[DaftBud]

This question is specific, but I think it's also fairly relevant to all newb growers.

While buying all the stuff for your first grow, how paranoid is too paranoid?

For example, let's say you bought a few case fans on your credit card. Would it be going overboard to worry about buying your bulbs on the same card? Would those two purchases on your statement be enough to warrant a knock and talk or a full on search if the bacon company were to find a reason to be suspicious?

[darwinsbulldog]

yeah i often wonder the same thing mate because i buy a lot of stuff over the internet, i do my best to pay in cash at any place i can get the stuff i need from close by, but yeah i'm still yet to hear of a single person who was spoken to, arrested, charged etc by the cops initially because of them looking at credit cards etc. a lot of the times if you check your credit card bill etc it'll just list the location and total amount spent not give products etc in a list form, but yeah i dunno if they can get access to that if the bank saves it at all or if they can go to the shop and suss it out. but i think they'd have bigger things to worry about than small time home growers and chasing anyone who buys a 1000watt hps. lol maybe if you order 10 of them from the same place they'll get suss.

also if you're worried about seeds and buying them, quite often from what i hear the shops that sell them from the netherlands etc have fake company names like "london bathroom lighting" and their return address is UK instead of NL etc, so your bill gives nothing away. also they package them so they don't get caught by customs and also shred ALL of their paper work including credit card details etc regarding your purchase after they've shipped the item.

just be as vigilant as you can i guess and hopefully no trouble comes your way! hope that helped put your mind at rest, if only a little

peace, darwin

[VerdantGreen]

compared to many people i know - im 'paranoid'. i take as few risks as i can (and so far so good *touch wood*). i would say you were more likely to be observed visiting a hydro shop than ordering on the internet but thats jmo. i always buy from regular gardening sites if possible.

remember there is no penalty for being too careful except the inconvenience.
the penalty for not being careful enough is much worse

as for your lamp. try and buy it off a company that isnt obviously just there to serve weed growers.

VG.

[ISP_SmokeTrain]

^^^ Very well put. I also like using cash, as much as possible instead of cards, because cards document everything too well. Like for buying peat moss, perlite, worm castings or other basic staples. There are plenty of Nursery Suppliers on the net, that service big commercial greenhouses. They carry the same basic products -> lights, bulbs, reflectors, and don't raise redflags like going to IGROWPHATDANKBUDS dot com. I just made that up, but you get my point.

[High Country]

I don't think the purchase of equipment gets me paranoid.

It's the 36 plant SOG, 24 mums and about 40 clones on the go at any one time that gets me a little nervous, only sometimes though.

I don't even sell the shit.

[Fuel]

Using a credit card and be paranoid is not so compatible. So, you're absolutely not paranoid.

[NHMI]

I wouldn't worry about it. Just go to HTG supply or order from ebay if worried...I haven't had any issues and I ordered a ton of stuff...

[NHMI]

The leading cause of incarceration is the "best friend" so don't have one or let them know what you are doing and you will be safer...

[w3weasel]

Pre-Paid Visa Gift Card.

The solution to your paranoia.

[K.J]

Paranoid enough to keep you out of the clink, but not so paranoid as to put you in the loony bin. That's my rule of thumb.