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Buy a car with Bitcoins, save $5,000

theregister.co.uk

1–10 of 44 posts

Re: Buy a car with Bitcoins, save $5,000

#2
My main problem with bitcoin is that there's no way to buy them. I've tried using Dwolla and Bitinstant and other methods and so far have failed after jumping through all kinds of hoops including entering bank info and uploading pictures of IDs and utility bills to shady websites. And everyone wants their 4% transaction fees, so if you want to buy this $20k car you'll be paying hundreds of dollars in fees. I don't understand how a new economy is supposed to form around it if it's so hard to enter.

Re: Buy a car with Bitcoins, save $5,000

#4
post #2

My main problem with bitcoin is that there's no way to buy them. I've tried using Dwolla and Bitinstant and other methods and so far have failed after jumping through all kinds of hoops including entering bank info and uploading pictures of IDs and utility bills to shady websites. And everyone wants their 4% transaction fees, so if you want to buy this $20k car you'll be paying hundreds of dollars in fees. I don't un…

coinbase.com. Link your bank account and then you can buy them with a single click. Same way you get money onto paypal.

Re: Buy a car with Bitcoins, save $5,000

#5
post #2

My main problem with bitcoin is that there's no way to buy them. I've tried using Dwolla and Bitinstant and other methods and so far have failed after jumping through all kinds of hoops including entering bank info and uploading pictures of IDs and utility bills to shady websites. And everyone wants their 4% transaction fees, so if you want to buy this $20k car you'll be paying hundreds of dollars in fees. I don't un…

As long as you stay away from buying from the Silk Road, you should be fine.

Re: Buy a car with Bitcoins, save $5,000

#6
post #4
post #2

My main problem with bitcoin is that there's no way to buy them. I've tried using Dwolla and Bitinstant and other methods and so far have failed after jumping through all kinds of hoops including entering bank info and uploading pictures of IDs and utility bills to shady websites. And everyone wants their 4% transaction fees, so if you want to buy this $20k car you'll be paying hundreds of dollars in fees. I don't un…

coinbase.com. Link your bank account and then you can buy them with a single click. Same way you get money onto paypal.

Given the appalling lack of basic security across many of the Bitcoin services there is no way on earth I would be trusting them with bank account details.

Re: Buy a car with Bitcoins, save $5,000

#7
post #2

My main problem with bitcoin is that there's no way to buy them. I've tried using Dwolla and Bitinstant and other methods and so far have failed after jumping through all kinds of hoops including entering bank info and uploading pictures of IDs and utility bills to shady websites. And everyone wants their 4% transaction fees, so if you want to buy this $20k car you'll be paying hundreds of dollars in fees. I don't un…

The new economy is not supposed to form around purchases as expensive as cars.

It is still optimised for micro-transactions where that 4% fee isn't a significant cost.

Re: Buy a car with Bitcoins, save $5,000

#8
post #7
post #2

My main problem with bitcoin is that there's no way to buy them. I've tried using Dwolla and Bitinstant and other methods and so far have failed after jumping through all kinds of hoops including entering bank info and uploading pictures of IDs and utility bills to shady websites. And everyone wants their 4% transaction fees, so if you want to buy this $20k car you'll be paying hundreds of dollars in fees. I don't un…

The new economy is not supposed to form around purchases as expensive as cars. It is still optimised for micro-transactions where that 4% fee isn't a significant cost.

Even for smaller purchases a 4 percent fee is a significant amount of friction.

Re: Buy a car with Bitcoins, save $5,000

#9
Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising offer comes from Wikispeed, makers of a custom, modular car that claims to be able to drive 100 miles on a single gallon of gasoline. On Bitcoin Friday only, customers who purchase a Wikispeed SGT01 with Bitcoins can get 20 per cent off the list price, a $5,000 discount.

As the November 9 sale got underway, your Reg reporter checked in with Holmquist to see how it was going. "It's going fantastic so far!" came the response. "We had so many hits this morning that I had to upgrade servers and add some DDoS protection."

So... did they sell anything?

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