A new Humble Bundle and bitcoins not accepted -- make your voice heard

[Dusty]

A new Humble Bundle is offered, where you can buy a bunch of games for the price of your choice, even 0.1$.

But they do not accept bitcoin payments, that's really a shame!

I wrote them to contact@humblebundle.com and the person replied that he will send the suggestion to the team to evaluate the possibility: I suppose that if more of us ask for that thing we could have a higher probability of success.

So... make your voice be heard 

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[ForceField]

Nice job on taking the initiative.
Would you care to post your email here?

[Meni Rosenfeld]

For reference, I have contacted them about this multiple times, as early as 9 months ago (and I had at the time reason to believe they had already known about it, which is why I didn't give a detailed explanation). Here is the discussion.

Hi,

Is it possible to pay with bitcoins for the indie humble bundle #3?

In case you haven't heard of it, Bitcoin is the world's first decentralized digital currency. The easiest way to get started with Bitcoin is using the service http://www.instawallet.org .

Thanks,

Meni

Hey there,

Unfortunately we can not accept Bitcoin at this time. However, it is something we are aware of and are very interested in

Thanks for your support!

Eric
Support Ninja Master
Humble Bundle, Inc.

Hi,
Any updates about this topic? I would like to pay with Bitcoin for the Humble Introversion Bundle.
Thanks,
Meni

Hey there,

At this time Bitcoin still is not an option, and we have no timeframe nor a commitment to make it happen. There are numerous issues to factor in.

Thank you for your continued support,

Eric Samuel
Support Ninja Master
Humble Bundle, Inc.

[Maged]

Last I heard, they were working with MtGox on this. It might happen once MtGox's merchant tools allow for immediate conversion to USD.

[Meni Rosenfeld]

Last I heard, they were working with MtGox on this. It might happen once MtGox's merchant tools allow for immediate conversion to USD.

That's stupid. I suppose nobody told them about Bit-Pay?

[Dusty]

Nice job on taking the initiative.
Would you care to post your email here?

I prefer not, otherwise ppl copy it, and I find it better that they get all different requests

Anyway, I really can't understand why they behave this way, btcs seems so right for their kind of business.

[uncaer9]

Great idea. I've just sent my e-mail.

[Meni Rosenfeld]

If this thread prompts too many people to contact them in a short period of time, it will look like spam.

[Dusty]

If this thread prompts too many people to contact them in a short period of time, it will look like spam.

Judging from the number of views and replies of this thread, they probably will not even notice as relevant the requests...
Too bad.

[DeathAndTaxes]

Last I heard, they were working with MtGox on this. It might happen once MtGox's merchant tools allow for immediate conversion to USD.

That's stupid. I suppose nobody told them about Bit-Pay?

+1.  THIS.

Also when mentioning Bitcoin to any merchant who says there are "issues" always recommend (or at least provide a link to) Bitpay.  Integrating Bitpay with a shopping cart is no more difficulty than integrating any other payment gateway.  No I take that back having worked with authorize.net in the past it is easier.

[Dusty]

A new humble bundle is for "sale" (you make your price), and a new occasion to ask them accepting bitcoins directly or indirectly using services as bit-pay 

[coinjedi]

Sent an email too.

[HostFat]

I did it also

[BurntSnow]

A new Humble Bundle is offered, where you can buy a bunch of games for the price of your choice, even 0.1$.

But they do not accept bitcoin payments, that's really a shame!

I wrote them to contact@humblebundle.com and the person replied that he will send the suggestion to the team to evaluate the possibility: I suppose that if more of us ask for that thing we could have a higher probability of success.

So... make your voice be heard 

The sad part is that this is exactly the type of thing that SHOULD be accepting Bitcoins. They'll gain a great amount more revenue than they would have before if they start taking BTC as payment. Easier, too.

[Coinbuck @ BTCLot]

I will also write a email. I've purchased the package and it was very unpleasant having to use PayPal to pay.

Less fees will allow more money to be given for charity

EDIT: Email sent !

[miscreanity]

Add another email. It included links to Bit-Pay, Paysius, and the Bitcoin Wiki on payment systems.

I should've added the available plugins. Maybe with my reply, or for the next bundle.

[Kris]

I did email them a few months back asking them to accept bitcoin via WalletBit, they said they would forward it.

