Bitcoin user adoption is horrible - here is why:

[DGulari]

"Paul Puey, CEO of Airbitz, said in a blog post: "We are excited to announce that we've integrated Fold into our app! Now, you can buy gift cards for Starbucks and Target within the app in the same tab where you can buy and sell bitcoin through Glidera."

So, Fold is now integrated into Airbitz.  Use Glidera, to buy bitcoin to buy a gift card to use via Fold through your AirBitz wallet - to get a coffee! 

Get it?!  Neither do I.  The more ridiculous steps between being thirsty and getting a coffee - the less likely users will adopt the system.  This is just freaking horrible.  I am convinced that major players like AirBitz inability to see this will ultimately cause alienation of end users.  Even a hard core bitcoin nerd couldn't enjoy this transaction.  Real people would laugh their head off if you told them they should buy a coffee this way.  More steps and more middlemen?  = sure death. 

 you > Glidera > Fold > Airbitz > Starbucks 

forgetaboutit

[~Bitcoin~]

I think this one positively, they may be trying to shift their customers towards bitcoin. As atleast even though they find it horrible at first but later on they will atleast search about bitcoin and its technology. Good for bitcoin community. 

[unamis76]

I too agree that these are too many steps between being thirsty and having a coffee. But if we don't go through this, we probably won't have sellers/retailers accepting Bitcoin soon... So this is a necessary evil, I think.

[DGulari]

I too agree that these are too many steps between being thirsty and having a coffee. But if we don't go through this, we probably won't have sellers/retailers accepting Bitcoin soon... So this is a necessary evil, I think.

Go ask BitPay or GoCoin.  User adoption of bitcoin is near zero.  People don't actually use it.  The process needs to be simplified.  This is not a step in the right direction.  BitPay is also horrible.  Too many steps.

[stoat]

"Paul Puey, CEO of Airbitz, said in a blog post: "We are excited to announce that we've integrated Fold into our app! Now, you can buy gift cards for Starbucks and Target within the app in the same tab where you can buy and sell bitcoin through Glidera."

So, Fold is now integrated into Airbitz.  Use Glidera, to buy bitcoin to buy a gift card to use via Fold through your AirBitz wallet - to get a coffee!  

Get it?!  Neither do I.  The more ridiculous steps between being thirsty and getting a coffee - the less likely users will adopt the system.  This is just freaking horrible.  I am convinced that major players like AirBitz inability to see this will ultimately cause alienation of end users.  Even a hard core bitcoin nerd couldn't enjoy this transaction.  Real people would laugh their head off if you told them they should buy a coffee this way.  More steps and more middlemen?  = sure death.  

 you > Glidera > Fold > Airbitz > Starbucks  

forgetaboutit

I agree that that sounds retarded.  But there are much more reasons why bitcoin adoption is horrible than these silly apps.

I think companies like bitpay payment processors are hurting bitcoin adoption massively.  They not only instantly convert btc to fiat, they also charge a processing fee just like a credit card company. It also does not give the business any incentive to spend bitcoin in the bitcoin economy, instead the btc is sold straight back to exchanges.  

For btc to grow in value we need businesses to be invested in the bitcoin economy. This means not using payment processors but accepting btc directly the way it was meant to be used.  I think we should spend our bitcoins only at businesses which do not instantly convert to fiat.  

Companies like coinbase bitpay all these multimillion dollar conpanies and others like it are the biggest cancer to arrive on the bitcoin community.

[biggbox]

The key reason for low adoption rate is due to its volatility. Isn't that going to cause headaches for financial department of any organisations? How are they going to tag value to their assets? 

[stoat]

The key reason for low adoption rate is due to its volatility. Isn't that going to cause headaches for financial department of any organisations? How are they going to tag value to their assets? 

That is complete bullshit. Businesses hold things that change in value all the time.  And the "volatility" has beenin a general upward trend since bitcoins inception. Hardly a major problem. This is just a meme a useful meme to deflect away scrutiny from other areas.

[helloeverybody]

Im hoping user adoption will happen due to btc being a store of value now more than as an everyday currency.

[ChetnotAtkins]

OP has a point but it is only about this product.

This actually has nothing to do with Bitcoin, but only with the companies who build their services around the blockchain.
Most are intended to increase convenience for the consumer, but many are practically parasitic middlemen that try to profit from Bitcoin usage.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

OP, holy Christ that sounds absolutely ridiculous and this definitely isn't going to help btc adoption.  You're absolutely right.  Sounds like a goddamn maze to get a coffee, and no one in their right mind wouldn't just pay for it with fucking cash.

[DGulari]

"Paul Puey, CEO of Airbitz, said in a blog post: "We are excited to announce that we've integrated Fold into our app! Now, you can buy gift cards for Starbucks and Target within the app in the same tab where you can buy and sell bitcoin through Glidera."

So, Fold is now integrated into Airbitz.  Use Glidera, to buy bitcoin to buy a gift card to use via Fold through your AirBitz wallet - to get a coffee!  

