. 

best regards

bignewy

This is incorrect. While it is true that from the perspective for the customer, there is no difference, it’s quite different from the perspective of the developer. 

 

While it may surprise you to learn that ED withholds all pre order revenue from 3rd parties until after they ship, this is the case.

 

In this way, purchases on the ASC site directly fund ongoing development, while payments on the ED site don’t help us until some time later.  

 

In a steady state/post release environment, it doesn’t make much difference, but pre-release, it actually does. 

[Someone]

On 10/7/2025 at 2:11 AM, shadowborn said:

Hi ASC.

You don't have a contact option on your website (nor, you know, the other things that are required in the EU, but that's besides the point).

Hence, the only way I can possibly send you a heads-up is this forum, as odd as that is.

I just wanted to let you know what I just pre-ordered the C130J. However, I did that in the ED store. I am kinda assuming that you get the same revenue no matter where stuff is bought, but on the other hand, there are loads of people claiming "support your local DCS developer (by buying on their website)". I don't know which one it is.

I would have happily bought on your site, but you seem to only offer Google Pay and various credit cards? Much like many, many people and primarily Europeans these days, I don't have a credit card; only a VISA Debit card, which very likely would not have worked. Also, I prefer some sort of abstraction/non-proliferation stragegy with credit card numbers, and as much as I generally despise Paypal, they are still my go-to method.

Please consider adding Paypal in the future, should you desire more sales on your own website.

Best regards.

I’m somewhat unsure as to what ‘ like to see here? 

When you see the option for Visa cards, (as you clearly understand, per your post) that doesn’t mean visa “credit” cards, in the technical sense. It just means that the word Visa is on the piece of plastic that you are looking at.

Regarding PayPal, we actually did support PayPal at launch.  The experience went as follows:

1) We put PayPal on the site, and began collecting money.

2) Single digit hours post launch, I notice a small notification on the top corner of the PayPal website.

I click.

It says: “We need some more information about your business!”  

I open the window, and find questions like “Please show your suppliers receipts for XXXX order number”, along with identical requests from other order numbers. 

As a person selling a digital product… I have no “suppliers receipts”… I cannot, like, upload the receipts from my aluminum distributor, or something. 

But, I replied to these questions in good faith, attempting to clarify that the product sold here was a piece of software, with no physical suppliers, and that the deliverable was a license code. 

3) I press “submit” on the form, and am greeted by a page that says “your account is temporarily suspended, but we will review your submission within 72 business hours.”  This feels.. kind of like a long time, but sure.

4) Very shortly afterwards, the page reloads, and _now_ reads: “We have determined that we cannot support your business, and are permanently closing your account. We will release any funds collected by PayPal in 180 days.”  

This is not a joke…

So, no. We wont be using PayPal. Not now, not ever. If you doubt this story, just google “PayPal closed my business account”, and you'll find dozens of identical stories.

 

Regarding your concern about separation of… whatever: modern pin-and-chip cards, and the transactions they execute (ie: google/Apple Pay) do not actually result in your literal credit card number ever being shared with the vendor. Further, I (the asc owner) am not in a position to receive your card number EVER, regardless. Instead, Stripe, the company who processes a majority of the worlds credit/debit cards payments deal with such a thing.

Stripe is not getting hacked. 

 

Last, as to whether it matters whether you purchase the c-130 from ASC directly, see my post above.

 

[MAXsenna]

@Someone

Thank you for the PayPal explanation even if you didn't have to.

Not defending PayPal in anyway, but I'm thinking they're tired of all the refunds they have to accommodate due to scammers, and that's why they're keeping the money for the time customers can claim refunds of undelivered products.

Me as a customer try to use PayPal as much as I can for those exact reasons whenever I shop online. 

Cheers! 

[Someone]

17 minutes ago, MAXsenna said:

@Someone

Thank you for the PayPal explanation even if you didn't have to.

Not defending PayPal in anyway, but I'm thinking they're tired of all the refunds they have to accommodate due to scammers, and that's why they're keeping the money for the time customers can claim refunds of undelivered products.

Me as a customer try to use PayPal as much as I can for those exact reasons whenever I shop online. 

Cheers! 

I’m not sure you’re internalized what i wrote though: I gave them all the information they asked for (including selfies with my drivers license, and confirmation of my business checking account), and they 

1) unilaterally closed it.

2) are keeping the money for half of a year.

I also should clarify that, per standard operating procedure, PayPal doesnt release _any_ money until 30 days have passed (solving for your concern re: scammers/chargebacks).

That’s not a company anyone should do business with.

Edited 10 hours ago by Someone

[MAXsenna]

1 minute ago, Someone said:

I’m not sure you’re internalized what i wrote though: I gave them all the information they asked for (including selfies with my drivers license, and confirmation of my business checking account), and they 

1) unilaterally closed it.

2) are keeping the money for half of a year.

That’s not a company anyone should do business with.

Oh, I believe you, and I'm on your side. As a seller, neither would I. Totally understandable!  

Like I wrote, I was not defending them in anyway. While as a customer, the refund policy is pretty good. Maybe that's what happened.  

[NAM]

For anyone defend them..

Google "paypal honey scam"  

[Hiob]

3 hours ago, MAXsenna said:

@Someone

Thank you for the PayPal explanation even if you didn't have to.

Not defending PayPal in anyway, but I'm thinking they're tired of all the refunds they have to accommodate due to scammers, and that's why they're keeping the money for the time customers can claim refunds of undelivered products.

Me as a customer try to use PayPal as much as I can for those exact reasons whenever I shop online. 

Cheers! 

Sorry, we're usually in the same boat, but not this time. 

Paypal is merely a criminal enterprise with absolutely zero consideration of applicable law. They screw over consumers all the same as vendors. I had my share of problems with them on both sides. 

Embracing Paypal, sorry for being blunt, makes you part of the problem. (In this particular matter)

Please, no hard feelings! 

 

Oh, full disclosure: I shut down any use of paypal about two years ago. For the most part it wasn't a problem. I just used VISA for the most part. Recently there was ONE frickin' piece of software I couldn't get my hands on any other way, so I reluctantly opened another account with PP. I still hate myself for it.....

So I'm also part of the problem (at least a small one...)

Edited 7 hours ago by Hiob

[Hiob]

@Someone Honestly, I wasn't aware about the liquidity aspect of the purchase directly from the 3rd party vs. ED. Thanks for the Heads up. I can see why ED handles it this way, and I think it's ok both way. If they collect the money, they have responsibility towards their customer. Whereas when someone buys directly from you (giving you the advantage of liquidity), you owe them and ED isn't to blame.
So I don't see a a problem with either approach, but it is good to have options and know the implications. I will consider this in the future!

Oh and I should never fail to mention: I'm hyped for your Module and can't wait to lay hands on it! 

[BIGNEWY]

6 hours ago, Someone said:

This is incorrect. While it is true that from the perspective for the customer, there is no difference, it’s quite different from the perspective of the developer.

I wasn't discussing contracts, that would be against my NDA, I was reassuring the customer that the keys are issued by Eagle Dynamics. 

thank you 

[Kang]

11 hours ago, Someone said:

This is incorrect. While it is true that from the perspective for the customer, there is no difference, it’s quite different from the perspective of the developer. 

 

While it may surprise you to learn that ED withholds all pre order revenue from 3rd parties until after they ship, this is the case.

 

Good thing you are close to the release then!