Bitcoin Forum

Economy => Trading Discussion => Topic started by: quone17 on January 24, 2014, 04:32:23 PM



Title: how do you buy/sell in person?
Post by: quone17 on January 24, 2014, 04:32:23 PM

I have some BTC and looking to sell in person as the exchanges are so slow.  I'm asking people who have done this before - how do you do it?  I might do localbitcoins.com or advertise on this board.  But how do you arrange the logistics after you agree on a price?  You meet, and one person has cash, but how can you handle the transaction?  I was thinking I could go online on my phone and send him the BTC while we're meeting, he can confirm I sent it, and then he'll hand me the cash.  I guess the only weak spot is that after I send it he could just walk away and not give me the cash?  Anyone have advice?  thanks


Title: Re: how do you buy/sell in person?
Post by: BitcoinBobbeh on January 24, 2014, 04:52:50 PM

I have some BTC and looking to sell in person as the exchanges are so slow.  I'm asking people who have done this before - how do you do it?  I might do localbitcoins.com or advertise on this board.  But how do you arrange the logistics after you agree on a price?  You meet, and one person has cash, but how can you handle the transaction?  I was thinking I could go online on my phone and send him the BTC while we're meeting, he can confirm I sent it, and then he'll hand me the cash.  I guess the only weak spot is that after I send it he could just walk away and not give me the cash?  Anyone have advice?  thanks

If you want to go completely digital, he'll probably have a QR code ready to scan so he knows you're sending it to him and only to him.

I would ask for the cash first... my thinking is if you steal fiat from him, there are laws in place that say he can chase you down, beat you up, call the cops, etc to get it back and you will face prosecution. And to me, that's kinda like a safety net.

Whereas if he makes off with your Bitcoin, you can't really do shit. Any serious trader should probably understand this position. There's legal precedent that says dollars can be refunded, BTC can't.


Title: Re: how do you buy/sell in person?
Post by: hilariousandco on January 24, 2014, 11:25:12 PM

I have some BTC and looking to sell in person as the exchanges are so slow.  I'm asking people who have done this before - how do you do it?  I might do localbitcoins.com or advertise on this board.  But how do you arrange the logistics after you agree on a price?  You meet, and one person has cash, but how can you handle the transaction?  I was thinking I could go online on my phone and send him the BTC while we're meeting, he can confirm I sent it, and then he'll hand me the cash.  I guess the only weak spot is that after I send it he could just walk away and not give me the cash?  Anyone have advice?  thanks

Get the cash first before you send him the coins. Just meet in a public place like a coffeeshop, show him you have the coins on your phone, ask to count the money then send the coins. You can stay until the confirmations then both leave when you're both happy.

You can also sell your BTC on the forums here. Just use a trusted escrow agent.


Title: Re: how do you buy/sell in person?
Post by: jonanon on January 25, 2014, 02:59:12 PM
To buy or sell BTC in person I would assume it would entail meeting someone in person and exchanging cash with BTC but then again I'm not sure?


Title: Re: how do you buy/sell in person?
Post by: hilariousandco on January 25, 2014, 09:03:41 PM
To buy or sell BTC in person I would assume it would entail meeting someone in person and exchanging cash with BTC but then again I'm not sure?

Haha, yeah, it's pretty self-explanatory I guess.