While some pool/spa builders still prefer not to accept credit cards, one company has moved a step beyond even that.
Yes, Omni Pool Builders of Tucson, Ariz., does take credit cards. But early this year, the builder also began accepting cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin.
Many of us are still trying to completely wrap our heads around the idea of a digital currency with no central bank. But the folks at Omni expect at least a small niche in their town to find the option appealing. Along with University of Arizona, the city houses some large technical firms that employ many. So the company wanted a way to establish itself on the cutting edge.
“We’ve got a lot young people, a lot of really smart people who are pretty aware of what’s going on,” said Aaron Baker, operations manager/co-owner of the pool/spa building firm. “A lot of them ... are either investing in cryptocurrencies or they’re using them as we speak.”
In the past, customers have asked if the company accepts Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency. While they seemed to be joking, now the company can say yes.
Baker and crew made this change through Coinbase, an online platform for buying and selling digital currency. They merely need to fill out a short form, then connect their bank account.
Besides the ability to work with a particular kind of customer, the builder likes the idea that cryptocurrency payments are said to clear faster than credit card funds, though some transactions may still incur a small fee. After the payment is received in the vendor’s account or “cryptocurrency wallet,” the funds can be converted into U.S. dollars and transferred into a bank account. Because of this quick conversion, the company believes cryptocurrency payments may be less risky than popularly thought.
No customer has used this option yet, but Baker and his partners, brother Michael Baker and Martin Lopez, feel prepared for the younger generation of pool buyers. “It seems to be a trend that might not be so trendy,” he said. “It might be here to stay as an alternative to typical payment methods.”