[Kazimir]

Great initiative. I've purchased several Humble Bundles in the past, and it fits perfectly in the kind of sites & services that could accept Bitcoin. I will email them as well, kindly suggesting they start accepting BTC as soon as possible

[Grix]

I also emailed them today, and I got this really disappointing reply:

Hi Gitle,

Thanks for the email. We do receive a fair amount of requests to support Bitcoin as a payment method. Unfortunately at this time we aren’t planning on adding it as an option.

We apologize for any inconvenience,
Wes
Support Ninja
Humble Bundle

[miscreanity]

I also emailed them today, and I got this really disappointing reply:

I received the same, and replied stating that I will no longer be supporting Humble Bundle until Bitcoin is supported as a payment option. There are quality alternatives to HB popping up that accept Bitcoin. It might also help to contact the individual artists and game devs.

What's truly aggravating is that Mt. Gox had participated with $4,096 worth late last year.

[someguy123]

I've emailed them just now, hopefully as they see the growing support for bitcoin in their inbox, they might take a second look at accepting it.

[Comodore]

Email sucessfully sent. Hope this would work.

[merve10495]

How can they have that stupid 'Buy with Google' but not 'Bitcoins'.
Sending an e-mail now.

[paraipan]

Setting up a "buy with bitcoin" button is trivial with bit-pay, even if you don't have a shopping cart. The revenues can be split in coins and fiat, and always sent the next day to a bank account or bitcoin address by bit-pay's tos. I appreciate the work these guys do but they are being picky, just like wikipedia, accepting bitcoin.

[minorman]

Let's keep the pressure on.
And while you are at it, please consider to also send an email to dealextreme.com
See https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=96393.0

We need more merchants talking bitcoin - and if they prefer to convert to fiat via bit-pay or paysius, that is ok - as long as the "bitcoin accepted here" logo is right there next to paypal.

[Dusty]

Let's keep the pressure on.

+1

And while you are at it, please consider to also send an email to dealextreme.com

Done.

[lenny_]

E-mail sent as well 

[SuperP]

The Humble Bundle has worked closely with the Electronic Frontier Foundation.  I wouldn't be surprised if the EFF's stance on bitcoin has something to do with their decision.  Their reasons for not accepting are here: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/06/eff-and-bitcoin.  The only thing that has changed is #2.  They can now use a service like bit-pay to accept dollars instead of bitcoin.  We have to point this out to them, but I'm afraid it might not be enough.

What we need to do is everyone publicly pledge the amount of bitcoin that we'll pay (the Bitcoin 100 program is set up for this).  And then reach out to the artists and charities and show them how much they are not getting by the Humble Bundle refusing to accept bitcoin.

(Just left a comment on the Bitcoin 100 Thread : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=74400.new#new)

[genjix]

I messaged them a year ago and they said they weren't interested.

[sebnow]

I also emailed them today, and I got this really disappointing reply:

I received the same, and replied stating that I will no longer be supporting Humble Bundle until Bitcoin is supported as a payment option. There are quality alternatives to HB popping up that accept Bitcoin. It might also help to contact the individual artists and game devs.

What's truly aggravating is that Mt. Gox had participated with $4,096 worth late last year.

Offtopic: Could you provide examples of such alternatives? I've only heard of Indie Gala, but it doesn't accept Bitcoin, and I haven't seen any great games in the last two.

Edit: I noticed Game Dev Bundle being mentioned in the Reddit thread.

[ChrisKoss]

Hey Chris,

Thanks for emailing us! The EFF has a great statement on BitCoin that closely follows our feelings toward BitCoin, which is available here: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/06/eff-and-bitcoin

“We don’t fully understand the complex legal issues involved with creating a new currency system. Bitcoin raises untested legal concerns related to securities law, the Stamp Payments Act, tax evasion, consumer protection and money laundering, among others. And that’s just in the U.S. While EFF is often the defender of people ensnared in legal issues arising from new technologies, we try very hard to keep EFF from becoming the actual subject of those fights or issues. Since there is no caselaw on this topic, and the legal implications are still very unclear, we worry that our acceptance of Bitcoins may move us into the possible subject role.”

