Woot
January 10, 2006 8:00 AM Subscribe
woot.com One item per day, until midnight, or until they run out of stock. Innovative ecommerce at its best.
And what a product it is today, too. A two-pack of bagel slicer/toasters. Amazing, the things that people would rather have than money.
(blue_beetle, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'll bet that Booster Gold is behind this somehow.)
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:08 AM on January 10, 2006
(blue_beetle, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'll bet that Booster Gold is behind this somehow.)
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:08 AM on January 10, 2006
I'm concerned about the proximity of those kittens to the slicers. They seem a little anxious, too.
posted by zadermatermorts at 8:09 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by zadermatermorts at 8:09 AM on January 10, 2006
Woot.com has been around for at least a year or two.
posted by mathowie at 8:10 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by mathowie at 8:10 AM on January 10, 2006
Woot.com has been around for at least a year or two.
Closer to two, I imagine. I remember one of my roommates in college would check it around midnight every night for a while.
posted by Godbert at 8:11 AM on January 10, 2006
Closer to two, I imagine. I remember one of my roommates in college would check it around midnight every night for a while.
posted by Godbert at 8:11 AM on January 10, 2006
I know I've seen woot.com referred to in comments before. Can it be it really hasn't been an FPP until now?
posted by cerebus19 at 8:11 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by cerebus19 at 8:11 AM on January 10, 2006
The bad thing is that its so popular, all the neat stuff sells out if you don't check it at midnight every night.
posted by mrbill at 8:12 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by mrbill at 8:12 AM on January 10, 2006
Not that it matters, but this got a lot of buzz awhile ago -- I'm surprised it hasn't been posted.
I followed woot for a few days and they have a great scheme, really preying on both the "great deal" and "won't be here tomorrow or until noon for all you know" impulse. Unfortunately when I've visited it all seems like overstock merchandise from off-brand companies. Once in awhile they'll have what seems to be a good product, but we're not talknig about insanely low-priced Nikons.
The self-referential "yeah we know this product sucks!" and consumer-centric tone is pretty novel. It makes it sound like some guy is doing it out of his basement and loves doing it, I have a feeling that this type of marketing will become more prevelant, for better or worse.
posted by geoff. at 8:12 AM on January 10, 2006
I followed woot for a few days and they have a great scheme, really preying on both the "great deal" and "won't be here tomorrow or until noon for all you know" impulse. Unfortunately when I've visited it all seems like overstock merchandise from off-brand companies. Once in awhile they'll have what seems to be a good product, but we're not talknig about insanely low-priced Nikons.
The self-referential "yeah we know this product sucks!" and consumer-centric tone is pretty novel. It makes it sound like some guy is doing it out of his basement and loves doing it, I have a feeling that this type of marketing will become more prevelant, for better or worse.
posted by geoff. at 8:12 AM on January 10, 2006
i can't believe it's never been posted here either. It's a very cool idea, but whenever i look it's stuff i don't want or need.
posted by amberglow at 8:12 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by amberglow at 8:12 AM on January 10, 2006
Now that I think of it, conceptually this is exactly the same as those cable shopping network. The difference is the lack of hard sell and a more community aspect. I realized after reading the stats that most woot buyers appear to be long-term, indicating it's the same type of personality who feels compelled to buy these deals. Looking at the sales per hour it's pretty impressive. Part of me wants to start something similar only do it twice a day and offer a little more variety. Then the rest of me is just too lazy.
posted by geoff. at 8:19 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by geoff. at 8:19 AM on January 10, 2006
At least they tastefully avoided the "buy this or we toast the kitties" angle.
posted by clevershark at 8:19 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by clevershark at 8:19 AM on January 10, 2006
Will I receive customer support like I'm used to?
No. Well, not really. If you buy something you don't end up liking or you have what marketing people call "buyer's remorse," sell it on eBay. It's likely you'll make money doing this and save everyone a hassle. If the item doesn't work, find out what you're doing wrong. Yes, we know you think the item is bad, but it's probably your fault.
Heh heh.
posted by brain_drain at 8:22 AM on January 10, 2006
No. Well, not really. If you buy something you don't end up liking or you have what marketing people call "buyer's remorse," sell it on eBay. It's likely you'll make money doing this and save everyone a hassle. If the item doesn't work, find out what you're doing wrong. Yes, we know you think the item is bad, but it's probably your fault.
Heh heh.
posted by brain_drain at 8:22 AM on January 10, 2006
And of course (one of?) the creator(s) is a Mefite...
posted by Marquis at 8:24 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by Marquis at 8:24 AM on January 10, 2006
There was a Roomba yesterday. I almost bought one simply because it was fairly cheap. My cats would've loved it. My cats, it seems, would enjoy woot!
posted by travosaurus at 8:25 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by travosaurus at 8:25 AM on January 10, 2006
At least they tastefully avoided the "buy this or we toast the kitties" angle.
It no longer needs to be said. It's well documented what Woot does to those kitties with product that doesn't move. That's why toasters are their best seller.
posted by any major dude at 8:31 AM on January 10, 2006
It no longer needs to be said. It's well documented what Woot does to those kitties with product that doesn't move. That's why toasters are their best seller.
posted by any major dude at 8:31 AM on January 10, 2006
And of course (one of?) the creator(s) is a Mefite...
Who?
posted by SteveInMaine at 8:31 AM on January 10, 2006
The community part is clever and a bit brave. Immediate feedback on whether the pricing is good and whether the item is a piece of crap.
posted by smackfu at 8:44 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by smackfu at 8:44 AM on January 10, 2006
Can it be it really hasn't been an FPP until now?
