December 16, 2000

10:19 PM

Now this could possibly be Schadenfreude at it's best!! "eToys Expects Lower Than Estimated Fiscal Third Quarter Operating Results" Net sales are expected to be between $120 million and $130 million, rather than the $210 million to $240 million previously estimated. How could they be off their estimate by HALF? Oh yeah, maybe if they hadn't spent so much time (and money) pursuing ETOY? Who's got the last laugh now?.....
posted by 120degrees (13 comments total)

I think the only time I've seen the word "Schadenfreude" is here on Metafilter. Altavista's Babel Fish translates it to "damage joy." But after doing a little research, I think that my current obsession with sites like these is a pretty good example.
posted by waxpancake at 11:16 PM on December 16, 2000

According to the Chicago Tribune, the etoys decline may be due to parents becoming less materialistic:
"Flores saw the light when her Visa bill arrived last year with a frightening amount of charges from eToys, the online toy retailer. 'I thought, 'This is way too much.' I didn't grow up like this.'"
posted by leo at 11:32 PM on December 16, 2000

Well, they lost my aunt's business (for now) when she found out they didn't carry Sailor Moon dolls. Her granddaughter wants a plush SD Sailor Moon.

Besides, there isn't a "big toy" this year, like Pokemon, or Furby, or Cabbage Patch Kids, to name past toy crazes. The only things I've been having problems finding are Sailor Moon dolls--perhaps the amount supplied to stores was much less than supplied during the past SM craze a few years ago.
posted by Electric Elf at 12:10 AM on December 17, 2000

I want a "Tickle me, Elmo" doll for Christmas!!!
posted by Steven Den Beste at 6:16 AM on December 17, 2000

The two toys we bought online were out-of-stock at Etoys. So....
posted by fleener at 8:00 AM on December 17, 2000

"Schadenfreude" means, basically, joy at another person's misfortune. Oh yeah, I didn't take four years of German for nothing...
posted by dagnyscott at 9:20 AM on December 17, 2000

Those plush Sailor Moon dolls are sold at malls, in weird places. I found them in Sun-something music, a Sam Goodies and a pastry shop.
posted by tiaka at 11:13 AM on December 17, 2000

You guys wouldn't think this was so funny if you owned etoys stock! Some things just shouldn't be joked about!
posted by daveadams at 11:13 AM on December 17, 2000

.... Looks like I took 5 for nothing, though, hehe ;)
posted by ookamaka at 11:26 AM on December 17, 2000

I like to pretend their downfall has to do with the etoy fiasco same with Smiegel and pets.com, but what percentage of eToys and Pets.com customers knew anything about this? .01%?

The way I see it if a company can't handle a URL close to their own or come up with their own mascot its a symptom of serious and almost bizzare managemental problems.

Good riddance.

Schadenfreude is taking pleasure in the problems of others. Its also a comdey group that borders on the surreal based here in Roger's Park. They just recently opened for Man or Astroman? They were pretty good.




posted by skallas at 4:32 PM on December 17, 2000

Did Man or Astroman bring their Tesla coils? Can't get one of those on eToys, either.
posted by lileks at 6:52 PM on December 17, 2000

At their last Athens, GA show (Man or Astroman? plays here regularly), not only did they have the usual Tesla coils, they also had the live debut of their song played by an Apple Imagewriter II.

I love those guys.

posted by ewagoner at 7:45 AM on December 18, 2000

You know, back in high school, I always did think a dot-matrix printer would make an interesting musical instrument. The ImageWriter II is a particularly melodious example; I had one myself.
posted by kindall at 11:33 AM on December 21, 2000