Post
Topic
Board Bitcoin Discussion
Re: Bitcoin isn't worth it for consumers. And that will stop adoption.
by
1986
on 21/06/2015, 09:44:28 UTC
All the motivation is for merchants. They avoid merchant fees. They get no chargebacks.  But they're also going to get no sales (aside from enthusiasts), because consumers have no incentive to use it, whatsoever.

Where are the perks for consumers, in a situation where they're buying something with bitcoin?

I think the idea is that merchants can give a discount for using bitcoin just like some do for cash.  I know that Amagi Metals gives people who pay with bitcoin their "cash" price while people who pay with credit cards pay a higher rate.  So the trick is how merchants encourage customers to use, if they do I think many will.

But otherwise you, and many other posters, are correct, there is no intrinsic advantage of bitcoin over other payment systems for consumers.

If chip and pin terminals start getting hacked then Bitcoin will have an advantage over debit cards. There are already skimming devices that people attach to ATMs, and these have made me wary of using any ATM outside a bank. If I could choose to use a Bitcoin ATM on the street I would prefer it over a normal cash ATM on the street.

You could just as easily if not easier hack peoples bitcoin wallets too. Most people will have to send their coins over wifi and via aps when they're out and about and both apps your phone and wi-fi are all vulnerable. Most people also don't use very secure passwords so if someone has your log in details the password could be relatively easy to bruteforce.