Quote from: hardcore-fs on April 02, 2013, 01:46:43 PM

This is a classic Chinese pump and dump con based on a minimum ship rate.
Something BFL could learn from.

1. create demand , by limiting stock
2. partially ship product from batch 1
3. Introduce batch 2 at a highly inflated price
4. Ship partial batch 2 orders BEFORE completing batch 1 orders
5. enter Batch 3 orders at megga high prices 9k per unit, only take bitcoins not bank deposits, because its a business and this is about tax avoidance
6. start shipping minimum of batch 3 units before moving onto batch 4 , noting that batch 1 orders have not even been completed.
......

Something happens and it all goes tits up.

As a BitSyncom/Avalon fanboy, I feel the need to refute this crap. First off you might want to look up the definition of "pump and dump".

1. The demand for ASIC miners does not come from limited stock. It comes from the fact that a "bitcoin rush" is in full swing and ASIC's are basically magical money making machines.
2. They shipped out those initial units from batch #1 to prove they were legit which I am thank for for as it gave me the confidence to risk the precious BTC I've mined on batch #2. Batch 1 has now shipped.
3. A 25% increase is not a "highly inflated price", especially when you consider that the exchange rate has increased MUCH more than that.
4. Source? I have not seen any evidence that a single batch 2 order has been shipped. If a developer from batch 2 got special treatment, then so be it.
5. They priced batch #3 in BTC which is almost exactly the same price as batch #2. As the exchange rate goes up, so does profitability and the ROI in BTC is not effected by the exchange rate. I personally thought this was a great move. They are "true believers" and this decision gave leverage to people who already had "pre-rally" bitcoins which made it harder for the greedy folk to jump in with nothing but cash.
6. 100% FUD. There's no word of a batch 4 and batch 1 was completed weeks ago. Shipping/customs problems doesn't mean the batch wasn't completed.

Quote

Its not about shipping stock or building a reliable company... its all about making money

While I wouldn't say they've done a perfect job bringing ASIC to market, they have outperformed everybody else and could have made a LOT more money. Based on what I've seen, I believe that they are true believers that put the future of bitcoin before profits and are motivated by idealism instead of greed.

/$0.02