Bitcoin without BitPay

Bitcoin without BitPay

CryptoPrinting (a.k.a. 3DP 4 BTC) is no longer accepting Bitcoin payments via BitPay.  We would like to take a minute to explain this change.

Let us start off by commending BitPay for the service they provide.  For those who want to accept bitcoin without having to hold bitcoin – or otherwise deal with the legal uncertainties associated with it – BitPay surely is a useful service.  We still support both BitPay and the brick and mortar services that use it.

That being said, CryptoPrinting was started with cryptocurrencies in mind – without any intention of accepting fiat at any point.  It was never intended to replace our day jobs, nor could it.  For a service like ours, BitPay lessens the impact of using Bitcoin as a payment solution by adding unneeded fees.

BitPay operates by taking a small fee from each transaction.  However, their payout process typically takes longer than it takes us to fulfill each order.  It also acts as a communication barrier between us and our customers since we need certain customization info like the type of NFC tags desired in order to fulfill orders.  Finally, BitPay does not provide escrow, so your trust in our service is still needed.

As we continue our search for alternative escrow solutions, we ask that you please contact us directly for negotiation and payment: contact@3dp4btc.com.  Thanks!!

CryptoPrinting’s Positive BitMit Feedback

BitMit CryptoPrinting (1)

While CryptoPrinting has always been open to users submitting 3D printable designs, our NFC-enhanced simulacra have been useful for getting our name into the cryptocoin space.  Bitmit in particular has been a strong source of sales and feedback from our start in late February, 2013.

With Bitmit closing down, we thought it might be worth publicly posting our 100% positive feedback record for posterity, as what is currently publicly available information will soon be turned to digital dust.  Since BitPay has no escrow option, trust is needed more than ever for those ordering directly with us for the first time.  We’d like to point out that we’ve tried to make maintaining that trust a priority through our service record.

If you have any suggestions on how to keep improving our services, or have a suggested replacement venue with features comparable to Bitmit, please post your thoughts below.

Your feedback profile

Positive
Real neat! Thank you! BitcoinRecommended.com
3D printed BTC and LTC Simulacra pair/set (one of each)
moderats (+9 | ↑)

Buyer
2013-10-08

Positive
Excellent customer! GBTC (+478 | ↑)

Seller
2013-05-26

Positive
Great Seller! Fast communication, will buy again.
3D Printed Raspberry Pi Case
trendsetter37 (+15| ↑)

Buyer
2013-05-08

Positive
very fast shipping, fascinating product
3D printed BTC and LTC Simulacra pair/set (one of each)
swgutkind (+24 | ↑)

Buyer
2013-05-01

Positive
My order came in very quickly and was exactly as described. Excellent seller, would recommend!!
3D Printed NFC enabled Bitcoin Simulacra
halfprice06 (+1 | ↑)

Buyer
2013-04-23

Positive
Very smooth transaction. Seller had great communication and shipped quickly. Thanks!
3D Printed NFC enabled Bitcoin Simulacra
cheeser180 (+1 | ↑)

Buyer
2013-04-22

Positive
Great seller! Quick shipment. Excellent communication. A+
3D Printed NFC enabled Bitcoin Simulacra
Immuzikation (+6 | ↑)

Buyer
2013-04-22

Positive
Great seller!
3D Printed NFC enabled Bitcoin Simulacra
sims562 (+43 | ↑)

Buyer
2013-04-18

Positive
Very cool, got to me really quick also!
3D Printed NFC enabled Bitcoin Simulacra
opops (+1 | ↑)

Buyer
2013-04-17

Positive
Sorry, I forgot to check this out of escrow. Terrific product, excited to have them!
3D Printed NFC enabled Bitcoin Simulacra
gsukenik (+1 | ↑)

Buyer
2013-03-27

Positive
These came out great. Some of the best Bitcoin stuff I’ve received.
3D Printed NFC enabled Bitcoin Simulacra
weex (+7 | ↑)

Buyer
2013-03-26

Positive
Order arrived quickly and as described. This is truly a unique piece of history.
3D printed, NFC enabled, Bitcoin Simulacra (Mifare Classic 1k)
*** (+3 | ↑)

Buyer
2013-03-15

 

Evaluating Our Payment Strategy

After talking with a potential client, he asked us the following question: “If for some reason the price of bitcoin jumps even more wildly, I’ll keep the payment to the equivalent asking price of $XYZ. Since you don’t have hedged escrow does this sound fair?”

Our current payment plan works with installments and depends on mutual trust, but it leaves us open to absorbing some fraction of the fees if a client never follows through with their final payment.

I guess this gives me pause because this service is an experiment, a test of the bitcoin economy’s health and the dynamic nature of the community.  It’s a stone soup thing in that sense – the development and expansion of this service are predicated on the market demand for it.

You can now buy pizza for BTC.  Whomever is operating that service is doing something really neat – manifesting a physical good for BTC.  (Even better is giving donations to charity for BTC a la: www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/19oiht/rbitcoin_lets_share_with_those_in_need_for_every/.  Being able to feed yourself with something is coming pretty close to ‘being money’ for me.  Being able to pay rent, power bills, and shipping costs are still a ways off.  I worry that these services will continue to be difficult to pay for using BTC as long as the main sources of physical goods available are VHS tapes on Bitmit (no offense intended).

Food is a funny thing like that – it’s worth more than gold or bitcoin if you don’t have it.  The 10,000 BTC pizza will live on in infamy.  It was paid for, eaten, presumably enjoyed, and now the story is all that’s left.  Whatever the current value of BTC is is what determines our offers, but we’re not acting like investors – we’re trying to live in a fantasy world where we could can use the BTC we earn to sustain the service we provide.  There’s nothing close to a hope of making this a full time job.  If the community responds to overwhelm us, we will respond in kind – we think that’s a long way off at this point, but are happy that you’re considering having us work for you.  Please leave your comments below and re-post this across the forums.  Thanks!