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Topic: Why is it so hard to buy bitcoin? (Read 5443 times)

full member
Activity: 122
Merit: 100
November 26, 2013, 01:23:22 PM
#23
I've used BTC-e to buy my bitcoins here in the U.S. I find it pretty simple to use. I do completely agree though that it's annoying when the sites ask for different forms of ID but I'm sure it's just for the protection of you and themselves too.

I signed up for BTC-e.. but how did you get money into the system?  Wire transfer? I looked into the other options and they all seemed to be foreign payment systems, many of which won't even let people in the US sign up.

Be bit carefull, there are reports of week+ delays to add funds after you made Bank Wire transfer. Do a research first if you can trust BTC-e with money deposits
newbie
Activity: 30
Merit: 0
November 26, 2013, 01:15:31 PM
#22
I've used BTC-e to buy my bitcoins here in the U.S. I find it pretty simple to use. I do completely agree though that it's annoying when the sites ask for different forms of ID but I'm sure it's just for the protection of you and themselves too.

I signed up for BTC-e.. but how did you get money into the system?  Wire transfer? I looked into the other options and they all seemed to be foreign payment systems, many of which won't even let people in the US sign up.


As for localbitcoin.... I looked into that after the suggestions here.  It seems like a good idea, but holy crap is the website slow.  Is that just this morning, or is it always slow like that?
newbie
Activity: 7
Merit: 0
November 26, 2013, 12:24:07 PM
#21
Did you try localbitcoins.com I bought my first coins there and although a bit more expensive I had a good experience.
hero member
Activity: 533
Merit: 500
November 26, 2013, 11:47:27 AM
#20

I don't really see why it's different for bitcoins versus stereos or other physical goods.  Is it just that there's a lot more scammers attracted to the get-rich-quick aura of bitcoins? Is it the fact that they're buying "money" which is more liquid than a stereo that you have to lug to a pawn shop to get 25% of its value?

Actually, my wife just gave me a good answer to this: the "Someone stole my credit card" excuse.  I can prove I delivered to a wallet, but I can't prove you own that wallet, so you just have to say "that's not my wallet, I didn't buy the bitcoin" and then there's no recourse.

I still think that under normal circumstances, that would be really rare, but as above, bitcoin (right now) tends to attract more than its share of scammers. 


If you stole CC, getting Bitcoin is best as it is untracable if done right. Other methods to clean stolen CC are riskier.
newbie
Activity: 7
Merit: 0
November 26, 2013, 11:29:02 AM
#19
meet in-person, make payment and get your bit coin, in order to get bit coin as quickly as possible at the end of trading day so you can settle on fix price.

as long as selling is concerned, either post an ad and or sell it on exchange
bitstamp
coinbase
cavirtex
mtgox

yea getting verified is pain in the butt, im still pending for all exchanges... but we have to get thru that and have some patience.
full member
Activity: 196
Merit: 101
November 26, 2013, 11:20:48 AM
#18
Currency exchanging is available on many forums. You can even  do it here on BitcoinTalk.
exactly,you can also try localbitcoins.com as a hand-to-hand exchange might be the best option Smiley
newbie
Activity: 3
Merit: 0
November 26, 2013, 11:19:37 AM
#17
I've used BTC-e to buy my bitcoins here in the U.S. I find it pretty simple to use. I do completely agree though that it's annoying when the sites ask for different forms of ID but I'm sure it's just for the protection of you and themselves too.
newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
November 26, 2013, 11:17:36 AM
#16
Currency exchanging is available on many forums. You can even  do it here on BitcoinTalk.
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
November 26, 2013, 11:04:36 AM
#15
There are many ways to by bitcoins. Some are easy for some and difficult for others.
there was someone in trading thread here selling bitcoins with paypal. I thing its the best and easiest!!
legendary
Activity: 1792
Merit: 1047
November 26, 2013, 11:01:11 AM
#14
Then go ahead, try sell bitcoins for credit card payments. Then tell us how it is going. What? The chargeback fest killed your business? That is the reason why no one sells bitcoin via credit cards

I don't really see why it's different for bitcoins versus stereos or other physical goods.  Is it just that there's a lot more scammers attracted to the get-rich-quick aura of bitcoins? Is it the fact that they're buying "money" which is more liquid than a stereo that you have to lug to a pawn shop to get 25% of its value?

Actually, my wife just gave me a good answer to this: the "Someone stole my credit card" excuse.  I can prove I delivered to a wallet, but I can't prove you own that wallet, so you just have to say "that's not my wallet, I didn't buy the bitcoin" and then there's no recourse.

I still think that under normal circumstances, that would be really rare, but as above, bitcoin (right now) tends to attract more than its share of scammers. 



If you are in Canada you can sign up for cavirtex.com exchange or use the atm in Vancouver.

Coinbase is another option.
newbie
Activity: 30
Merit: 0
November 26, 2013, 10:08:33 AM
#13
Then go ahead, try sell bitcoins for credit card payments. Then tell us how it is going. What? The chargeback fest killed your business? That is the reason why no one sells bitcoin via credit cards

I don't really see why it's different for bitcoins versus stereos or other physical goods.  Is it just that there's a lot more scammers attracted to the get-rich-quick aura of bitcoins? Is it the fact that they're buying "money" which is more liquid than a stereo that you have to lug to a pawn shop to get 25% of its value?