Get it?!  Neither do I.  The more ridiculous steps between being thirsty and getting a coffee - the less likely users will adopt the system.  This is just freaking horrible.  I am convinced that major players like AirBitz inability to see this will ultimately cause alienation of end users.  Even a hard core bitcoin nerd couldn't enjoy this transaction.  Real people would laugh their head off if you told them they should buy a coffee this way.  More steps and more middlemen?  = sure death.  

 you > Glidera > Fold > Airbitz > Starbucks  

forgetaboutit

You are overlooking one major factor: Fold gives you a 20% discount at Starbucks (also, a 10% discount at Target)

I don't care if you give me a 100% discount, I won't take five steps to get coffee.  I'd rather pay the $2 and get to my job earlier so I can earn more money.  If I spend 30 minutes fussing with coupons and gift cards, I already lost $100!  

[The Young Turk]

Bitcoin user adoption is not horrible, your way to get a coffie with btc is horrible. You can buy starbucks gift cards etc with bitcoin easily (through gyft.com, on this forum's marketplace etc).

[BitcoinNewsMagazine]

Ingenico has already partnered with Bitpay to allow bitcoin payment at any of its point of sale terminals: http://ingenico.us/press-and-publications/media-library/videos/partner-videos/bitpay-inc.html

When making a purchase with bitcoin instead of credit card the terminal displays a QR code with the corresponding bitcoin amount, which the customer then scans to pay with his mobile phone. We need more companies who make POS terminals adopting this approach!

[erre]

I will never get tired of saying it:

We need products to be denominated in bitcoins
We need products to be denominated in bitcoins
We need products to be denominated in bitcoins
We need products to be denominated in bitcoins

    [...]

[mskryxz]

It's actually pretty easy.

If you're already using bitcoin I think there is absolutely no reason not to use Fold/Airbitz to save 20%.

Sure, Starbucks sucks and most people hate going there for overpriced coffee. But think of it this way, whenever you have to go there with your wife, girlfriend, kids, and or friend/coworker that drags you over there might as well spend less or hook them up.

[Denker]

Even if I'd get a 20% discount Starbucks still would be too expensive imo.
I can get those varieties of coffee cheaper in my city. No need for starbucks.
But OP in general you're right. 5 steps to get a coffee, even with a discount, is a joke.People using bitcoin and doing this must be penny pinchers and starbucks fanatics.
Fast and easy, that's how it should be.

[Velkro]

I think this one positively, they may be trying to shift their customers towards bitcoin. As atleast even though they find it horrible at first but later on they will atleast search about bitcoin and its technology. Good for bitcoin community. 

Agree, it takes many steps to develop technology good enough to eliminate not needed steps.

[franky1]

"Paul Puey, CEO of Airbitz, said in a blog post: "We are excited to announce that we've integrated Fold into our app! Now, you can buy gift cards for Starbucks and Target within the app in the same tab where you can buy and sell bitcoin through Glidera."

So, Fold is now integrated into Airbitz.  Use Glidera, to buy bitcoin to buy a gift card to use via Fold through your AirBitz wallet - to get a coffee! 

Get it?!  Neither do I.  The more ridiculous steps between being thirsty and getting a coffee - the less likely users will adopt the system.  This is just freaking horrible.  I am convinced that major players like AirBitz inability to see this will ultimately cause alienation of end users.  Even a hard core bitcoin nerd couldn't enjoy this transaction.  Real people would laugh their head off if you told them they should buy a coffee this way.  More steps and more middlemen?  = sure death. 

 you > Glidera > Fold > Airbitz > Starbucks 

forgetaboutit

wrong mindset and bad example.
the example above is like saying an american uses an app to buy euro's, to then buy a giftcard for starbucks america to buy a coffee in america..
ofcourse americans wont see the point in moving to euro's first.

but.. imagine gold.

2015 buy gold with the app, store it.. then next year when the price rises they can sell the gold for profit and buy more coffee..

bitcoin is not meant to be bought, to be sold instantly.. thats just insane. its meant to be bought to be saved up, like a bank savings account.. just without the need of a bank manager to hold it.. the app is just used to make it easier to buy one day and sell many many days later. not seconds later.

[DGulari]

Even if I'd get a 20% discount Starbucks still would be too expensive imo.
I can get those varieties of coffee cheaper in my city. No need for starbucks.
But OP in general you're right. 5 steps to get a coffee, even with a discount, is a joke.People using bitcoin and doing this must be penny pinchers and starbucks fanatics.
Fast and easy, that's how it should be.

One click - now give me the fucking coffee.  That is how it should be.

[quentincole32]

"Paul Puey, CEO of Airbitz, said in a blog post: "We are excited to announce that we've integrated Fold into our app! Now, you can buy gift cards for Starbucks and Target within the app in the same tab where you can buy and sell bitcoin through Glidera."

So, Fold is now integrated into Airbitz.  Use Glidera, to buy bitcoin to buy a gift card to use via Fold through your AirBitz wallet - to get a coffee! 

Get it?!  Neither do I.  The more ridiculous steps between being thirsty and getting a coffee - the less likely users will adopt the system.  This is just freaking horrible.  I am convinced that major players like AirBitz inability to see this will ultimately cause alienation of end users.  Even a hard core bitcoin nerd couldn't enjoy this transaction.  Real people would laugh their head off if you told them they should buy a coffee this way.  More steps and more middlemen?  = sure death. 

 you > Glidera > Fold > Airbitz > Starbucks 

forgetaboutit

More steps and more middlemen?  = sure death. 
yes i'm agree,its too much step,even i really apreciate that we can get starbucks coffe with bitcoin,but it hink i will more glad to get coffee from my kitchen,and if i got on some cafe,just do more imple step. me > trade bitcoin > cash > any coffee
more simple and low fee?