Avalon is (unfortunately) a scam. Here is why.

[SysRun]

make an apology and close the thread. on to the next potential scam.

[1714856683]

1714856683

[1714856683]

1714856683

[1714856683]

1714856683

[cedivad]

make an apology and close the thread. on to the next potential scam.

Already did my apology, can't close the thread.

[crazyates]

can't close the thread.

Yes, you can. It's called locking.

[flatronw]

Discard the hyperbole and review what little has actually happened to date:  

1:-As it seems to stand at the moment we have only 2 or 3 confirmed Avalons “in the wild”  One of those was shipped “express” to an individual who has a “high profile” within the BTC community,  assuring widest exposure of its release and performance. Consider what would be the cost to produce 2 or 3 “one-off” prototypes.

2:-To date, there appears to be nobody else posting with great glee, that they have their Shipping Number or a shipping confirmation. Avalon is reticent about if they will actually ship the complete first batch before Chinese New Year

3:-There is still, as always, very limited communication from Avalon themselves. They are far from forthcoming. Just feeding tid-bits as necessary to keep the ball rolling. That is apart from the opening of the second release orders. Stressing-”no proof” “no refund” “Bitcoin only”

4:-The second tranche of orders is sold out in 24 hrs - 600 units @US$1500 =  US$900,000.00 All of which is all absolutely non trace-able, non retrievable.
    EDIT: The second tranche is not sold out: Due to issues with Bitwallet. Does anybody seriously expect the second tranche to NOT sell out ASAP?

5:-We are now approaching the Chinese New Year which as Avalon has stressed previously will close them down for two weeks.

The execution of a successful scam relies on creating trust, by taking a small payment and providing  what was initially agreed. Setting the atmosphere of confidence and trust for the “big take”
In addition in this particular scenario, we also have the Chinese New Year just co-incidentally occurring just at the time of the opening and closing of the second batch of orders. Potentially giving two weeks grace for somebody, should they be so disposed to vanish.

I am not saying it is, but I am saying that at this point in time. It is difficult to avoid recognising just how closely this situation fits the criteria of a classic scam.  

[Bogart]

4:-The second tranche of orders is sold out in 24 hrs - 600 units @US$1500 =  US$900,000.00 All of which is all absolutely non trace-able, non retrievable.

Only about 38 units were sold from batch #2.  Not 600.

[jgarzik]

1:-As it seems to stand at the moment we have only 2 or 3 confirmed Avalons “in the wild”  One of those was shipped “express” to an individual who has a “high profile” within the BTC community,  assuring widest exposure of its release and performance. Consider what would be the cost to produce 2 or 3 “one-off” prototypes.
[...]
I am not saying it is, but I am saying that at this point in time. It is difficult to avoid recognising just how closely this situation fits the criteria of a classic scam. 

Yes, consider the cost of producing 2-3 one-off ASIC prototypes...  because apparently you have not done so.

It's about the same as producing 300, in terms of the chips produced.  ASICs have huge setup costs, compared to per-chip costs.

[flatronw]

1:-As it seems to stand at the moment we have only 2 or 3 confirmed Avalons “in the wild”  One of those was shipped “express” to an individual who has a “high profile” within the BTC community,  assuring widest exposure of its release and performance. Consider what would be the cost to produce 2 or 3 “one-off” prototypes.
[...]
I am not saying it is, but I am saying that at this point in time. It is difficult to avoid recognising just how closely this situation fits the criteria of a classic scam. 

Yes, consider the cost of producing 2-3 one-off ASIC prototypes...  because apparently you have not done so.

It's about the same as producing 300, in terms of the chips produced.  ASICs have huge setup costs, compared to per-chip costs.

No I have not and you miss the point. Whatever the cost. Undeniably it would be covered by the amount received in the initial ordering. Even if it took 75% of those initial funds to produce the just 2 or 3 prototypes. At the end of the second phase it still leaves Avalon sitting on over US$1,000,000.00 in totally untraceable, unrecoverable funds.

A considerable chunk of change!