Post
Topic
Board Bitcoin Discussion
Re: I talked with Amazon Live Support today...
by
arabianights
on 17/03/2012, 17:14:19 UTC
This is a great idea for a thread. The importance of Amazon accepting bitcoins just can't be overstated.

Here is how my conversation went*:

You are now connected to Alan from Amazon.co.uk.
Me:
Hi, do you accept bitcoins and if not will you consider accepting them?
Alan:
Hi David,
Bitcoin? I'm sorry but I've never heard of that.
Is that like a temporary visa card or does it relate to virtual coins like on facebook?
Me:
it's an e-currency, at the moment one is worth roughly £3.40 but that fluctuates by supply and demand
there are no transaction costs
which should make it reasonably attractive to you I should have thoguht
Alan:
Ah, currently we do not accept e-currencies like this. What is your domestic currency?
Me:
sterling
bitcoin is very different to any other e-currency for a variety of reasons
you can find a bunch of info on it using google
Alan:
Thanks for that, any charges you incur placing an order on our website using a sterling account would relate to your bank, we have no control over that.
Me:
I am talking from your perspective
in that when you accept credit cards and so on at the moment
you have to pay a fee
where as you wouldn't if you used bitcoin
there is no company behind bitcoin, it's all open source
Alan:
thanks for the suggestion, I didn't relaise you were just chatting from our point of view just there.
I can pass on your suggestion to our business team for review.
Me:
I would be pleased if you could, yes
Alan:
I have just looked up bitcoin as we have spoken.
Me:
a good site for learning more about bitcoins with a video they could look at is http://www.weusecoins.com/
Alan:
If the payments are irreversible as far as I can see.
Interesting.
The official bitcoin site als says the process is experimental
http://bitcoin.org/
Either way I'll pass on your feedback, if it proves secure and convenient for customers it will be considered in due course.
Can I help with anything else?
Me:
the client is experimental, but the network itself is running and other merchants are using it
nothing else other than bitcoin - although would you be able to get whatever committee it is that you are passing it on to to respond to me after they have looked at it?
Alan:
The internal teams generally don't do that. If it was something we would take up it would be announced publicly.
Me:
ok, fair does
have a good weekend!
Alan:
you too.


*I'm aware the thing about transaction costs is not strictly correct, but I was out to sell it!