You know, I swear there was a comment here pointing out the lockdown at the BTCFPGA forums and suggesting people should arrange credit-card chargebacks where possible, and then when I refereshed the page it just... vanished.

By not giving out refunds at this time, it sounds like Tom is forcing people to wait a few days and hear him out before every single order abandons ship.

I posted a message directly after that one that Tom posted, asking him to spend time refunding my money rather than asking for more trust.  It was deleted...  

Tom - Quite frankly:

-I have seen how "things" develop when you are involved - you failed / not interested

-I have witnessed the use of you giving "your personal word" numerous times - doesn't mean anything / not interested

-I (along with many others) have given you a chance to get organized  - you failed / not interested

The number one priority right now should be YOU and DAVE processing refund requests until they are completed with little work on a "buyout" or "change of management" deal.  You at least after all this nonsense bullshit storm owe us the courtesy to quit jacking us around and honor the refunds NOW.

There should be a "Refund(s) Received Thread" started to track this as this will be my last attempt to wait before I hit up charge back land.

It's OK for their sweatshops fabs to make our hardware, but I don't want to deal with an Asian company.   

FROM TOM:


I know - no one is happy about this

and I have a confession to make.

I have been dumping my blood sweat and tears into making this happen
and perhaps I was in over my head

I thought I could put this together like I did with the ModMiner Quad
obviously it was not and I was in WAY over my head

I fixed the post up from last night - so at least now its has a big of legibility

yes I had a few drinks before I posted that post (last night) - I was fucking heart broken, some of you look at my like im a fucking scammer and it kills me - I helped start some of the infrastructure Bitcoin runs on today, and have set many Bitcoin firsts
and this idea couldent be farsest from the truth. Look at what ive done for Bitcoin over the last 3 years, I live and breath bitcoin and I love it.

Unfortunately this project was way over my head and I thought I can handle this the same way I handled-ed the ModMiner Quad project, obviously I was sorely wrong and I am so sorry I could not bring this project to market in a timely manner

But I swear to you and I give you my word I never meant to lie to you or tried to give anyone bad advice. I am sorry about my drunken (now fixed ) post from last night - I had a few drinks before that post because after receiving the bad news (about March) - this was the only way I knew how to deal with it. I am selling my share in BTCFPGA and it is now going to be owned by a asian company that is 100% sure of a March Delivery.  if you are not interested in doing business with this company please feel free to filll out a refund request and we will refund your money is full. There is plenty enough money to make all of these refunds and I have been a pillar of this community for years, so please no panic. Anyone that wants a refund - they will receive one today. Please I ask you to please accept my apologize - if you can wait until March you will receive a superior ASIC mining device, if you lost your trust in me and my company than I dont blame you at all. But please understand I tried the best at the best of my ability and I can't take any of this anymore. I am not the right man for this job. Your new ASIAN benefactors will be online soon to greet you all and see where were are at and hopefully they can calm some of your nerves. They have the equipment to do most of these processes in house. They dont have to relay on sub contractors and deal with all these little problems that pop up in that process. They can fab pbcs, pick parts, soldering machines, the whole nine yards. You will be much happier with this company and with my out of the picture. Expect contact from them soon.

As for me im going to back to my web hosting business and my computer repair shop and live the simple life for awhile, enjoy time with my kids and please accept my apologies for not being the person you needed - the person who you needed to make his happen.

I will continue to sell modminer quads on http://btcfpga.com or mining and hobbyist uses on the side, and im going to try and live a happy life, I am sorry I let you down I really am and I hope the Asians took good care of you.

we are not going to scam anyone - if you request a refund you will receive it right away - if your willing to wait until March you will probably receive a better product than if you stick with me, thats just the reality of the situation.

sincerely with blood sweat and tears,
Tom

Agreed, the lack of updates is disturbing.

I actually have to agree here.

How did BFL invoice/bill their customers?

If BFL billed them in bitcoin, and the customers paid in bitcoin, then to my understanding, unless they have a clause in their terms of sale that specifically links the price to USD, then they are legally required to refund the full amount of purchase currency tendered. This would mean they legally can't just refund about half of the bitcoin because it roughly doubled in value. 

The fact that BFL used a third party that "invisibly to the customer" convert the received bitcoin to USD is irrelevant as the actual sale (and thus rights of sale) were conducted in BTC. 

It just seems like BFL has a backpedal mode that always looks the same - "The other guys have delays too... or might have delays... why are you all up in our face about ours?"

I just don't think that BFL has any room to speak of any delays from the other companies.  BFL is reigns supreme as the ASIC delay champion.  I hope that title does not continue, but it looks as though it will for the foreseeable future.