Actually, my wife just gave me a good answer to this: the "Someone stole my credit card" excuse.  I can prove I delivered to a wallet, but I can't prove you own that wallet, so you just have to say "that's not my wallet, I didn't buy the bitcoin" and then there's no recourse.

I still think that under normal circumstances, that would be really rare, but as above, bitcoin (right now) tends to attract more than its share of scammers. 

newbie
Activity: 2
Merit: 0
November 26, 2013, 09:41:26 AM
#12
Bitcoin is actually the *best* possible thing to sell via credit card, because you can prove you sent it, so you should be able to trivially win any disputes about whether or not you delivered the goods that were purchased.

Yes you can prove the transactions but Paypal doesn't want to be a money exchange, even if they saw the blockchain it doesn't matter to them because they consider it an intangible item. This is part of the reason that the BTC markup on ebay is 50-150% - because in the ebay system it is easy for scammers to take advantage of the sellers of BTC. They'll pay way too much for the value of a bitcoin, then dispute the sale months later. In the end they get their money back and keep the irreversible BTC transaction.
hero member
Activity: 518
Merit: 500
Hodl!
November 26, 2013, 09:29:01 AM
#11
Yer problem there is that paypal or CC companies don't seem to accept a transaction confirmed, recorded and forwarded by upwards of 300 independent industry participants as "proof".
legendary
Activity: 1148
Merit: 1008
If you want to walk on water, get out of the boat
November 26, 2013, 09:17:40 AM
#10
Quote
Bitcoin is actually the *best* possible thing to sell via credit card, because you can prove you sent it, so you should be able to trivially win any disputes about whether or not you delivered the goods that were purchased.

Then go ahead, try sell bitcoins for credit card payments. Then tell us how it is going. What? The chargeback fest killed your business? That is the reason why no one sells bitcoin via credit cards
newbie
Activity: 30
Merit: 0
November 26, 2013, 08:51:51 AM
#9
Quote
However, credit card chargebacks are pretty uncommon
Ahahahahaha nice joke  Cheesy

Because it is a joke, am i right? You cannot be serious  Cheesy

Uhh, no, actually.  My wife runs an online store, she's done thousands of transactions and has had less than 5 chargebacks. 

It's not like it's any different than selling something physical... if someone buys an $800 stereo and claims it never arrived, what recourse do you have?  Bitcoin is actually the *best* possible thing to sell via credit card, because you can prove you sent it, so you should be able to trivially win any disputes about whether or not you delivered the goods that were purchased.

BTW, I have purchased bitcoins via Coinbase, since as you said, they are the fastest... though there's a 4 day waiting period between purchase and receiving the bitcoins (which I understand, they're waiting for the transfer to clear), and at least that way you can instantly get bitcoins at about the market rate.  The bad press they have gotten on here and elsewhere is a little disturbing. I don't really believe they're intentionally screwing people, since that's a surefire way to lose any credibility... but it's still not good seeing occasional bad reviews.
legendary
Activity: 1148
Merit: 1008
If you want to walk on water, get out of the boat
November 26, 2013, 08:10:33 AM
#8
Quote
However, credit card chargebacks are pretty uncommon
Ahahahahaha nice joke  Cheesy

Because it is a joke, am i right? You cannot be serious  Cheesy
full member
Activity: 198
Merit: 100
November 26, 2013, 08:03:04 AM
#7
Join localbitcoins.com and buy bitcoins with cash deposit to a nearby bank.

For Bank of America, Wells Fargo, or Regions Bank: https://localbitcoins.com/ad/15776/?ch=4ja

**Immediate. Reliable. Anonymous.**
Your satisfaction guaranteed!
Money refunded if request made within 24 hours of trade.
No questions asked.

Detailed instructions: http://backintyme.com/depos.php

My profile and feedback: https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/coqui33/?ch=4ja

FAQs: http://backintyme.com/deposfaq.php
DrG
legendary
Activity: 2086
Merit: 1035
November 26, 2013, 07:54:33 AM
#6
Coinbase is probably the easiest way to buy BTC in the US.  They're based in San Francisco and have an actual office unlike many other exchanges.  You can usually get your account confirmed in under and hour if you're willing to share your bank account info.

If you would like to remain relatively anonymous localbitcoins is probably your best bet for easy acquisition (but at a higher spot cost).
legendary
Activity: 4256
Merit: 1313
November 26, 2013, 07:52:35 AM
#5
Much of this is the result of regulation which slows the process.

I do agree that coinbase can be a good solution for now since it is quite fast in most cases. They are not perfect though by any stretch of the imagination.
legendary
Activity: 1022
Merit: 1000
November 26, 2013, 07:44:08 AM
#4
It is hard to buy bitcoin because bitcoin transactions are irreversible while most other payment forms are not.  Therefore, the party selling the bitcoins is open to exploitation.

Yes, this is a problem for adoption.

The best solution is to find someone to sell you BTC locally.  However, this is problematic.  In the United States the leading solution seems to be Coinbase.  Yes you have to give them your bank info but at least they have a physical presence.   Based on many threads here they are not trouble free, especially if the price action is moving against them, e.g. if you buy at 750 per coin and the price goes to 800 per coin over the next couple of days, but seem to be the best online US solution.  They charge 1% plus a spread.

Welcome to bitcoin!
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