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Topic: newbie from US, confused how to buy bitcoins (Read 2842 times)

newbie
Activity: 43
Merit: 0
intersango doesn't seem to be accepting new members. Can anyone recommend another painless USD to BTC exchange? One that works with say, direct deposit wire transfers and sepa transfers?
legendary
Activity: 3066
Merit: 1147
The revolution will be monetized!
I think you missed the part where he said the closest bitinstant deposit place was at a 45 min. drive from him lol
Oops, I did miss that.  Embarrassed  Although it still may be the quickest option.
legendary
Activity: 1358
Merit: 1002
I think you missed the part where he said the closest bitinstant deposit place was at a 45 min. drive from him lol
legendary
Activity: 3066
Merit: 1147
The revolution will be monetized!
Step 1. Set up Mt.Gox account

Step 2. Go to bit instant and send coins to your name at Mt.Gox

Step 3. Bring your payment slip to one of the 700k banks, stores, etc. and pay.

By the time you get home your Mt.Gox account will be funded.
legendary
Activity: 1014
Merit: 1003
VIS ET LIBERTAS
Some small coins for you: https://www.instawallet.org/w/C2dIGoVrXbaaEe6DZgEPYx1IzjvN4OCUw
You can use this wallet if you like, but never put much in it.
newbie
Activity: 6
Merit: 0
That's really cool Drudge
newbie
Activity: 25
Merit: 0
You don't need to wait to use your Bitcoin addresses. It's only that before the synching ends, or until it reaches the blocks where the transactions were confirmed you won't see them in your wallet and be able to spend them. But you can se them in a block explorer site.

For instance, the address where the kind people here sent you those little bitcoin gifts, you can see it here: http://blockchain.info/address/1CeoBMn9Qn7wygecmBybQ5WCRLDxrcoQnq
See the money already there? Wink

Thank you!

I just wanted to take a minute and say I really appreciate how helpful, friendly and outright generous this community is! Not only did you all help out so much with my nooby questions, but 3 of you were awesome enough to even give me a bit of coins to start. You guys ROCK! Smiley

I have just finished my first real trade transaction and should hopefully have some full coins in my wallet soon. I'm excited to explore the world of bitcoins!

Best regards and I'll be sure to tell my friends to come here if the are ever curious. Smiley

legendary
Activity: 1358
Merit: 1002
You don't need to wait to use your Bitcoin addresses. It's only that before the synching ends, or until it reaches the blocks where the transactions were confirmed you won't see them in your wallet and be able to spend them. But you can se them in a block explorer site.

For instance, the address where the kind people here sent you those little bitcoin gifts, you can see it here: http://blockchain.info/address/1CeoBMn9Qn7wygecmBybQ5WCRLDxrcoQnq
See the money already there? Wink
newbie
Activity: 25
Merit: 0
When it finishes synchronizing you'll see the coins, don't worry.

Yes, generate a new address for every received transaction, that way it will be easier for you to keep track of who paid you what.
Only deal with trusted sellers, the ones with good reputation, remember.

Thank you for all your help Psy Smiley I appreciate it.

So it is is safe for me to do business while my wallet is still syncing? Or is it best to wait until it is finished? I assume it doesn't really matter (since it seems like the transaction would just be tagged on the end of the update regardless) but maybe for peace of minds sake..
legendary
Activity: 1358
Merit: 1002
When it finishes synchronizing you'll see the coins, don't worry.

Yes, generate a new address for every received transaction, that way it will be easier for you to keep track of who paid you what.
Only deal with trusted sellers, the ones with good reputation, remember.
newbie
Activity: 25
Merit: 0

Drudgeboat,

If you have downloaded the Bitcoin client, I will send you .01 BTC to get you started.  It's not much, but it's something Smiley

Just post your Bitcoin address and it will be on its way.

The Joint, that is very generous of you, thank you!  Grin my address is 1CeoBMn9Qn7wygecmBybQ5WCRLDxrcoQnq

.01 BTC sent Smiley

Mail me $11, I'll send you 2 BTC.

You don't need to go through exchanges and such, like other currencies, you can sell stuff to obtain Bitcoins or trade with individuals.

The typical route though is to transfer USD currency into a currency exchange, complete a trade, and withdraw Bitcoins to your wallet address.

Sent you some loose change.

WOW such a generous Community! Thank you both! Cheesy

OK, so I have the Bitcoin Client Wallet from here - http://bitcoin.org/ . The address I gave you fine folks was the address it listed for me under "receive coins" tab. The coins you guys sent me have not appeared however. Does this just take some time to propagate, or did I mess up somewhere? Also my wallet is still synchronizing with network (although it's about 98% done).

