Bitcoin Forum

Also Posted in Pre-Sales at BFL Forum

MiniRig Line:Concerned
Via Jody's blog, we can conclude the minirig line made ZERO progress from roughly August 15th until today. It seems ONE 500 GH/s unit has been completed since then (as seen on Jody's Update yesterday). If only one 500 GH/s unit has been completed since the 15th, which is 8 days...How, at ONE 500 GH/s unit EVERY 8 DAYS, will BFL ever complete the backlog?

If BFL is purposely slowing the Minirig line, to force big-money investors to switch their investment to the Monarch line, this would be very troubling.

I welcome BFL to clarify why this line, which so much money has been dumped into by customers, is moving so slowly...Neglect, lack of coordination, or fraud?

Also, since I have 1.5 TH/s to my order...Can I assume, at one 500GH/s rig every 8 days, my order will take 24 DAYS to build and fulfill?


Thanks for your time


PS: I'm not an angry troll, I've invested in the Minirig line and I'm extremely concerned at the lack of progress. And seemingly no effort to correct it..

Are no other MiniRig purchasers as concerned as I am?

BFL says you guys won't ask for refunds. Maybe they don't feel like they need to bother making your stuff. ;)

From Jody's Blog
Jalapenos: January 21, 2013

Little Singles: Oct. 11, 2012 pay date

Singles: July 5, 2012 pay date

MiniRigs: MiniRigs for June 23 (2nd 500gh/s unit) and July 28 for 1st 500 gh/s

Observations:
People who ordered Jalapenos usually only ordered one.
People who ordered Singles often ordered 3, 6, 12 or more.
People who ordered in January hardly wrote us any emails.
People who order MiniRigs don't ask for refunds
----------------------
Apparently that's the excuse for the line moving at 1 500GH/s unit every 8 days? We don't ask for refunds so no incentive to go faster?

If they had stated that 1.5TH Minirig orders, once they knew they had become 3 500GH units, would take 24 days to be completed...I believe people would have acted differently.

http://bflfraud.com/7/

You cannot switch to monarch if you have an order in "fullfilled" state (after one mini rig has shipped).

I suspect they are running out of cases or other parts. 

BTW, slowing the shipment rate, only helps the early adopters.

People who have late mini rig orders will switch to monarch, just a matter of time.

Not sure if its true but that would be a valid tactic, especially if you paid last year when BTC was $6-10.  Much less labor to make a PCI-E card then that custom box.  You would think they would of already shipped their big orders.

How could you run out of parts when you KNOW how many orders you have AND you already have their money? 

Parts cost money. Their chip sales fell flat on it's face. Of course, with a new infusion of investors, BFL can continue paying for the old ones.

'Zero progress'.  Wow, over-hype much?

Also, can you show me proof for your 1 mini rig has been completed since the 15th?

If I use your deductions alone, I am forced to conclude that only 1 mini-rig was built between Jun 25 and Aug 5th.  look at the facts:
25 Jun: Minirigs shipping from Jun 23
26 Jun: Minirigs shipping from Jun 23
01 Jul: Minirigs shipping from Jun 23
02 Jul: Minirigs shipping from Jun 23
03 Jul: Minirigs shipping from Jun 23
08 Jul: Minirigs shipping from Jun 23
09 Jul: Minirigs shipping from Jun 23
...............
02 AUG: Minirigs shipping from Jun 23
05 Aug: Minirigs shipping from Jul 1

HOLY FUCK BATMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  
THESE PEOPLE ARE SLOWER THAN DOG TURDS IN JANUARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm very concerned and have not too much hope that any of the Minirigs will pay back. Our only chance would be a refund, maybe we should see how we can work together to get our money back?

I have a minirig order from March of 2013. They have refused my refund. I am going to pursue legal action with a very good friend who was an attorney at Federman & Sherwood for 5 years and recently took a better job. This case is exactly their bread and butter. If you have been refused a refund and are interested in your legal options, please PM me.

Thanks.

This is what I love about the instant gratification crowd... "not too much hope that any of the Minirigs will pay back" and They have refused my refund. I am going to pursue legal action.

Personally, I hope you request AND get your refunds.  That way, 6 months or a year or 2 years down the road when all the bitcoins you WOULD have carefully mined and stored since the receipt of your unit become worth 10-20x what you paid for it, I can laugh at your for your shortsightedness and stupidity.

