For those not following, this is a crazy experiment explained in this post.
So on this fine Saturday, I finally picked up my petrol vouchers that were posted to me before I left for Sydney. Spent $150 on them (in BTC), and got them delivered :D
I then used these petrol vouchers to buy some food. Mobil now very (very very) loosely accepts bitcoin. I bought some cereal, milk, bread, and spread, for $25. I now have $125 left for more food/petrol.
In other news, I'm now driving.
Some comments I've had with friends is that I need to get across some of the conversations that I've had with vendors, and what their pros/cons are for bitcoin.
The majority of the vendors in NZ are saying one or more of the following:
- It is just another system to use
- I don't want my staff to have access to the funds
- Our system works fine already
- Bitcoin is too volatile
- Thats the thing to buy drugs with isn't it?
So in response to those.
- I understand that it is another system, and will aim at bringing something easy like BitPOS to NZ.
- They can use a cloud wallet, or just software which can "watch" a public address, and store the private off site
- These guys will probably not convert any time soon.
- I try to explain that they can transfer it to NZD on the day. A system like BitPOS will make this easier.
- I don't want to make it seem like a dodgy currency, so I'm going to leave these vendors, even if they seem most likely to accept...
I think making it easier to understand and accept will be key. I aim at making a blog about how to accept the private wallets, which will make them get their hands dirty so to speak.
If you can offer assitance, just do it! I'm on twitter as haquaman, on reddit as haquaman, on IRC as aquaman (no h), and email at hugh AT davenport DOT net DOT nz.
Feel free to donate to 155WivS5TdBdU1UMQVZNLodywzCUdLdBBk.