Bitcoin Forum

I am starting an online storefront that accepts only bitcoins for payment.  I have been able to work out most of the hard part on the backend, but now I want to know what it really is that people are looking for online.  No idea if I just need to go for general goods and computer parts or if there are any specific elements.

Please share your thoughts and let me know what is needed.  I'll find some way of returning the favor like hooking you up with a coupon or something.

Steam gift codes are good.  No need to ship and you can electronically transfer the goods.

I have maple syrup and maple goodies for sale, with the right site this could be expanded. Maybe a partnership?

Any kind of digital goods: gift codes, game demo's, cd keys etc.

Sure wish someone would sell the mobile phone prepaid card / "top up" codes online.  Starting out small, one could list them for sale and then as they are sold head to the gas station or wherever and buy the denominations that were sold.  Scratch off and deliver the code online (securely) to the buyer.  
[Update: Done.  http://btcbuy.info/CallingCards.cshtml  and BitInstant will be offering airtime in Brazil, Russia, and elsewhere. ]

If there is sufficient demand, then these are available wholesale at about a 4% to 8% discount (e.g., a $30 cost $27.60) but there are volume requirements to get them wholesale.

These could probably be sold 10% over par even (e.g., sell a $30 code for $33 worth of bitcoin).

While this is hardly suitable for your site, I ultimately want my bitcoins to buy what I currently spend most of my pounds sterling on: groceries, utility bills and council tax. In fact my biggest problem with bitcoin as things are at the moment is that there isn't a single thing out there I want to spend them on.

But setting this kind of thing up is a much longer term goal of the bitcoin community.

Snap up some bargains on bitcoin auction sites.

I know this place http://bit.ly/bitcoindomains (http://bit.ly/bitcoindomains) offers domains with bitcoin via bitpay.  8)

Same here. I also buy virtual items for various games I play. And bitcoins makes it possible to make micro-payments which is a huge bonus when It comes to buying virtual game items/gold/etc.

Here is what I would suggest.  Look through the Bitcoin economy, and try to find things that are undervalued, poorly-marketed, or which can be combined with other things (maple syrup and pancake mix) to add value.  Create a kind of Bitcoin "general store".  Negotiate bulk purchases with producers.  Add some marketing.  Create gift baskets.  Target Bitcoin consumers.  Attempt to build economies of scale and scope within the Bitcoin economy, and don't just focus on re-selling things produced elsewhere.

I appreciate the input I am getting from this group.  Thanks guys.

i think things are wide open right now.  Think mass market, widest audience stuff

Books  ISP  Coffee  more GPU's

Ammo.

Apparently that's a need already served:
 - http://gawker.com/5879924/now-you-can-buy-guns-on-the-online-underground-marketplace

Also:
 - http://bitcoingunparts.com
 - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=61989.0

Its not legal to sell ammo online in the US is it?

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ is one site that does, but not for bitcoins AFAIK.

gift cards are the best idea.  anything to avoid converting to cash which is painful enough as it is.  i have libertyreserve and gg I just want to pay 4% and have f*cking cash, not deal with these wonky exchanges.

It is legal, but it cannot be shipping via Air. It's has to be ground only. I have bought from a few places, but http://www.sgammo.com/ seems to be the best. I bought 25 pounds of ammo, and it only cost $15 for the shipping. Not bad at all. Would be nice if they accepted Bitcoins in the future. SGAmmo and Bitcoins would be a dream come true!

I believe a good start would be a store that deals in good that members of the community either produce themselves, trade themselves, or have a common interest in.  I for example make artisan tools like tomahawks and knives in a wood forge.  I have sold these for between $100.00 to $600.00.  A Bitcoin "etsy" would be great place to start, and it would be a great way to allow micro transactions to spread those BTC's around.

I like this thread and these ideas.  I personally think one of the main steps to setting up a true bitcoin economy would be to get some basic suppliers.  Those that sell raw goods such as woods or basic electronic components that are then sold for bitcoin to the next guy who turns them into something and sells that.  I think to really progress we have to start thinking about that whole eco-system.

This is an important part of any currency's success. Right now, Bitcoin relies heavily on being transferred back to more used currencies because of how many purchases we make day to day with other currencies. We make those transactions in other currencies because there is no reasonable place to obtain those goods or services with Bitcoins.

Right now, the best thing for Bitcoin's stability and life is to try and rely on using Bitcoins only and not sell, but buy Bitcoins. This demand alone will produce positive impacts on Bitcoins.

Personnaly i think most of the people here are investors here to make easy money from the stock exchange no ?

Actually i'd like to be able to buy everything thats listed on amazon.com.

And food  ;D

For everyone in this thread who can't seem to find a way to buy anything interesting with bitcoin, you're either not networking well enough or being creative enough.

We don't "need" merchants to accept Bitcoin - we need our friends, family, and coworkers to accept them.

I can't tell you how many times I've paid for lunch and dinner, bar tabs, purchased random products and paid for hotel rooms with bitcoins - to my friends after they have purchased what I needed with their shitty fiat/credit cards.

It's not the best solution, but if we all do this, eventually one of those "friends" is going to be a CEO of some big company and get his light bulb turned-the-f-on and get the ball rolling to take advantage of this system.

Network, think creatively, and dont be afraid to ask someone you know to take some Bitcoins for something they can purchase for you with fiat.

I don't get to explore enough, but I hope to find plenty of places that accept it. I'm the kind of person that wants it accepted as a currency of its own, without having to turn into a dollar.

I know i am

Bookend to this thread:

The same type of question with more uses:
 - http://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=78755.0

bitcoins could buy invitation codes to private torrent sites, such as demonoid.me

(if any one wants one, pm me and i'll send you the info)