Waiting for over a year while enduring insults and disdain from BFL hardly qualifies one for the "instant gratification crowd".
Also, they could just buy Bitcoins with the refund. Then they would actually have Bitcoins instead of mere promises of them.

Hello EvilLizardApparel,

Just wanted to let you know that MiniRig line was not slowed down in any way, we were just waiting for new boards to arrive to the facility.


Regards,
Nasser

Nasser,

Your presence in this thread is refreshing. I am glad you came here to actually execute some customer service, and didn't come in here calling concerned customers "monumental assholes". However, by now you should not be running out of chips or other parts...You are in "full production" and have a huge backlog to fill. Your customers did not shell out millions for you guys to still not be at the top of your game after all these months. Your customers are on the cusp of having a failed investment in your company, we have had our faith in you and despair at being continually disappointed. We accepted the reduced specs of your products, now we need you to actually produce and ship them in a timely and competent manner.

Thank you for taking the time to post though, Nasser. You better tell your production coordinators to get there shit together, your customers grow restless and a group lawsuit will be on the horizon if you don't clear the backlog in September. I know it is not personally your fault, the outlook is simply grim. Thank you for informing us regarding the Minirig line, and that it is not a fraudulent or deliberate delay.

I would take a refund now if I could.  >:(      Monarch bah!

 Would not having new boards at the facility logically allow us to come to the deduction that production has indeed slowed down ? No boards, ergo, no production ?

 Your statement is a massive dose of cognitive dissonance if so.

Kinda contradicting yourself there  :o ::)

I always love your comments, your tangential views on the world at large are always refreshing.

Might I point out that while you are correct in your definition of the term 'instant gratification' you fail to see the bigger picture behind it.  In this case, once the realization "that RoI could not be made"  this is the point at which I was referring to for Instant Gratification.  Up until this point people were quite willing to wait, cause they could still see those $$$ in their dreams.  Now that their dreams have fallen to the wayside, there is no hope of instant gratification any longer and now they want refunds and lawsuits.

Hello Loyal Barn Wood Customer

Just wanted to let you know that processing your barn wood order has not slowed down in any way, we were just waiting for a new barn to manifest itself so that we can go out and steal more barn wood to procure your paid pre-order to our facility.

As you're probably not aware, stealing barn wood at night is hard.

---

Did Nasser just state that there was no slow down at the beginning of the sentence, then at the end of the same sentence express why there was a slow down? My only guess is that it was lost in translation from French to English when he posted that late at night there in Paris.

I'm also guessing that after he clicked post, he returned to jacking off on that PCB that plays elevator music that he invented.

so u put 22k x3 into this lol can i have some money, i can do a preorder for my love

Counting on some possible future rise in exchange rate to "profit" is idoitic.  Try this through experiment on for size.  His $66,000 in rigs is the equivelent of ~ 622 BTC today.  It is very likely if it takes months for those rigs to be delivered that they will mine 622 BTC. Couldn't he get a refund ($66K), use the cash to buy Bitcoins (622 BTC) today and then when 6 or 2 years from now you laugh at him that the coins he could have mined (<622 BTC) are worth 10x as much he laughs and shows you he has even MORE bitcoins (622 BTC) which have also increased 10x?

However you calling him stupid is proof BFL will never go bankrupt with customers like you.

That a boy.  Grand investment strategy there.  Who cares what I paid and what I got out because my coinZ will be worth millions later on.   

Counting on a rise in the exchange rate is inevitable.  As more and more systems come online and difficulty climbs ever higher, people are going to start realizing that selling at current prices is going to eventually stop paying for the cost of electricity.  When that happens, more and more people will begin asking higher prices and refusing to sell at the piddly bids people are hoping to get cheap bitcoins with today.  The people I refer to as the 'instant gratification' crowd will be selling their coins as fast as they get them, frantically thinking they must or they will lose out.  The calmer heads out there will simply scoop up these coins and wait.  The panic selling of mining equipment will inevitably follow as people try to get some meager return on their investment selling at lower and lower prices, thinking the game is up.

Why not get a refund and buy BTC?  You're *REALLY* think the people so desperate about declining RoI will have the patience to sit on BTC?????  Wow.

One last thing... *I* did not use the term idiot... you did.

