Hi. I would also recommend you coinbase too. That’s because they are not charging you any outrageous amounts (since you are basically getting around 0.90 $ for every $1.00 instead of getting anywhere between like $ 0.70 to about $ 0.80 for every $1.00 if you are choosing to go anywhere else on other trading sites and plus to that, you really do not need to worry about getting ripped off unlike other trading sites. Coinbase is surely not a rip off but you don’t know about other sites. Especially if they are giving you more than $ 0.90 for a $ 1.00. also I must mention here that from as much as I have noticed, there is everybody who raves about localbitcoins, however, so far, I have already been ripped off 2 times out of the total of 3 times that I have used it. In short I would say that unless you are living somewhere in a big city where you could meet with somebody in person then I would really recommend you to stay only with coinbase or maybe even with Paxful, but not with anything else.
I say about Paxful because it is another site that is indeed charging a lot (it charges a lot, as I have said earlier, for every dollar you get around 70 or 80 cents only), however I still think that it is a really good thing because you can know that you shouldn’t be worried about getting ripped off there either. And yeah… I’ve gotta say that yes.. most of those sites (around 90% or maybe even more) are requiring you to send them a photo of your ID and basically an agreement signed in blood or something like that…
however this is just the way that the bitcoin game is going on… the reason why they need all of that information is because of all those scammers…. If there were not so SO many scammers that have no honesty at all out there, then trust me there wouldn’t be all this hassle with your identity and information. I am selling myself some small amounts of BTC on eBay, and asked for photo ID’s and I have received more than 50-60 messages that were calling me being a scammer who has been trying to get their picture ID in order to steal their identity… I didn’t even had such a thought… in fact, I have even got some negative feedback from 2 persons who were very angry at me when I have not sent their bitcoins and I have refunded back their money! I can tell you that in the comment feedback they said something as: *beware scammers… it is asking for photos and for personal information, it is very possible an identity thief*. However, if they would take at least a few seconds of their precious time and would have read the description then it is very clearly stating that I am going to cancel any transaction to absolutely anyone who is not going to provide a proper ID. I have since started to verify the buyers by matching their information on the eBay to the information on the PayPal and I have them send a message from both the places. It does seems like the buyers are more comfortable with this.
Even though, to be honest, I don’t really understand why because if I really really wanted to steal anybody’s ID, I can get their name, their address as well as phone number right off from the eBay and PayPal when they are making a purchase. And also, nowadays, most of the people are also having a photo of themselves on the PayPal as well! That’s super strange to me because I can’t understand what’s the differences when I am asking for that information or I am just finding that information myself without asking…
anyway… I am going to stop with my rant here… what I am trying to say here is that there is absolutely nothing that it is anonymous on the internet and you will be making a mistake thinking that it actually is. And also… there will always be a lot of scammers out there and that’s especially when you are trying to deal with bitcoin. If you ask me what’s my preferred method: I am looking through the ads on the localbitcoins and I am finding somebody who is close to me that I am able to meet in person. This is and I am sure this will remain the best method! Usually this is gonna cost you anywhere between like 5 or 10%, however, the good thing is that there is virtually no risk being involved which is why it is the best method… however, if you are living somewhere in the middle of NOWHERE as I do then that’s gonna be a little bit problematic. Being in a big city it would be good, but for me, I just end up having to drive around 2 or so hours in order to meet with the closest person to me and that’s just annoying as my entire day is spent on this... 2-3 hours there and back plus an hour there….