We like BitCoin and would love to accept it, but after contacting the EFF and a lawyer specializing in this sort of thing, we are not comfortable with the plethora of untested issues and legal traps, which would be a major distraction for us. We have been in contact with a number of bitcoin startups, and will be monitoring the landscape carefully.

Thank you for your support,

****
Support Ninja
Humble Bundle

[Comodore]

Hey Chris,

Thanks for emailing us! The EFF has a great statement on BitCoin that closely follows our feelings toward BitCoin, which is available here: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/06/eff-and-bitcoin

“We don’t fully understand the complex legal issues involved with creating a new currency system. Bitcoin raises untested legal concerns related to securities law, the Stamp Payments Act, tax evasion, consumer protection and money laundering, among others. And that’s just in the U.S. While EFF is often the defender of people ensnared in legal issues arising from new technologies, we try very hard to keep EFF from becoming the actual subject of those fights or issues. Since there is no caselaw on this topic, and the legal implications are still very unclear, we worry that our acceptance of Bitcoins may move us into the possible subject role.”

We like BitCoin and would love to accept it, but after contacting the EFF and a lawyer specializing in this sort of thing, we are not comfortable with the plethora of untested issues and legal traps, which would be a major distraction for us. We have been in contact with a number of bitcoin startups, and will be monitoring the landscape carefully.

Thank you for your support,

****
Support Ninja
Humble Bundle

I received equivalent e-mail. So what can we do now?

[Meni Rosenfeld]

I received equivalent e-mail. So what can we do now?

We can leave them alone. Coordinating a massive spam attack was a bad idea even before they explained their reason to avoid Bitcoin (however little sense it makes).

The Humble bundle will change their mind with time, until then there are other organizations needing our help learning about Bitcoin and starting to accept payments.

[paraipan]

I received equivalent e-mail. So what can we do now?

We can leave them alone. Coordinating a massive spam attack was a bad idea even before they explained their reason to avoid Bitcoin (however little sense it makes).

The Humble bundle will change their mind with time, until then there are other organizations needing our help learning about Bitcoin and starting to accept payments.

^ definitely this, I'm writing emails about bitcoin to any blog owner or small organization I encounter when reading my morning press

[philips]

Ah, interesting. Before finding this thread I thought about chatting with them (there is a small chat window on their page) about bitcoin donations and Bitpay.
Soon enough some guy Drew responded and gave me the very same (word by word) answer as you guys received in emails.

Drew: Hey there, We like BitCoin and would love to accept it, but after contacting the EFF and a lawyer specializing in this sort of thing, we are not comfortable with the plethora of untested issues and legal traps, which would be a major distraction for us. We have been in contact with a number of bitcoin startups, and will be monitoring the landscape carefully.

It seems they are very well aware about bitcoins since they have a preset answer at hand even when chatting:

Ah, crap..another bitcoin freak...copy>paste, done.

[Grix]

There's one issue with their stance though, and that it that the EFF article they link to are over a year old, from around the time of the bubble last year. How much time will have to pass before they are comfortable with bitcoin's legal status? With this pace it'll be years until that time..

[miscreanity]

How much time will have to pass before they are comfortable with bitcoin's legal status?

An idea whose time has come cannot be denied. It'll happen when it happens, though I don't think it'll be too long.

[Dusty]

The day finally arrived

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=200564.msg0

[philips]

So, our evil plans for global domination are working, goooood.

[sid7039]

It's very sad - Humble Bundle is experiencing issues with Bitcoin payments and have temporarily removed this option from their site.

Also they don't have ETA on when Bitcoin will be available again as a payment option so it looks little worse than just technical issues

People, please write to them to start accepting BTC again as I have.

Regards!

[Meni Rosenfeld]

It's very sad - Humble Bundle is experiencing issues with Bitcoin payments and have temporarily removed this option from their site.

Also they don't have ETA on when Bitcoin will be available again as a payment option so it looks little worse than just technical issues

People, please write to them to start accepting BTC again as I have.

Regards!

It looks like it's available now.

[DjPxH]

It's very sad - Humble Bundle is experiencing issues with Bitcoin payments and have temporarily removed this option from their site.

Also they don't have ETA on when Bitcoin will be available again as a payment option so it looks little worse than just technical issues

People, please write to them to start accepting BTC again as I have.

Regards!

It looks like it's available now.

Yep! Just bought the weekly sale using bitcoins!!!