Unacceptable Nasser.   BFL has had plenty of time to foresee this and if any part should be slower, its the chips and that is it.  BFL has dropped the ball in a time when your customer has few options being that your orders are all pre-orders.  If you want to do real customer service, them your big customers how your are going to compensate them for your internal delay because of a lack of foresight.  

Sock-puppet troll here.  Go away.

I am neither a sock-puppet nor a troll.  I cannot help it if you lack the vision to see the future.  In addition, I have the same right to be here as you do.

Their idea of compensation:
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h148/Bigblock462/Profit%20calc/BFL%2030GH/openboxwithmugs_zps6da7bef8.jpg

5 months ago, BFL knew exactly how many boards they needed for their mini-rig orders. Yet somehow, they failed to order a few dozen PCBs? For 5 months, they were unable to order them? Even I don't think BFL was that low on cash. Or that high on dope.

On the other hand, a whole bunch of chips go into those boards and those chips are really expensive. So I could understand BFL waiting until their new chip order arrives (100 days from who knows when) before they make any more mini-rigs. This way they can continue to ship a few Jalapenos each day and show "progress".

 :D  Hey,thats Unacceptable  :D  Thats my pic,too funny  ;D

Showing my BFL like that.Yeah I got it,BUT I lost out on thousands,due to BFL's "2 week™" strategy to keep customers from making too much from thier equipment  ::)

Too little...too late  :P

My coffee cups are hashing like crazy though.....................

Good luck to you Big Spenders with getting your MR's anytime soon........  ::)

Sorry about that, I just used Google Images and posted the image's link.  There's another one with just one mug, sideways, so your pic works better.

Just funnin ya  :D   I don't care...........maybe I can link some adverts for BTC......... hmmm,who could I get to advertise,hmmm   :D

The mugs are already advertising.  Just not paying for it. :-)

Oh,I paid for it though.......................through the nose & lower end  >:(

Lesson learned  ;)

I have Images in my head of someone opening that big minirig case
to reveal a single monarch cable tied to one side and 3 bricks to the other.

edit : 2 years from now....

if you are waiting...they are delayed....you deserve a facepalm

+  lolz...one i got to say about the BFL Socks are ...they are stupid ..

..nor are u past puberty with your insightful vision of macro economics 

This is the formal response format of somebody who is about to get served

 I hate cheese unless it is on Nachos.

What did you mean by that? If you believe I'm being formal and professional due to imminently being "served" a Minirig, you are incorrect. My order is March 2013, I have awhile until I'm "served". If you meant my tone is that of someone who is going to "serve" legal issues to BFL's door if the backlog isn't flying out in September, you would be correct.

OMG, did I just see UNDERSTANDING??? Wow, that must have been a typo! ;)

Place your bets!

Butterfly Labs Will NOT have all Gen 1 ASIC Pre Orders Shipped Out before 1st January 2014
 (http://betsofbitco.in/item?id=1713)

Define Pre-Order.

In my opinion every mini rig that is shipped with a pay date later than the current single date is a stolen board from that production line (they use the same boards if I am not mistaken). Every single that is shipped ahead of the current 3rd mini rig ship date is stolen from that line.

They are absolutely not following their 1/3 shipping plan and they are just doing whatever the hell they feel to give the illusion of shipping faster or giving certain people benefits.

They way they are running this show is a completely retarded train wreck.

Furthermore their monarch line released last sat morning starts a whole new pay date regardless of your original pay date unlike current waiting line. The early numbers for that (people who supposedly will get the cards months before people who converted a day or two after the announcement) were sold out almost immediately..Gee I wonder who got the heads up on that....

wow, they stole for the mini from the singles while stealing for the singles from the mini?  That means they stole from the mini for the mini!!!!!!!!

Sonny, is BCP19 your latest sock puppet?

You didn't read my signature, did you?  And fyi, it's just bcp19, no need to be formal or shout.

You got it... taking boards form 6/23 MR orders so they can say they are shipping MR 7/28 orders (outside of first month).

bump

If you're going to do this... DO IT RIGHT!!!



And a Public Service Announcement!
If you have ordered from BFL and have not yet received your product, you are entitled to a refund whenever you request one (per FTC rules).
First ask Butterfly Labs for one, they will probably say no but you might get lucky.
If you ordered via PayPal you can file a complaint with them even if you are outside the 45 day window. One customer has already gotten a refund from PayPal that was outside the 45 days.
If you ordered via BTC or Bank wire, you can fill out a complaint with the FTC and they will advocate for you with BFL to get your refund. You can also contact the office of the Kansas Attorney General and inform them that you have had your money taken with no product delivered for months, just more promises.

