Re: [Guide] Dogie's Comprehensive Manufacturer Trustworthiness Guide
Retired Companies
These are companies that either no longer exist, do not trade or do not offer products for sale. It is highly advisable not to trade with any company listed below as it is likely to
be an imitation scam.
Individual Criteria
Own Chips?
Companies manufacturing their own chips prospect significant time, resources and funds up front. They have likely raised significant capital from investors who will have performed
due diligence on information that is not available to the public. All of these factors reduce the chances of customers being left without of their orders.
10/10 = Yes - designing and investing in own chips
8/10 = Mixed - utilises a mix of own and other companies' chips
5/10 = Promised - designing and investing in own chips but not yet delivered
1/10 = No - integrates other companies chips
Delivered Yet?
This criterion represents a company's successful delivery of a new generation, product or offering.
10/10 = Yes
5/10 = Few units only
1/10 = No
Preorders?
Preorders are extremely bad for the industry and put all the financial risk on the buyer. This criterion does not act as a snapshot, but a longer term (both past and future) "does
this company engage in preorders". A company who's business model relies on preorders to fund development and new generations is still considered to utilise preorders even if
they intermediately sell some products from stock. Transitional scores may be used when companies have promised the exclusion of preorders but have yet to prove their business
model can operate without them.
20/20 = No - does not use preorders
16/20 = Batch - 'Presells' a batch being manufactured for delivery in the immediate future
8/20 = Mixed - sells some in hand hardware and some preorders, or utilises split payments
1/20 = Yes - only sells using preorders
On Time?
This criterion highlights if the majority of a company's products have been or have nearly been delivered in a timely fashion. Allowances may be made if companies sufficiently
compensate customers for delays.
10/10 = Yes
5/10 = Mix
1/10 = No
Hardware Issues?
This criterion seeks to highlight if a company's products often suffer from defects which reduce a customers income or the value of their products. Allowances may be made if
companies sufficiently compensate customers for delays.
10/10 = No
6/10 = Minor - some issues with performance, reliability or software
4/10 = N/A - for companies that have not yet delivered hardware.
1/10 = Major - significant issues that severely impact the performance or reliability of the miners
Refund Issues?
This criterion represents how well a company responds to requests to cancel orders and refund payments. This rating is used sensitively and as such only a small number of
confirmed customers is needed to result in lower scores. "No refunds" policies are not considered a defence in regards to this criterion.
10/10 = No - refunds issued as requested
5/10 = Some - some orders being ignored or refunds delayed but processing
1/10 = Yes - refunds significantly delayed or not being processed at all. Includes stall tactics.
Communication?
10/10 = Great - senior management actively engages with customers
7/10 = Good - customer service staff contactable as required
4/10 = Okay - some issues or lack of communication with customers
1/10 = Bad - significant issues with communication
Ethics?
All companies start with 10 points, and lose points for various infractions. The key is as follows:
F = Operates own mining farm = -2
FF = Operates own large mining farm = -4
P = Evidence of premining on preordered equipment = -2
GOV = Has been a subject of government or regulatory intervention / investigation = -9
B = Bankrupt = -9
L = Legal action taken against company = -5
O = Other generic unethical behaviour = -5
Company Size?
This criterion seeks to represent a company's size and market-share in the industry. Larger companies are less likely to disappear overnight where as smaller, newer companies
maybe be more likely to do so. Smaller companies may also be harder to legally persue to receive refunds.
10/10 = Huge
7/10 = Large
4/10 = Medium
1/10 = Small
These are companies that either no longer exist, do not trade or do not offer products for sale. It is highly advisable not to trade with any company listed below as it is likely to
be an imitation scam.
