5/5/12 update: Offer's closed until I quit a job. I'm not around often enough.
Want escrow fast? If you're the seller, follow this procedure:1) PM me saying you'd like me to handle escrow for a transaction. If you think I may not accept it (see "unaccepted goods" section in "The short"), please give me some basic details of what you want to sell, first.
2) I will provide you a UNIQUE link to a Google form which looks exactly like this:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1RaU5FgYerUcee2LATXJdFlWogfWNZlFfeoT4spng1U8/viewform3) Carefully fill it out and follow the instructions given upon submitting the escrow details. (don't forget to include me in the PM you send the seller!)
4) I will provide an escrow address and add transaction details to
this sheet.
That's it. I'll be providing additional forms for services or non-tangible goods and unusual contracts within a couple weeks. PM if you need them immediately.
Info:Escrow service is currently available. I may take up to 20 hours to respond to an inquiry, though it'll likely be within 3 hours if I'm awake. Please follow the instructions at the top of this thread to receive escrow service. If you need help or want clarification on something, please PM me - I don't bite. If you're finding the form inadequate, feel free to write up your own purchase agreement. If you do, know I need the a BTC address from the seller to release escrow to once the transaction's complete, both of you to PM me saying you agree to use me as escrow, and for the buyer to PM me, quoting the purchase agreement and saying he accepts the terms the seller has provided.
The short
Fee: Free (tips appreciated)
Coins handled: BTC, LTC, DOGE, COYE (possibly others on request)
History (+ alt. contact info & tip addr): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0Ao892S4MOoDZdFFTc0tFbWVxUTZFVzVOMWxzV3pkclE&gid=1Arbitration: non-binding (either party may arrange for a third-party arbitrator in case they disagree with my judgment on a dispute)
Dead man's switch: Wife is able to handle any "work leftovers" in the event of my death and will be able to respond to communications directed at me.... unless she dies at the same time.
Coin control: Temporarily, no (unable to get a version of Armory to run reliably... watching for a solution)
Accepted goods: virtually everything physical, group buys (I've denied everyone who asked, but I'm cool with it so long as it isn't a pre-order), some non-tangible goods such as coin transfers, game codes, and hashpower contracts. I'm willing to handle escrow for certain raffles/contests. I'm willing to attest to the authenticity of certain information... for example, if you'd like to prove you live somewhere without sending over your documents to an unknown, I can look over the documents and attest to facts presented on the document.
Unaccepted goods: account transfers, pre-orders, most equity sales, fiat<->coin exchanges, and anything giving the slightest hint of being reversible.
Special services offeredMultisig -- provided through
Casascius' Bitcoin Address Utility, multisig escrow is a little more labor-intensive for everyone involved, but provides insurance against me running off with funds or dying without a proper dead man's switch. This service is free.
Man-in-the-Middle -- I will allow items to be shipped to me for inspection and testing (if hardware) prior to shipping to the buyer. This strongly protects the seller from a buyer claiming he didn't receive what was advertised or that it was DoA. This is often cost-prohibitive as I require my shipping costs to be pre-paid along with an extra mandatory fee of $15 equivalent in crypto or cash for my time.
PGP-encrypted communications -- Available at request and free. I obviously will not handle escrow for illegal goods. No nukes!
The terribly long explanations of policies based on questions previously asked
What do you do, exactly?I hold money and enforce contracts. Suppose you want to sell your iPod to someone who's never met you. The other person should not trust you unless you have a solid reputation. They will likely refuse to purchase your iPod unless they have some form of protection, which is where I come in. I will effectively give you my reputation. The buyer sends me coins, I tell you I've received the coins, and you would then ship them the iPod. The buyer receives the iPod, says it's fine to release escrow, and I then send the coins to you.
What happens if there's a dispute?1) Either the buyer or seller disputes the other person's fulfillment of the purchase agreement. From the earlier example, let's say the buyer of your iPod says you didn't actually send the iPod, but instead sent an empty box.
2) When a dispute is stated, a "dispute window" opens, which breaks down as follows:
Day 1| I will ask both of you to provide as much evidence as you can supporting why you should receive the coins in escrow. I'll check as much information as I'm reasonably able to (for example, I'd check with a colocation company if a miner was allegedly sent from their facility).
Day 7 (or after you've both presented your case)| I will make a judgment on where I believe funds should go. I will then provide a deadline date 7-30 days (at my discretion based on case murkiness) in the future where I will execute my judgment.
Day 7, possibly up to day 37| Either of you may arrange and pay for a reputable third-party arbitrator to make a binding decision. I will simply hold funds until the arbitrator has made his decision. In case one involved party arranges and pays for an arbitrator and the other involved party refuses to have the case heard by the arbitrator, I will hold escrowed funds so long as I find the arbitration provider to be reputable and the circumstances are otherwise reasonable (at my discretion). In cases where the person refusing to have their case heard by the arbitrator has refused for at least 21 days, escrow will be released to the other person regardless of my original judgment.
End of dispute window| If no third-party arbitrator was arranged for by this time, I will execute the judgment I originally gave.
How thoroughly do you check information and analyze in case of a dispute?Here is a partially-redacted example of a judgment write-up
(a)Facts & Escrow Contract Details:
1) On X Xnd, 201X, X ("buyer") contracted with X ("seller"), where the seller was to X for X bitcoins.
2) I accepted the escrow transaction and am currently holding X bitcoins.
3) The X X'd by the seller was to meet certain requirements specified by the buyer. Specifically, the X was to "X"
4) The seller was required to X the X "X"
5) The X was to be X'd "X" (X Xth, 201X)
6) I have not received any communication from the buyer since the contract went into effect.
(b)Second-hand Information:
1) Seller messaged me on X Xth, 201X saying "X doesn't communicate with me anymore."
2) Seller stated he/she completed Xing the X "2 weeks ago." (X Xrd, 201X)
(c)This matters because:
1) Contract implicitly should not remain outstanding after X Xth, 201X except in extraordinary circumstances. No such extraordinary circumstances were brought to my attention.
(d)It is my findings that:
1) Based on the evidence presented by the seller (a X to X which appears to be the X the buyer requested), he has fulfilled all obligations he is able to under the circumstances. The seller may not have fully complied with the buyer's requests, and may not have X'd X to the X. Without the buyer's input, I assume the seller has held up his end of the deal.
2) Because this contract has exceeded its implicit duration and the buyer has not responded to a message I sent X ago, I assume the buyer is indeed unresponsive.
3) The buyer, by not releasing escrow in a timely manner nor disputing the seller's work, has effectively breached contract.
(e)Based on my findings, I will act to:
1) Release the full amount of escrow (X bitcoins) to the seller fourteen days after this message is sent (this message was sent on X Xth, 201X) if the seller does not respond by the end of X Xst, 201X (US Eastern time) to either release escrow to the seller, present evidence that the seller has not acted in good faith and failed to uphold his end of the contract, or demand to use a third-party arbitrator.
I do not generally act as an arbitrator and try not to take escrow transactions where I may need to act as one when the situation is unclear. However, I believe I am acting in good faith to enforce the given contract in extraordinary circumstances. Given the X is X, I do not believe I have justification nor authority to X the X created by the seller to ensure it is as was specified in the contract.
