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A short story: So I've been trying to get a lot of renovations and work done on the house and trying to finish the basement. I've recently gotten an estimate for putting a fence around the yard for the dogs. It was a little more than I hoped but I had intended to just move forward, but they wanted a significant deposit immediately to get started. This immediately ran me into the headache of going from Bitcoin to USD in a quick and inexpensive manner. This was also while ACH transfers that I've done to move the dollars to Fold (no way I'm spending thousands and not getting sats back on it), are suddenly taking 3x as long. A problem that started when SVB blew up. After realizing that this was going to take a 2% fee on CashApp to sell, an ACH to my bank, then another ACH to my Fold, I decided to give a pitch for them to save me all those steps and just accept Bitcoin directly with the 1% fee using OpenNode. The guy I was working with was interested and on board with my argument, but the owner refused despite the fact that it would obviously save them money and mean I could pay the deposit in 10 minutes time with no selling fee at all. At this point I decided I was going to do something, especially with these sorts of jobs that involve large transfers which are a huge pain in dollars. I was just going to take the time to find someone who would accept Bitcoin. I politely declined to do business with them. My response: "Thanks man, appreciate the reply. I'm gonna look for other contractors here for a bit because I'd rather not build a relationship with a company that makes me have to revert to using a banking system that I literally could not despise more, or trust any less." "I may get back in touch with you in a few weeks if there seems no other good option. No hard feelings, I do appreciate you taking this to the owner." I added some choice words about the banking system for flair. πŸ˜† The worker I was chatting with immediately agreed and then we started a short back and forth about how corrupt the banks were, why Bitcoin (of course he said crypto, lol) was the future, and HE brought up how the Fed was going to push a CBDC. "Same. The more we use Bitcoin, the more irrelevant their attempt to centralize it is. If the day comes that they push a CBDC on us, I'll officially be refusing to do business with anyone who doesn't accept Bitcoin, because I'm not touching that crap." He responded with "Agreed!" ... that's where we left it. ------------------------------------------------------------------ I just got a text message tonight from the guy. He said the owner is willing to work with #Bitcoin if I hadn't found someone else yet. I think it's time that I will start pitching the case for Bitcoin, in short and sweet bullet points, with every company I work with β€” & where it feels like it makes sense, I'm going to refuse to do business with anyone who doesn't accept Bitcoin. We have weight in the market. We need to be the intransigent minority. Bitcoin won't save the economy if no one knows how to use it, or is too afraid and too panicked to try something new when the shit hits the fan. The time to push for integration is now. "When did Noah build the ark? *Before* the storm... before the storm." β€” Spy Game

Replies (29)

This is awesome Guy! Any privately owned and/or medium to small business I purchase from I always try to remember to ask if they take bitcoin. I expect them to say no but by asking I’m trying to plant that seed. Your story is inspirational. Maybe I should give it a try when the right opportunity arises.
No one custom ordered a fence or anything. No way they assumed anything was happening at the stage we were at. And the fence itself is about as generic as we could get without being totally bland. Its simple dog ear fencing. They should have had no upfront costs at all with what we had done so far outside of sending someone out to the property and making an estimate. If they were already spending money that they couldn't recoup, then they are stupid, lol.
I'm in and out of a lot of people's homes and I bring up Bitcoin whenever I can direct the conversation towards it in a natural manner. My boss still doesn't accept Bitcoin as payment, but I bring it up with him whenever the chance arises. Inspiring story, Guy. Well done! πŸ˜ŽβœŒοΈπŸ€™
Great share and can relate. Just did a bunch of work in my back yard and had this thought with every contractor but never pulled the trigger. You just pushed over the edge. I too will offer to only pay contractors in Bitcoin from now on. If the project takes a little longer so be it. It's kinda the only way to find a Bitcoiner contractor. I think in the coming years there will be less work to go around as NGU and Bitcoiners "become more wealthy" if we're the only people asking for bids they'll get it eventually ✊🏾🧑
I've been needing to get an electrician out to install some more breakers so I called 8 different guys and not a single one was willing to accept Bitcoin this morning. Most that answered were secretaries so I'm hoping the ones I left messages with will be the actual electrician that calls back. I feel like I'll have a much better shot with the direct guy.