There are also several threads on how to get a refund from BFL, here are two:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=266945.0
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=272585.0
 

What why is Josh not betting?

Nasser probably pulled his credit line after he lost 2000 BTC and didn't pay.  ;D

I am glad we got there :D

Ordering an item that is not yet in stock or ready to send to you.

Need a new term for BFL.

Not quite a Pre-Order something that you never intend on producing then supplant it with "newer" model that costs more and takes even longer to produce.

This is where you and I disagree.  A pre-order is an order placed for an item which has not yet been released.  When BFL changed their pricing in April, that is when pre-orders ended.  At that point in time they knew how much each unit would cost and began taking orders.  Those can be considered back-orders since they do not have enough on hand to ship them.

I know this is going to start a new Flame war over BFL, but the truth that no one understands is that when Josh said all pre-orders(sic) would ship by September, he was looking at my definition.  Just like everyone does not understand lifetime warranty.  Just because *you* think it means *your* lifetime, 99% of the time it means the lifetime of the product in the market.

So, will BFL have shipped all pre-orders by Jan 1?  Yup.  Will they have shipped ALL orders?  Doubtful.

You should really re-word your bet, I could bet against you and take you to court and win the way it is worded now.

I ain't taking that bet.

I'm still waiting for my Jalepenos, fyi.

Anybody that throws more money at BFL hoping for actual shipped hardware has more money then sense. I've learned my lesson.

They haven't slowed down except for the part where they came to a full and complete stop when the parts ran out for a week or two.

Its BFL speak. They train them.

BFL Trainer: Hello new recruit, do you know what time it is?

New Recruit: Yes I do.

BFL Trainer: Well done!   Let's try another.....   Has the assembly line slowed down?

New Recruit: No

BFL Trainer: Very Good.... One More question.....  I have a customer that says they are losing money because you haven't shipped his item. What do you say?

New Recruit: Butterfly Labs has shipped more than anyone else therefore we control the change in difficulty.

BFL Trainer: Well done, go to the shoutbox and make Ascii Art.

Sadly Nasser comes off as the most sensible and reasonable of all the BFL con artists and his post in this thread is still contradictory bs designed to placate.

Having a 100% error-free production line, means around several thousand employees in several different companies must function as precise as atomic clocks do, with absolutely no human-error. Even robots cannot achieve that, let alone humans. We will do our best to make sure a huge number of products get shipped everyday.

Regards,
Nasser

 Looking forward to reading reports about you folks parting the Red Sea and successfully shipping out huge numbers in the next 27 some-odd days.

 I imagine it will be wonderful clearing out your backlog of orders on schedule, and meeting a deadline for once.

Error free production lines do not mean thousands of employees.

That is just silly.

DING DING DING..   that is one of the main tells of all their bullshit delay lies

I saved 10 years of my life not pressing the buy button last March on a minirig

With all due respect sir, with your company's unbroken streak of fail it seems unlikely anyone would expect 100% error-free production from BFL. It might be better to set a reasonable timetable for accomplishing something small and going from there. You know something you can build upon. Say firing your toxic COO in two weeks^tm or meeting even one deadline...ever. No need to get all OCD about obtaining perfection when I'm sure most would be ecstatic to see BFL rise to the level of barely competent. Baby steps...nobody expects you guys to be able to just haul off and produce gear you sold last year.

I know -- it is pathetic excuse..  
I got a FORM1 3D printer a few weeks ago.. it is WAY more liable to production errors/calibration than a freakin miner. it was a kickstarter startup and it was only 4 months late

Consider that if you fell for the estimated delivery time line and paid full price upfront then its even worst as you paid in full, unlike the others who went the trade up route. They got the chance to pay 15k and mine with the trade in hardware for 13 months.

Considering they are sending only 500 GH's 1/3 at a time full paid orders are the worst of the lot.

I have forwarded your comments to Bitfury. I can't promise they will stop making you look bad.

I must add two small notes:

1) The true number of employees involved in the process are at least several thousand. You must include all the employees that are involved in FedEx for example (or any other carrier we use to ship different components around), to employees in all the companies in the supply chain, PCB and assembly divisions, Wafer Foundry, etc ... The list goes on and on.

