Topic: This is HUGE: WIKISPEED, first car-maker in the world to accept Bitcoin - page 2. (Read 19658 times)

Thanks for this Stephen, I will forward this important concerns to Joe Justice. The new website is almost ready an I am hoping we will have a better solution.

Accepting deposits (pre-selling) is not likely a good idea, at least not for U.S. customers and definitely not using PayPal.

The PayPal payments are sent to the [email protected] PayPal account.  This is likely registered with PayPal as a U.S. business account (shows as verified since 2011).  

At some point PayPal's compliance group is going to see amounts too large for their taste, and will decide that "contributions" are not really donations but instead made with the intention that there is a car delivered once the $25K of donations is completed.  That's a pre-payment and not "donation".   Even if there was a car being built for this pre-sale buyer with all components already procured (or the car already built and sitting in a warehouse or showroom somewhere) it would still violate PayPal's usage agreement.  

 - https://cms.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?cmd=_render-content&content_ID=ua/AcceptableUse_full


So this is a near guarantee that PayPal will at some point freeze the funds (take existing balance from Wikispeed's PayPal account and claw back from bank withdrawals if the amount to freeze exceeds the PayPal balance).  Frozen funds sit for 180 days.  The disposition from there might be that funds are returned directly to the buyer.

This would probably be quite disruptive to WIKISPEED.   It is probably best to not challenge the PayPal beast, as their track record is fairly consistent.

sexy car pic for a wiki bump

Call 425-312-3996 to purchase.

Customers are invited to pay $25,000.00 at once or in up to 25 monthly payments. Customers may pay ahead at any time, and their prototypes are built as the funds arrive. Customers are sent photos of their car in progress every 2 weeks and are invited to visit their car in progress during the build. When the car is complete and after teh final payment has been made, customers are emailed a photo of their complete car and invited to pick up the car and meet the build team, or arrange vehicle transport (vehicle transport is at the customer's expense). Customers may cancel at any time. If purchase is cancelled or payment is skipped for 3 or more months, WIKISPEED will make reasonable attempt to return half of the custoemrs payments made to date. The car will be completed for the next customer in line.

lol.. I do!

Address on their webpage and in the OP is 12JiynsQcfNLbeWnM7cdnYGo3axPXDcwCV - who owns the address you posted?

Yeah, I seen that.. spot me 2000 BTC ? I could put them together myself.

Uh... You have to actually pay for them with Bitcoin. Their address is 12JiynsQcfNLbeWnM7cdnYGo3axPXDcwCV.

(mod note: edited to prevent confusion.)

YES !!!! this is 100 MPG of awesomeness. I'lll take two.

a wikispeed review you will like to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuMc9ul3fv4 (by Nixie Pixel)

mmmmmm... nipple tassels....

I just want one that prints cotton candy nipple tassels...

 

I'd love to print more time...

One day you will be able to entirely print a  car using a 3d printer.

Okay - thanks!  It wasn't Google-able though, and they should put that link on their site.

Joe Justice did an AMA on reddit

"I'm Joe Justice, founder of the WIKISPEED. My team invented a carbon-fiber ultra efficient 100mpg car and we've decided to accept Bitcoin. AMA"

 - http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/xig8o/im_joe_justice_founder_of_the_wikispeed_my_team/


That was discussed:


 - http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/xig8o/im_joe_justice_founder_of_the_wikispeed_my_team/c5mmw99\

Well, they are building for customer orders, and have a backlog apparently:


 - http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/xig8o/im_joe_justice_founder_of_the_wikispeed_my_team/c5mn9xn

I can't find the open source car plans though. Is it downloadable?

Kit cars aren't for everyone, but they do have a market. I don't think he really needs to change anything. If you want something more polished you should probably look elsewhere. Maybe try and get Local Motors to accept Bitcoin.

As far as delivery, the prototypes that are being offered for sale are already built.

IF they can get it refined, add more body styles (ie roof) and ensure delivery they will have a market.


The killer app for this mod car would be easy body style changes + affordability.  What will hurt them is a crappy interior and instrumentation package.