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| BitCrane | Product lines: Company Site | Bitcointalk Thread T-110, T-110S, T-720 |
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| Rating: 79  | Uses own chips? Delivered miners? Uses preorders? | No Yes No | 1/10 10/10 20/20 | On time? Quality Issues? Refund Issues? | Yes No No | 10/10 10/10 10/10 | Communication Ethics Size | Okay Medium | 4/10 10/10 4/10 |
| Last Score: 79 | Sold in hand hardware based off HashFast's chips. |
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| Yiazo | Product lines: Company Site | Bitcointalk Thread YBF |
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| Rating: 76 | Uses own chips? Delivered miners? Uses preorders? | No Yes No | 1/10 10/10 20/20 | On time? Quality Issues? Refund Issues? | Yes No No | 10/10 10/10 10/10 | Communication Ethics Size | Okay Small | 4/10 10/10 1/10 |
| Last Score: 76 | Small OEM utilising Bitfury's generation 2 chips and reference design for one run. |
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| ASICMiner | Product lines: Company Site | Bitcointalk Thread Chips, Block Erupter USBs, V1/V2 Blades, V3 Cubes, Tubes, Primsa |
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| Rating: 73  | Uses own chips? Delivered miners? Uses preorders? | Yes Yes Batch | 10/10 10/10 16/20 | On time? Quality Issues? Refund Issues? | Mix No No | 5/10 10/10 10/10 | Communication Ethics Size | Bad F B Huge | 1/10 1/10 10/10 |
| Last Score: 80 | Was a publicly floated company that sold in hand hardware while maintaining their own farms. The founder and CEO, 'Friedcat', alledgedly ran away with most of the company's money. |
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| BTCGarden | Product lines: Company Site | Bitcointalk Thread AMV1, AMV1-X2 |
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| Rating: 73 | Uses own chips? Delivered miners? Uses preorders? | No Yes No | 1/10 10/10 20/20 | On time? Quality Issues? Refund Issues? | Yes Minor No | 10/10 6/10 10/10 | Communication Ethics Size | Okay F Medium | 4/10 8/10 4/10 |
| Last Score: 73 | Integrator of ASICMiner's chips. Some problems with DOA rates and communication. |
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| XBTech | Product lines: Company Site | Bitcointalk Thread Pacific 1250, Pacific V2 |
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| Rating: 72 | Uses own chips? Delivered miners? Uses preorders? | No Yes No | 1/10 10/10 20/20 | On time? Quality Issues? Refund Issues? | Yes No No | 10/10 10/10 10/10 | Communication Ethics Size | Okay F L Medium | 4/10 3/10 4/10 |
| Last Score: 77 | Medium integrator of ASICMiner's chips, only sold in hand hardware. |
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| RockMiner | Product lines: Company Site | Bitcointalk Thread R-BOX, New R-BOX, R3-BOX, R4-BOX |
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| Rating: 63 | Uses own chips? Delivered miners? Uses preorders? | No Yes No | 1/10 10/10 20/20 | On time? Quality Issues? Refund Issues? | Yes Minor No | 10/10 6/10 10/10 | Communication Ethics Size | Bad F B Medium | 1/10 1/10 4/10 |
| Last Score: 70 | Large integrator of ASICMiner's chips. Significant quantity sold. Transitioned to being a supporting arm of ASICMiner, before also falling victim to 'Friedcat'. |
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| BFL | Product lines: Company Site | Bitcointalk Thread Jalapeno, Single, Monarch |
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| Rating: 49 | Uses own chips? Delivered miners? Uses preorders? | Yes Yes Mix | 10/10 10/10 8/20 | On time? Quality Issues? Refund Issues? | No No Yes | 1/10 10/10 1/10 | Communication Ethics Size | Bad GOV L Large | 1/10 1/10 7/10 |
| Last Score: 49 | Product releases have been subject to significant delays, and the company was investigated by the FTC. Insolvent. |
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| BitMine | Product lines: Company Site | Bitcointalk Thread Chips, Rig, Desk |
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| Rating: 48 | Uses own chips? Delivered miners? Uses preorders? | Yes Yes Mix | 10/10 10/10 8/20 | On time? Quality Issues? Refund Issues? | No Minor Yes | 1/10 6/10 1/10 | Communication Ethics Size | Okay F L B Large | 4/10 1/10 7/10 |
| Last Score: 50 | First generation was very delayed, sold in hand hardware for a bit. Ended up in a bitter bankruptcy and legal case. |
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| CoinTerra | Product lines: Company Site | Bitcointalk Thread Terraminer IV |
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| Rating: 37 | Uses own chips? Delivered miners? Uses preorders? | Yes Yes Yes | 10/10 10/10 1/20 | On time? Quality Issues? Refund Issues? | No Major Some | 1/10 1/10 5/10 | Communication Ethics Size | Bad F O L Large | 1/10 1/10 7/10 |
| Last Score: 37 | Promised performance aggressively and it didn't pay off. Had problems with units under performing, being delayed and other problems. Suffered cashflow problems and stopped honouring refunds for a while, leading to a class action lawsuit. |
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| HashFast | Product lines: Company Site | Bitcointalk Thread Sierra, Babyjet |
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| Rating: 35 | Uses own chips? Delivered miners? Uses preorders? | Yes Yes Yes | 10/10 10/10 1/20 | On time? Quality Issues? Refund Issues? | No Minor Yes | 1/10 6/10 1/10 | Communication Ethics Size | Bad B L Medium | 1/10 1/10 4/10 |
| Last Score: 35 | Sold preorders, things went sour and they're in receivership. |
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| AMT | Product lines: Company Site | Bitcointalk Thread AMT520, AMT1.2Th |
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| Rating: 28 | Uses own chips? Delivered miners? Uses preorders? | No Yes Mix | 1/10 10/10 8/20 | On time? Quality Issues? Refund Issues? | No Major Yes | 1/10 1/10 1/10 | Communication Ethics Size | Bad O L B Medium | 1/10 1/10 4/10 |
| Last Score: 32 | First generation significantly delayed, although may be due to a third party. Products were recalled and only some refunds processed. Bitter legal case to track down the owner. |
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| Black Arrow | Product lines: Company Site | Bitcointalk Thread Minion chips, Prospero X1, Prospero X3 |
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| Rating: 28 | Uses own chips? Delivered miners? Uses preorders? | Yes Few Yes | 10/10 5/10 1/20 | On time? Quality Issues? Refund Issues? | No Major Yes | 1/10 1/10 1/10 | Communication Ethics Size | Bad O L Large | 1/10 1/10 7/10 |
| Last Score: 28 | Historically reputable, however latest generations that were sold on preorders were extremely delayed. Refunds were not being honoured. |
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Individual Criteria
Own Chips?
