Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Non-Tech : Ameritrade Vs. SureTrade? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jim Fisher who wrote (15)	5/4/1998 2:10:00 PM
From: Mike Sawyer	Respond to of 40

I've got an account with Suretrade that I can't wait to get out of. If I wasn't expecting my stocks to move at any time I would close out today. Suretrade is very poor quality. The only thing that they have is very good free research areas. I will keep the account open with a few shares of something just for that. I think that I am going to move to NDB. Others have told me that if the web is slow your Net provider is down you can call them and get them on the phone in 2-3 minutes usually. Never more than 5. With Suretrade it took over 45 minutes both time I ever called them. And the email support is non-existant. All they do is reply 2-3 days later with a canned response of which is just the online FAQ in email form. That sucks! I understand NDB will allow you to have multiple trades of the same stock on the same day for the single price of under $20. And they allow any number of shares on NASDAQ or OTC stocks. That makes it great when I'm needing to buy 50,000 shares of a stock under 10 cents. I can split it into 10 trades of 5K and still only pay the one trade fee...I think it was $19.75. They only limit the shares on Listed (AMEX/NYSE) to 5,000 at the $19.75. NDB also allows you to enter buys and sells at decimal settings. That makes it great on small stocks that trade in 1/2 penny moves. With Suretrade you are limited to 1/32 increments which really stinks! Does anybody have any experience or comments on NDB (National Discount Broker - ndb.com )? I have heard that they had problems in the past but have really done a good job as of late. Good Luck...and may we all buy the next KTEL before it goes up! Mike Sawyer

To: Jim Fisher who wrote (15)	5/7/1998 2:35:00 PM
From: Mike Sawyer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 40

You ain't jokin' brutha! Any broker...as long as it's not Suretrade! Look at the problems I'm having with Suretrade today... I have tried to put in a sell order twice today and both times it has not given me the verification info. It only asks for the trading password to complete the trade. Darned if I will complete it before they tell me what I just ordered them to do. All the other times they gave me a trade verification page that said exactly what I wanted them to do and then asked me for my password at the bottom. I'm so dang mad I could chew nails! And to top it off...I sent a message to them at both service@ and support@ email addresses and both came back with STUPID answers. Look at them... Here's what I sent them... >>>>>>>>> I just tried to enter an order to sell 2,900 shares of BANY at 2 7/8 and when the verification page came up...there was NO information on my trade! All it wanted was my trading number to complete the trade. I did not and will not enter my trade password without your system telling me what I just ordered it to do. I would like an explanation of what's going on! This site is so slow and now this. I am about to move my account if I don't get a good explanation. Thank you for your help on this matter. >>>>>>> Here's the response from service@suretrade.com... ///////////// Return-Path: <infosys@quick-reilly-group.com> Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 13:09:35 -0400 Errors-To: support@suretrade.com From: support@suretrade.com Reply-To: support@suretrade.com To: ms97@usa.net Subject: Re:problem with online trading ~~~ Thank you for your recent e-mail to SURETRADE customer support Your Trading Password/Pin is separate from your Login Password. Please use the original Password you created for yourself to log in to our site. If you have a Social Security number, your Trading Pin Number is defaulted to the last four digits of your social security number. Otherwise, it is assigned to the month and year of your birth date. For example, a birth date of January 20, 1997 would be assigned 0197. Only if you are a foreigner, e-mail me with the subject line "FNR/(YOUR ACCNT#) do not include your birth date in the e-mail for security reasons. I have access to your account information. I will set your password within 1 business day. We recommend, for your protection, that you change your password often. If you have forgotten your User Name and Password, or cannot access your account: click the "Open an Account" button. Create a NEW Username and Password. Do not try and replicate any previous User Name and Password you had with SURETRADE. Complete the Site Sign In form. Click "Next." Click on "Investor Home"(DO NOT OPEN A NEW ACCOUNT). Go to the "Account Services" heading, click the drop down arrow, select "Change/Add Account," click "Create a Link Account Online." Only use the first 8 digits of your Account Number. Complete the form. Click "Next." Click "Yes" I accept this agreement, and "Link Account." Click "Submit." Your account will be accessible from the Investor's Homepage within 1 business day. To change your Trading Password: Go to the "Account Services" heading, click the drop down arrow, and select "Change/Add Account." This message was generated with the assistance of "The Brain" - our state-of-the-art intelligence agent that helps us provide rapid answers to your e-mailed questions. Sometimes we have to teach it to be smarter. If this message does not entirely answer your question, please reply to this message by adding THE BRAIN to the subject area of the e-mail. Regards, Customer Support SURETRADE.COM Member NASD/SIPC /////////// And now here's the real winner I got when I sent the same email to service@suretrade.com ...I think the "BRAIN" farted... /////////// Return-Path: <infosys@quick-reilly-group.com> Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 13:25:36 -0400 Errors-To: support@suretrade.com From: support@suretrade.com Reply-To: support@suretrade.com To: ms97@usa.net Subject: Re:problem with online trading ~~~ Thank you for your recent e-mail to SURETRADE customer support Your Online Service Agreement (W-9)is being processing. I WILL expedite the processing and deter/release the 31% withholding tax if you will please fax a copy to us at (212)566-4358. You will be credited back the funds upon receipt, however, your balances screen will not update until 2-3 business days later. Please print on top of the application "Code4/Remove 31% W/H Tax". You may Re-print the Online Service Agreement (W- 9) from the web site. Simply select "I'll Print my App" under the "Open an Account" heading located on the Action Card. If you do not have a printer, request an Online Service Agreement: Go to the "Account Services" heading, select Apps/Forms, and choose option #3. This message was generated with the assistance of "The Brain" - our state-of-the-art intelligence agent that helps us provide rapid answers to your e-mailed questions. Sometimes we have to teach it to be smarter. If this message does not entirely answer your question, please reply to this message by adding THE BRAIN to the subject area of the e-mail. Regards, Customer Support SURETRADE.COM Member NASD/SIPC ////////////// Now it's damn scarry when you send them a message and about online trading and they send you a reply that they are going to start the ball rolling on not withholding 31% from your account. Good Grief!