2) The sensitivity in our situation comes from the fact that initial delays were incurred. Long story short, at best we could have added 2 months error margin to the initial timeline given to us (which we did). In order to know what the exact delay is going to be (in any project), you need to know the future. We would've purchased a crystal-ball to let us know in advance.. but the company that makes crystal-balls just went out of business...



Regards,
Nasser

How goes that August 2013 tape-out? You still going to make that date?

You should be ashamed to even show your face to customers, never mind justify the abomination. Do not pass go, go directly to jail and enjoy your stay.

I am sorry to have to correct you, but at best you could have added a 10 month error margin. Then you would be shipping on time, instead of very very late.
Other companies manage to use FedEx without being 10 months late. They also manage to make PCBs without being 10 months late. Indeed the list goes on and on.

Even at this late juncture, you are still pushing your own failures off onto other companies. If you can't manage to ship things via FedEx, you probably shouldn't be selling things over the internet.

We could have added 10 years of error margin as well. But to know the exact number, you need to know the future.


Regards,
Nasser

P.S. The FedEx example was used to demonstrate how little logistic elements can affect an active production line, it was not related to the initial delay in any way.

You really need to learn how to read... he's saying they added 2 months onto the estimate GIVEN them, yet that was still not enough when compared to the ACTUAL delays incurred.  ::)

On the bflfraud site, you can see the guy's partner saying he called up BFL and paid extra money to take earlier delivery of minirigs from people who simply bought them online via their website. ie : paying to skip in line

(edit : I didn't read the whole thread so maybe this was already mentionned. Sorry it that is the case)

So who's been fired for this massive cluster Mr. CEO? Multiple companies have now designed, sold, built, and shipped ASIC products in the time BFL has been figuring out which end of a soldering gun is which. Who's getting canned?

We don't do that... it's immoral and dishonest.


Regards,
Nasser

I believe he is referring to the entire supply chain, not merely BFL.

We do appreciate your effort in making things clear for those who may not know the process. However the customer now is wanting to know how much longer, and if the delay's become unacceptable. Then once again have the option to get a refund and put their bets on another horse.

Or if they can't then the best form of compensation is to increase the amount of sold hashrate to appease the loss of return for the delay to those whose orders have yet to be fulfilled. Perhaps a % of the purchased mining speed given gratis for the next gen item or something along those lines.

This strategy seems to have helped with other manufacturers and may help reduce existing customers from running for the exits.

It is just a suggestion, as some have expressed their disappointment of not having the ability to make a truly informed decision as to your projects particular circumstance.

Edit:

FYI
Bitfury NA Megabigpower

Order ID: 47
Date Ordered: 08/07/2013
Date Shipped: 09/04/2013

Your order has been updated to the following status:
Shipped

How about denying refunds to customers who's order hasn't shipped yet? Is that immoral and dishonest, because it is definitely illegal...

That's probably a good idea for the Monarch product. Then you might ship on time.

Is that because...

1... the suppliers weren't shipping crystal fast enough to the company that makes crystal balls?
2... they hauled the crystal balls out the back door for their own or friends use?
3... they forgot to order the enough crystal before the magic eight ball company came onto the scene?
4... they should have had a fully automated assembly line filled with crystal ball making robots?
5... other?

 :D

If only anyone had any idea what was actually responsible for the delay. So far, reports have dribbled out that the boards were late, then the boards were wrong, and the chips were late, and the chips had problems, then the boards were redesigned, but the cases are wrong, so the cases were redesigned, but the power supplies have issues, now power supplies are just missing. Train wreck, made worse by opacity and the worst PR debacle since Paul Christoforo.

It doesn't matter if you outsource or if you did it all in house. Failure is failure. Shirking responsibility and blaming your subcontractors is not confidence building.

Bitfury has proven that it is possible to make high performance chips and deliver them on time and in high volume.

Unlike lying about every milestone to date.

OR

Ripping off the elderly to the tune of Millions.

That shit is legit and above board.

Sorry, dude, you hitched yourself to the wrong horse.

Stop speaking QAUSI PLAUSIABLE TECHNO speak babble to confuse  the mass's of peopel who dont know any better

EVERY single component in your supply chain has either a SLA or a MTB or Qaulity factor % that are within 98.9% accurate

That leaves 1 1/5 of a very small number  down to chance ..

