Leading UK Computer Retailer ‘Scan’ Accepts Bitcoin

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="single-title"><h1></h1><div class="single-info"><span class="single-author"><a href="http://www.coindesk.com/author/nermin-hajdarbegovic/" rel="author" title="Posts by Nermin Hajdarbegovic">Nermin Hajdarbegovic</a> | </span> <span class="single-date">Published on February 7, 2014 at 11:22 GMT | </span> <span class="single-category"><b><i><a href="http://www.coindesk.com/companies/bitpay/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in BitPay">BitPay</a>, <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/companies/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in Companies">Companies</a>, <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/companies/merchants/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in Merchants">Merchants</a>, <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/news/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in News">News</a></i></b></span></div></div><div class="single-content"><div class="picture featured"><img alt="computer" class=" wp-post-image" height="185" src="http://media.coindesk.com/2014/02/shutterstock_83484310-300x185.jpg" width="300" /></div><span class="wpsr_floatbts_anchor" data-offset="31"></span>Scan Computers has started accepting bitcoin payments, making it the first major PC retailer to accept the cryptocurrency in the UK.<br /><a href="http://www.scan.co.uk/" target="_blank">Scan</a> is a bit more than your average PC retailer. It is a big player in the channel, it is one of the biggest sellers of high-end computers in the UK and it builds a range of pre-overlocked rigs for enthusiasts.<br /><h2>A crypto love affair</h2>Since it caters to a geeky user base, Scan quickly recognized that digital currency was an interesting trend to cash in on.<br />As a result, the retailer decided to start selling mining rigs under its own 3XS brand. So far, the effort has been limited to litecoin miners (the rigs are essentially PCs configured to mine litecoins).<br />Scan’s James Gorbold told <a href="http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/scan-becomes-first-uk-pc-retailer-to-accept-bitcoin/033163" target="_blank">PCR Online</a> that the company is also evaluating other digital currencies like <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/technology/altcoins/litecoin-altcoins/">litecoin</a>, but for the time being it is only accepting bitcoins. He added:<br /><blockquote>“Our customers want to spend bitcoins, we want to embrace that and allow our customers to pay how they want to. It’s the next logical step forward, from cash to cheque and payment cards.”</blockquote><h2>Plenty of potential</h2>Gorbold said Scan likes to think of itself as an innovator, and that he believes it is the first company in the sector to embrace bitcoin. He added that Scan is excited about the potential of bitcoin and doesn’t want to follow the crowd – it wants to try out new ideas.<br />Like many other retailers, Scan uses <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/tag/bitpay/">BitPay to handle payments</a>.<br /><br /><figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_43250"><a href="http://media.coindesk.com/2014/02/Screen-Shot-2014-02-07-at-10.52.43.png"><img alt="scan" class=" wp-image-43250" height="245" src="http://media.coindesk.com/2014/02/Screen-Shot-2014-02-07-at-10.52.43.png" width="400" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="figcaption_attachment_43250"><a href="http://www.scan.co.uk/" target="_blank">Scan’s website</a> displaying the announcement.</figcaption></figure>Users simply need to choose bitcoin as their payment method, complete the order with bitcoin and BitPay will take care of the rest. It will convert the value of the order and the buyer can then either scan the QR code or manually transfer the amount to the displayed wallet address.<br />The transaction requires six confirmations, it is also possible to cancel orders and receive refunds using <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/price/">the exchange rate</a> at the time of refund.<br />British merchants are doing quite well in cross-border sales. Britain is not in the Eurozone and since 2008 the GBP/EUR exchange rate has worked in the nation’s favour.<br />In many cases it is cheaper to buy and ship a computer or high-end graphics card from Britain than it is to buy one in many Eurozone members. Digital currencies have the potential to make British e-tailers even more competitive.<br /><i><b>Disclaimer:</b> CoinDesk founder <a href="http://www.coindesk.com/shakil-khan-bitcoin-can-be-money-over-ip-but-services-must-get-more-intuitive/" target="_blank">Shakil Khan</a> is an investor in BitPay.</i><br /><i><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-83484310/stock-photo-macro-of-a-hand-holding-tweezers-on-a-laptop-connector.html?src=QZPCgDryI29904H38nOmxw-3-89" target="_blank">Computer Image</a> via Shutterstock</i><br /><div class="single-tags"><a href="http://www.coindesk.com/tag/bitpay/">BitPay</a><a href="http://www.coindesk.com/tag/scan-computers/">Scan Computers</a><a href="http://www.coindesk.com/tag/scan-uk/">Scan UK</a><a href="http://www.coindesk.com/tag/uk/">UK</a></div></div></div>

Leading UK Computer Retailer ‘Scan’ Accepts Bitcoin

Nermin Hajdarbegovic | Published on February 7, 2014 at 11:22 GMT | BitPay , Companies , Merchants , News Scan Computers has started acc...

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