Hi GA people,

I've noticed quiet a few questioners are asking about the authenticity
about some sites and you guys seem to be pretty good at finding out if
they are real or scammers.

Well, I think I've been "had"......

Two weeks ago, I order a product from this site:
 http://www.starnamer.org/index.htm

I paid extra $$$ for "priority delivery" which they said would take
3-4 business days after my product left their facility in NJ.

Yesterday, I tried to call the 800 number on their website, but the
person I spoke to said this number is just for order taking and that
they could not "track" my order.

I subsequently sent 2 requests about my order status/whereabouts, via
their "contact us" link...

No response to date.....

I'm getting really worried now as I spent a fair amount of money on
this product, which was to be a birthday gift for a special person :(

Could someone check out this site and let me know if its legit or not?

Thanks so much in advance,

( a worried ) Steph53

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Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 18 Jan 2006 16:46 PST

Dear Steph53,

I decided not to post an answer you'd have to pay for, but rather some
advice that may prove useful. Should it help, you can always let me
know and I can make it an answer; should it prove useless, you have
not lost anything.

I checked the background of StarNamer and found out that the founder
and owner is one Glenn Conti, who also owns the CD/DVD duplication
company Princeton Disc. And that's not all: StarNamer's address (600
Bay Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ) is also the address of the
Princeton Disc headquater. The New Jersey corporation database lists
"StarNamer" only as a registered NJ trademark, but not as a company.
And owner Glenn Conti's personal website (not listed here for privacy
reasons - it includes his residential address) has a link to
StarNamer. Therefore, I assume that StarNamer is only a subsidary of
Princeton Disc.

I suggest that you use the Princeton Disc telephone number and insist
on being connected with someone responsible - after all, StarNamer is
located in the same building, owned by the same person.

Here are the Princeton Disc telephone numbers: 800-426-0247 (toll
free) or 732-892-5655.

If that leads to success, let me know!
Greetings,
Scriptor

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Clarification of Question by steph53-ga on 19 Jan 2006 17:10 PST

Hi Scriptor...

I just left a message at that number.I'll let you know if they call
back by 4:30pm EST tomorrow. If they do, then feel free to post as
answer so you can get paid.

Right now, I'm at the point of cancelling my order. I called my Visa's
bank and started proceedings to reverse my charges. I will not be
accepting the package if/when it arrives and will return it to sender.

A tough lesson has been learned by me. After years of online purchases
with no trouble, I have now realized that indeed, there are some
"shady companies" out there.

Thanks all,

Steph53

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Clarification of Question by steph53-ga on 23 Jan 2006 16:32 PST

Well, I have not heard back after leaving phone messages at the number
you provided, Scriptor.

I also have not received my package and it is now 2 weeks from the date I ordered.

I'll cancel this question as I plan to seek re-imbursement through my
VISA provider.

Thanks all,

Steph53

Steph,

I'm sorry to tell you that the whole "star naming" industry is
essentially a scam. I could make up a nice certificate that says there
is a star whose name is "Steph53," but this would have no official
standing nor meaning whatsoever in astronomical circles. It's a lot
like selling deeds to acreage on the moon (which is also being done).

http://www.iau.org/IAU/FAQ/starnames.html

My Mother bought both ny kids something very similar, --they had a
star nemed after them and received a beautiful large certificate with
the formaer name of the star (basically the address or how to locate
it and their full name in calligraphy, a large map showing where the
star is in the sky (points to that address on the certificate), and a
registration certificate showing their named star had been filed with
the Library of Congress. The stamp looked official, but hey, I'm no
expert at determining if it is actually filed.

I have no idea if it's real, but my kids LOVED them, and that made it
worth every penny.

Sure the names get filed. As a similar company's ad states, "the book
of star names will have a copy officially on file with the Library of
Congress."

As does every single book published in the US.

Steph

So sorry to hear of your plight.

However, all is not lost because I hereby name you 'Sirius' - the
Brightest Star in the Universe.

May you long continue to bring cheer to your friends in this here GA-laxy.

Best Wishes

Mike

Awwwwwwwwww...mikomoro....

You are too sweet ;(

Hi,

Search Engine:  GOOGLE
Search Term:    intitle:starnamer

Brings up some websites that may be of interest.

Kind regards
Ross (Australia)