Bitcoin Forum

Last week I got the email address of the owner of my favorite Sushi restaurant near my house. I try to have as many meetings there as possible because the food is fantastic, and I like supporting local businesses.

What's the best way to educate him on Bitcoin (he had never heard of it) and get him accepting it as payment?

I've read similar threads on this topic:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=274931.0 (project development)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=288225.0 (economics)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=204140.0 (project development)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=214551.0 (marketplace)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=220636.0 (politics & society)

(note to moderators: I'm putting this in general as previous discussions have been all over the place as far as the category goes).

With last week's Senate hearings, I think this topic is worth bringing up again. If we had a super simple way to get someone educated and on board, it could rapidly change things. I'd personally feel more comfortable moving more of my savings to Bitcoin if I knew most of the stores I interact with on a monthly basis would accept it.

The story of the newly married couple living off Bitcoin for 100 days is inspiring. They could close the deal in 5 minutes. How can we all learn to do that?

One of the threads mentioned above points to http://www.takemybitcoins.com/ which is a good start. This video from Bitpay is nice as well and it doesn't hurt they used actors who are... easy on the eyes. :) https://www.youtube.com/embed/YZ-pqo0cLcE?autoplay=1&rel=0 I also like how http://www.weusecoins.com/en/ explains things.

Do you have any additional tools? What should I email the owner of this restaurant?

Ideally, I'd like a simple paragraph or two with links to more information.

I should also make it clear that I'm talking about brick and mortar stores doing in-person sales. My company (FoxyCart) is already helping with online stores via Bitpay.

Thanks for your feedback.

Forget the email and take advantage of your personal relationship with the establishment.  Go in there, face to face and either schedule a time that works or have the meeting right then and there, if possible.  Skip all the tech details and just explain how simple integration is and the benefits of accepting Bitcoin.  The value should speak for its self.  Above all, keep it simple and listen to his needs.  Should take less than 10 minutes.  If it takes longer, you're likely talking too much.  

Once you've got the go ahead, help him set everything up.  This is to prevent confusion.  People don't buy when they are confused.   ;)

2 methods, depending on your personal choice.
1. if you want it so that you have a place to spend your coins.
talk to them about bitpay the same way as if they were 'visa'. they open a merchant account and bitpay display a special barcode for each transaction which customers pay into. and then the sushi place gets paid.

2. if you want the wider community to spend their bitcoins.
give the manager say, £$300 upfront as a form of bar tab and when the customers request to pay BTC, tell him to check the 'bill' total against a BTC exchange price and then show the customer YOUR QR code. that way YOU'RE the 'exchanger' and the manager is prepaid, so he has no issues with that.
after confidence is build or customers increase above the bartab, you can then adapt your personal bartab into an automated wire transfer each night  and do things via API to your site so that your a 'proper' gateway. and make it into a business. or get him to make a bitpay account. either way its about getting your foot in the door to 'trial' it out first and then fully adopt later. the main issues some businesses have is the trust of being paid FIAT at the end of it all.

I would go for the angle that you and your friend will come and spend btc with them. Maybe tell them that you'll setup your bitcoin meetup there.

Thanks all. I guess I was hoping for a more specific feedback.

For email, a simple paragraph explaining what it is and why they should support it.

For in person, a quick summary of the technology and its benefits.

I guess I'll put together my best effort, but I think others who have more experience with this could do a much better job than myself. If we all had this at our disposal and we shared that information regularly at the stores we frequent, that could really move the needle.

I started this thread of "top 100 reasons bitcoin is the best currency today", maybe there is something in there of use for you.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=338050.0