Beginner needs help!

[rachael]

So I bought bitcoins from Get-Bitcoin by sending them cash, and I downloaded the bitcoin application. I got an e-mail that said:

"Thanks for using GetBitcoin! Your payment has been confirmed, and your Bitcoins have been sent. You should receive your Bitcoin within the next few hours.

Order Number: 922
Order Amount: 35.0 USD

Bitcoin Price: 3.52 USD/BTC
Bitcoin Bought: 9.94318 BTC
Transaction Fee (5%): 0.49716 BTC
Bitcoin Sent: 9.44602 BTC "

But I waited a day and it still hadn't showed up. Get-bitcoin customer service told me to download the block chain, so I downloaded it from http://eu1.bitcoincharts.com/blockchain/ , and it still hasn't showed up. Now what do I do? I really don't have any technical skills, can someone please help me out?

[TiagoTiago]

How many blocks does the client says you have right now?

[rachael]

114400 blocks

[PatrickHarnett]

Current block count is around 150,000.  Still needs to complete updating.

Does your wallet say it is connected and downloading?

[Stephen Gornick]

http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/FAQ#I_was_sent_some_bitcoins_and_they_haven.27t_arrived_yet.21_Where_are_they.3F

[rachael]

It says I have 8 connections and the block count keeps rising, so I'd assume it's downloading. But when the block count gets up to the present my bitcoins will be available to me?

[rachael]

Oh thanks Stephen, I had looked at that page before but somehow missed that part. That makes sense, so I guess now I just have to wait.

Thanks so much to both of you for your help!

[tinman951]

Did you get this resolved?  I was interested in buying BTC when the price gets low.

[rachael]

Yep it's resolved now, the coins showed up this morning. I'd recommend get-bitcoin, I was a little wary of sending cash in the mail but they seem very reliable.

[RodeoX]

This confuses a lot of new users.
Basically, when someone sends you BTC the record of the transfer becomes part of the blockchain. You will receive your coins when you have downloaded the block containing your transaction. As additional blocks are created and downloaded, additional confirmations will appear.  If you do not download the blockchain, your bitcoin is safe and only you can spend them. They will wait forever until your wallet is caught up with the blockchain.

[Gabi]

It says I have 8 connections and the block count keeps rising, so I'd assume it's downloading. But when the block count gets up to the present my bitcoins will be available to me?

Easy, when you will reach the block where your bitcoins are 

[tinman951]

I finally bought some; only $30 worth.  I gave instructions for my maximum price of $2.20 per BTC.  They kindly emailed back and said it was higher than that (about 2.41)  So I told them they could buy the BTC with my $ when it got to $2.50.  I got a reply about 20 minutes later saying they bought it at $2.55 per BTC.  While this is sad, I realize now they are not an immediate buyer/seller.  It seems like there is a real person buying/selling the coins. 
So I'm not really trying to complain, but remember it isn't like a stop limit order process.
Otherwise I am pleased.  I received my coins about 2 hours after they sent me the email.
Pretty slick.

[MSAvenger]

It says I have 8 connections and the block count keeps rising, so I'd assume it's downloading.

Open the port 8333 on your router. It allows the client to establish more connections so you will download the blocks faster.