first - the price is at least 25% too high. these will be mass-made in only a few months time, probably by the time these are received and reshipped...
second: why would i trust you to re-ship tens of thousands of dollars in hardware, that you could make another 50K on by using yourself for a month....?
um... escrow? and these are supposedly shipping in about 2 weeks...
Just using the word "escrow" doesn't really answer the poster's question.
1. AM gets the BTC
2. Operator gets the hardware
3. Associates (buyers) hope the operator ships their units.
300 * 1.99 = approx 70,000 USD (at the moment).
The escrow agent is holding his identity as a guarantee, yet in reply#95 of this thread the operator tells us his name. The escrow agent has since not disputed it. A simple google search tells anybody more than they need to know.
klondike_bar has a real question that hasn't really been answered. There is a small matter of 70k worth of goods that are not really protected by a damn thing. I'm not claiming the operator will flee with the goods, but it has been done for a lot less.
My order in this group-buy still stands, but the question needs an answer.
EDIT: - After posting, I saw the operators post with his number et al. Maybe that will be an answer. Anyway, I'm sticking with my bid.I confirm that I have received (via email to my GPG email address) that I received:
1. State driver's license snap belonging to Arklan Uth Oslin.
2. Aklan's self-portrait (via mirror and phone cam) along with his driver's license in hand.
3. Official document mailed and addressed to Arklan, address different from the one in his driver's license but he has given me the explanation on that. I expect to be giving this address to friedcat for the shipping.
4. Arklan standing in front of his door with the house number in sight clearly. (matching his address above)
5. A digital insurance policy made out to Arklan and the address above.
Some Q&A's on the escrow here (copied from a past group buy I did):
1) Is that contract binding between you and ragingazn628, or is it binding between you and all parties participating in this group buy (Group Buyers)?
It would be binding with all parties involved up to when I submit the order (and the funds) to friedcat. The funds are guaranteed with me up to this point.
Afterwards, it would be between the buyers and Arklan, but please note that my obligation of most of the funds is over once I pass this over to friedcat.(so if friedcat or Arklan fails to ship or anything I'm not in fault although this is very unlikely).
2) What will you do if Arklan keeps the chips for himself?
I would provide all information that I have in hand for this transaction to the public, and probably assist in any litigation/legal enforcement efforts.
3) Do I understand correctly that we (the group buyers) will deliver the full payment to you (John), including Arklan's 1% fee, and you will hold that 1% fee in escrow?
Yes. I will forward the funds to friedcat when the preorder opens, and keep Arklan's fee in escrow. I will ask friedcat to document that I have indeed sent the funds in. (and judging from previous auctions I've done for him, this will be required by him anyway)
4) Have you done anything to verify Arklan's identity and destination shipping address?
See above.
PS: Arklan, please add this to the OP to prevent more questions of the kind coming in. (and this:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=195052.msg2037964#msg2037964)
