Your idea would be cool, and surely easy to implement especially for someone who already has an automated escrow site.
I just put together a craptastic page to automate the sale of some $50 iTunes cards. http://bit-raffle.com/itunes.html
Topic: Would someone put together a portal that buys sells gift cards? (Read 987 times)
October 30, 2012, 11:11:38 AM
Limited selection, but I always use http://btcbuy.info/GiftCards.cshtml for my Newegg Cards. I've used them for hundreds of dollars of GCs, and they've always been pretty fast. Just bought a $140 one from them last week.
October 30, 2012, 04:12:19 AM
the hard part is even though users can verify it has value at the time of purchasing there is no protection once the transaction is complete, from the seller spending the card and also keeping the bitcoin.
if for instance you adopt a reputation scheme where funds are not transmitted until positive feedback is given. there is no way of knowing after the fact who used the balance.
EG buyer receives card, spends it then leaves negative feedback saying non receipt and balance of card now zero. which means they get the bitcoin back. leaving the seller at a loss.
thats why giftcards should remain in the FIAT trade system as there is atleast chargeback rules which if used ethically would protect actual losses.. bitcoin has no protection.
and dont get me started on parcel tracking..
its possible to have an envelope get it posted using a tracking service. claim that as your proof of delivery. but when the buyer receives it and opens it, all they find is a letter saying:
"ha ha sucker, by reading this i have given proof of delivery, so i get your coins. you loser!" or something to that respect with no card in the envelope.
if for instance you adopt a reputation scheme where funds are not transmitted until positive feedback is given. there is no way of knowing after the fact who used the balance.
EG buyer receives card, spends it then leaves negative feedback saying non receipt and balance of card now zero. which means they get the bitcoin back. leaving the seller at a loss.
thats why giftcards should remain in the FIAT trade system as there is atleast chargeback rules which if used ethically would protect actual losses.. bitcoin has no protection.
and dont get me started on parcel tracking..
its possible to have an envelope get it posted using a tracking service. claim that as your proof of delivery. but when the buyer receives it and opens it, all they find is a letter saying:
"ha ha sucker, by reading this i have given proof of delivery, so i get your coins. you loser!" or something to that respect with no card in the envelope.
October 30, 2012, 01:53:24 AM
https://www.plasticjungle.com/main lots of these type of sites exist for usd, nothing for btc yet.
October 29, 2012, 11:15:35 AM
All these people on the forum are selling gift cards. Other people are buying them. But it is likely a nasty market place full of fraud.
Seems like a simple BTC business would be to buy and resell gift cards. The differentiation point is that you would be a trusted, long-term buyer and seller with an easy-to-use system.
Force buyers to use irreversible BTC, but refund the BTC in the event of fraud that they can substantiate.
Don't buy from very sketchy sellers at all, pay slightly sketchy sellers with paypal, and pay well-trusted sellers with BTC.
If this already exists, point me there. I will have gift cards to sell come Christmas.
Seems like a simple BTC business would be to buy and resell gift cards. The differentiation point is that you would be a trusted, long-term buyer and seller with an easy-to-use system.
Force buyers to use irreversible BTC, but refund the BTC in the event of fraud that they can substantiate.
Don't buy from very sketchy sellers at all, pay slightly sketchy sellers with paypal, and pay well-trusted sellers with BTC.
If this already exists, point me there. I will have gift cards to sell come Christmas.
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