1)you would knwo this if u where an engineer
2)you are just trying to sell your spin to the people AGAIN with ""YEAH THAT SOUNDS FAIR RUBBISH"

Lol.

Nasser, not sure what you're trying to achieve here. My best guess is that you want me to photoshop you a clown nose ;)

Either you are totally naive, totally retarded - or a total crook like the rest of your posse.



The true number is actually millions. Because all those FedEx workers have to eat. Therefore McDonalds, KFC & Wendy's personal is needed. And they all have to get dressed. So lots of people at Footlocker and Wal-Mart are needed as well. Plus shitloads of poor Chinese workers. etc. ....

You realize how complex your task of designing an ASIC was? And what a genius you and your colleagues are?

/irony off

If Nasser is an engineer who has suddenly learnt fluent english ...I am batman  8)

<takes sip of Kool Aid, bites tongue>

BitFury miners are shipping NOW as promised by Buzzdave with zero lies or other BS. KnC and others will hopefully follow this trend.

There is no need to support this sad joke of a company any longer. If we would stop sending them money for bullshit "Pre-orders" they would go away.

In ~ 20 days every single product left on BFL's back order will be officially NEGATIVE ROI.... @ this point you will see people getting onto jet planes & finally the shit will hit the fan...

I agree BuzzDave has passed the moral test & has gone to hell & back with bASIC...It  Is really good to see him land on his feet :D

BitFury: 400 GH/s, 300 watts, $8000, shipping in under two months.
BFL: 500 GH/s, 2600 watts, $22484, shipping in over two months.

I can't imagine why anyone with a BFL minirig doesn't immediately cancel their order. BitFury is better in every way.

Because you we can't get your our money back.

Not trying hard enough... or... BFL won't give refunds even though they are in Violation of FTC regs?

Both I would say.  Lawyering up may just be throwing good money after bad.

Aye.

If it isn't a mini-rig, go to small claims court.

Unfortunately it is a Feb minirig so no small claims.

Have you contacted the FTC and Kansas AG? The FTC will go to bat for you to get a refund.

I was waiting on hearing that the FTC or AG had done anything for anyone so far considering the numbers of pissed off customers.  That avenue has turned up a big nada currently. 
Have you heard anyone have any success with a refund from BFL that was not related to paypal or CC?

7 months later and they're still months from being able to ship your order. I would be on the phone with them demanding a refund every single day, several times a day.

Unfortunately considering the lack of positive news on peoples refunds, I have not gone down that route.  My time is worth much more than calling BFL daily for nothing.

If some success actually happens in the community then my priorities will obviously change.

EDIT: No one should have to be in the position I am in right now.

Agreed. Given the failures they should give refunds when requested.

Not heard anyone getting relief from FTC or AG at this time. Although I am not sure there has been an "avalanche" of claims filed. More in the pipeline could move it along faster no?

The regulators and law enforcement agencies have to make a conscious decision to pursue a matter of this type (which is why more complaints = more likely they will spend resources to investigate).  Even if they know about it (which they clearly do at this point) they may decide (for any number of reasons) not to pursue it.  With that said IF they do decide to "go after" BFL it will be methodical, slow and fact based.  They will take there time and build a rock solid case (remember a win is all that matters to these folks and their careers, not the consumers best interest).  Lastly there is a very real possibility that the AG may be diving much deeper than say UCC laws, FTC regulations.  If they are investigating BFL and Sonny they may be looking for other violations.  There as so many laws on the books that they may be looking at other avenues to pursue as well.  IANAL and I don't have specifics in mind but it's not hard to believe they may be looking at mail fraud, wire fraud, false advertising tax evasion and the list goes on for a long time.

Just because law enforcement hasn't taken action yet doesn't mean they aren't and won't however you and I won't hear about it until well after BFL does!  They will not tip their hand and they have all the time in the world so to speak.

How long did it take from Pirate disappearing until the SEC went balls deep recently?

The filing of FTC complaints has coincided with refunds awarded. We cannot know exactly what made BFL cave in, but people have received BTC refunds. It costs you nothing to fill out an online form, but it may yield results. Perhaps BFL is just refusing to refund orders it knows are from people who won't put up a fight ;)

In any case, the FTC would advocate for you directly with BFL before it began any sort of investigation. If you get your refund, case closed.

Do have any sources for this info? I would be most interested.

I know bitching to the FTC can yield results.  There's no harm in trying it.