I decided to buy a MoneyPak card to trade for coins with someone on here. What should I do to ensure the trade goes smoothly? Do I just give him a newly generated address and he deposits it right in my wallet?

Thanks!!!
legendary
Activity: 1512
Merit: 1036
Mail me $11, I'll send you 2 BTC.

You don't need to go through exchanges and such, like other currencies, you can sell stuff to obtain Bitcoins or trade with individuals.

The typical route though is to transfer USD currency into a currency exchange, complete a trade, and withdraw Bitcoins to your wallet address.

Sent you some loose change.
legendary
Activity: 1834
Merit: 1020

Drudgeboat,

If you have downloaded the Bitcoin client, I will send you .01 BTC to get you started.  It's not much, but it's something Smiley

Just post your Bitcoin address and it will be on its way.

The Joint, that is very generous of you, thank you!  Grin my address is 1CeoBMn9Qn7wygecmBybQ5WCRLDxrcoQnq

.01 BTC sent Smiley
newbie
Activity: 25
Merit: 0
There are several sites where you can get a small amount of bitcoins (more like fractions of bitcoins, really) for entering a captcha or clicking an ad. Find out more in this topic.

It's by no means 'worth the pay' (i.e. it's quite not enough to make a living with it Smiley) but just consider it a test to get yourself started with some bitcoin pennies. Some are stupid and require you to waste lots of time, some are plain and simple, just enter a captcha or click an ad or something, and you'll receive coins within a few hours.
 

very cool, thank you for the tip !

I keep hearing about being able to use "MoneyPak" refillable debit cards (liike the kind you can buy from a convenience store), and these can bve used to buy BTC. Is this true? How could I go about doing that? There is a store right near me which sells these GreenDot MoneyPak cards, I just need to know how to turn that into BTC.
legendary
Activity: 1176
Merit: 1011
There are several sites where you can get a small amount of bitcoins (more like fractions of bitcoins, really) for entering a captcha or clicking an ad. Find out more in this topic.

It's by no means 'worth the pay' (i.e. it's quite not enough to make a living with it Smiley) but just consider it a test to get yourself started with some bitcoin pennies. Some are stupid and require you to waste lots of time, some are plain and simple, just enter a captcha or click an ad or something, and you'll receive coins within a few hours.
 
newbie
Activity: 25
Merit: 0
If you can do a bank transfer from the internet, any exchange that people told you about will do. Ofcourse it will take some days and probably be more expensive.

The only one I have experience with is https://bitstamp.net but it's an European exchange
Being in the US, don't know which one would be best for you.

Hmm, I thought my bank allowed transfers from the internet, however when I log in to their portal and select Express Transfers, I am only able to transfer money between my accounts. Not sure how to set up online wiring (or if my bank can even do that. I think that's more common over with you guys than it is here)

Drudgeboat,

If you have downloaded the Bitcoin client, I will send you .01 BTC to get you started.  It's not much, but it's something Smiley

Just post your Bitcoin address and it will be on its way.

The Joint, that is very generous of you, thank you!  Grin my address is 1CeoBMn9Qn7wygecmBybQ5WCRLDxrcoQnq
legendary
Activity: 1834
Merit: 1020
Drudgeboat,

If you have downloaded the Bitcoin client, I will send you .01 BTC to get you started.  It's not much, but it's something Smiley

Just post your Bitcoin address and it will be on its way.
legendary
Activity: 1358
Merit: 1002
If you can do a bank transfer from the internet, any exchange that people told you about will do. Ofcourse it will take some days and probably be more expensive.

The only one I have experience with is https://bitstamp.net but it's an European exchange
Being in the US, don't know which one would be best for you.
newbie
Activity: 25
Merit: 0
I'm sad to report that the nearest deposit location to me is over 45 minutes away Sad Not having a car of my own that makes this very difficult.

Are there any completely-online methods to get bitcoins? Without having to go to banks/stores for in-person deposists? Please share with me, I am but a lowly noob Smiley
legendary
Activity: 1358
Merit: 1002
Yes, the 3rd input can be the same email as the 1st input. Only reason it would be different when you use Coinapult is if you're sending the bitcoins to someone else Wink
As for the other locations, I don't know.
I imagine that's such a specific case that probably most people here never used it, and the ones that did most likely won't see you asking about it in the newbies forum lol
Try to contact their Live Help, I bet you'll get your questions answered very fast there.
After all, who will know those things better than them?
Ofcourse you can be unlucky and there's nobody there to answer you, it's Sunday, people sometimes don't like to work on Sundays Tongue

EDIT: I tried it myself, the Other Locations option. In no time I was at ZipZap website where it asked me for my Country, Location/Postal Code and showed me where to pay for it on a nearby place. Ofcourse I didn't completed it.

Just do it man. It will be faster Wink
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