Companies manufacturing their own chips prospect significant time, resources and funds up front. They have likely raised significant capital from investors who will have performed
due diligence on information that is not available to the public. All of these factors reduce the chances of customers being left without of their orders.
10/10 = Yes - designing and investing in own chips
8/10 = Mixed - utilises a mix of own and other companies' chips
5/10 = Promised - designing and investing in own chips but not yet delivered
1/10 = No - integrates other companies chips
Delivered Yet?
This criterion represents a company's successful delivery of a new generation, product or offering.
10/10 = Yes
5/10 = Few units only
1/10 = No
Preorders?
Preorders are extremely bad for the industry and put all the financial risk on the buyer. This criterion does not act as a snapshot, but a longer term (both past and future) "does
this company engage in preorders". A company who's business model relies on preorders to fund development and new generations is still considered to utilise preorders even if
they intermediately sell some products from stock. Transitional scores may be used when companies have promised the exclusion of preorders but have yet to prove their business
model can operate without them.
20/20 = No - does not use preorders
16/20 = Batch - 'Presells' a batch being manufactured for delivery in the immediate future
8/20 = Mixed - sells some in hand hardware and some preorders, or utilises split payments
1/20 = Yes - only sells using preorders
On Time?
This criterion highlights if the majority of a company's products have been or have nearly been delivered in a timely fashion. Allowances may be made if companies sufficiently
compensate customers for delays.
10/10 = Yes
5/10 = Mix
1/10 = No
Hardware Issues?
This criterion seeks to highlight if a company's products often suffer from defects which reduce a customers income or the value of their products. Allowances may be made if
companies sufficiently compensate customers for delays.
10/10 = No
6/10 = Minor - some issues with performance, reliability or software
4/10 = N/A - for companies that have not yet delivered hardware.
1/10 = Major - significant issues that severely impact the performance or reliability of the miners
Refund Issues?
This criterion represents how well a company responds to requests to cancel orders and refund payments. This rating is used sensitively and as such only a small number of
confirmed customers is needed to result in lower scores. "No refunds" policies are not considered a defence in regards to this criterion.
10/10 = No - refunds issued as requested
5/10 = Some - some orders being ignored or refunds delayed but processing
1/10 = Yes - refunds significantly delayed or not being processed at all. Includes stall tactics.
Communication?
10/10 = Great - senior management actively engages with customers
7/10 = Good - customer service staff contactable as required
4/10 = Okay - some issues or lack of communication with customers
1/10 = Bad - significant issues with communication
Ethics?
All companies start with 10 points, and lose points for various infractions. The key is as follows:
F = Operates own mining farm = -2
FF = Operates own large mining farm = -4
P = Evidence of premining on preordered equipment = -2
GOV = Has been a subject of government or regulatory intervention / investigation = -9
B = Bankrupt = -9
L = Legal action taken against company = -5
O = Other generic unethical behaviour = -5
Company Size?
This criterion seeks to represent a company's size and market-share in the industry. Larger companies are less likely to disappear overnight where as smaller, newer companies
maybe be more likely to do so. Smaller companies may also be harder to legally persue to receive refunds.
10/10 = Huge
7/10 = Large
4/10 = Medium
1/10 = Small