Perhaps everyone, until now, concluded that it wasn't front page material.
posted by crunchland at 8:45 AM on January 10, 2006
Perhaps everyone, until now, concluded that it wasn't front page material.
posted by crunchland at 8:45 AM on January 10, 2006
I found woot.com about a month ago and lucked out. Day 2 was a a big, fat, slow (250GB, 2MB HD) hard drive for $50. Nothing really great since then.
If you have a cell phone, you can get an SMS (text message) sent to you with new items only a couple of minutes after it's posted.
posted by Charlie Bucket at 8:45 AM on January 10, 2006
If you have a cell phone, you can get an SMS (text message) sent to you with new items only a couple of minutes after it's posted.
posted by Charlie Bucket at 8:45 AM on January 10, 2006
And of course (one of?) the creator(s) is a Mefite...
Who?
Bagels?
posted by Marquis at 8:46 AM on January 10, 2006
Who?
Bagels?
posted by Marquis at 8:46 AM on January 10, 2006
davebug, his brother and a few others are involved with woot, and davebug at least is a part of MeFi.
posted by riffola at 8:46 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by riffola at 8:46 AM on January 10, 2006
It's worth visiting Woot every day just to read the product description. Whoever writes those clearly enjoys their job.
From yesterday: "According to iRobot, "world-class roboticists created Roomba" and then "experts tested it." We take this to mean that the Roomba will almost certainly not massacre your entire family in a death orgy of inscrutable machine rage, but we regret that we cannot offer refunds in the event that it does. Hey, if you want a plantation full of robot slaves, you have to accept the risk of a bloody uprising."
posted by JWright at 8:47 AM on January 10, 2006
From yesterday: "According to iRobot, "world-class roboticists created Roomba" and then "experts tested it." We take this to mean that the Roomba will almost certainly not massacre your entire family in a death orgy of inscrutable machine rage, but we regret that we cannot offer refunds in the event that it does. Hey, if you want a plantation full of robot slaves, you have to accept the risk of a bloody uprising."
posted by JWright at 8:47 AM on January 10, 2006
At least they tastefully avoided the "buy this or we toast the kitties" angle.
Not really: "There are two kinds of people in this world: people who buy this two-pack of Westinghouse ToasterSlicers, and people who mutilate innocent, defenseless kittens. Which kind are you?"
posted by eperker at 8:53 AM on January 10, 2006
Not really: "There are two kinds of people in this world: people who buy this two-pack of Westinghouse ToasterSlicers, and people who mutilate innocent, defenseless kittens. Which kind are you?"
posted by eperker at 8:53 AM on January 10, 2006
A+++++++ Would kill kittens again
posted by elwoodwiles at 9:00 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by elwoodwiles at 9:00 AM on January 10, 2006
I want one. Too bad they only ship within the U.S. :-(
posted by sveskemus at 9:05 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by sveskemus at 9:05 AM on January 10, 2006
I have a feeling that this type of marketing will become more prevelant, for better or worse.
I think you're right.
posted by birdie birdington at 9:06 AM on January 10, 2006
I think you're right.
posted by birdie birdington at 9:06 AM on January 10, 2006
I wonder if there are people that work as kitten handlers on shoots like these. Do you think that sort of position requires a degree? where can I send my resume?
posted by drezdn at 9:06 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by drezdn at 9:06 AM on January 10, 2006
I guess I'm the type of person who mutilates innocent defenceless kittens. It's amazing what one doesn't know about oneself...
posted by ob at 9:14 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by ob at 9:14 AM on January 10, 2006
I don't really want a slicer/toaster, but I do suddenly want a bagel.
posted by Pollomacho at 9:18 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by Pollomacho at 9:18 AM on January 10, 2006
You can take issue with our eccentricity, but whatever you do, don't hold it against this fine, upstanding example of American toasterhood.
ahhh, said just like a door to door encyclopedia salesman.
this is pretty awesome.
posted by shmegegge at 9:18 AM on January 10, 2006
ahhh, said just like a door to door encyclopedia salesman.
this is pretty awesome.
posted by shmegegge at 9:18 AM on January 10, 2006
And they still won't f'ing sell to Canada.
This is an ongoing thing with American companies selling stuff on the net. We've got the same credit cards Americans have, and a comparable percentage of internet users among the population. Why the hell won't you sell to us??
posted by Kickstart70 at 9:22 AM on January 10, 2006
This is an ongoing thing with American companies selling stuff on the net. We've got the same credit cards Americans have, and a comparable percentage of internet users among the population. Why the hell won't you sell to us??
posted by Kickstart70 at 9:22 AM on January 10, 2006
customs is probably a pain in the ass with paperwork, that joe schmoe that runs this company from his house does not want to deal with.
posted by goldism at 9:24 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by goldism at 9:24 AM on January 10, 2006
Can't be that much a pain in the ass since eBay sellers sell to us all the time.
posted by Kickstart70 at 9:29 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by Kickstart70 at 9:29 AM on January 10, 2006
If it sliced and toasted in one move, or at least in one place, that would be fun. Why don't they just add a chain connecting to a plate and a butter knife and say it butters them too?
posted by StickyCarpet at 9:31 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by StickyCarpet at 9:31 AM on January 10, 2006
Just like steep and cheap. How is this new?
woot.com has personality. Personality goes a long way.
posted by Charlie Bucket at 9:43 AM on January 10, 2006
woot.com has personality. Personality goes a long way.
posted by Charlie Bucket at 9:43 AM on January 10, 2006
Woot is linked to Something Awful in that the proprietors of the site are members of SA's forums. You'll see a lot of meme's used as sample images on televisions or photo displays and the like. If for nothing else, they're worth visiting for the product descriptions alone.
With that said, I've ordered from them a few times and if there are problems (sometimes with item specifications or the like, but not often) they've done their best to correct them. I picked up a Virgin Electronics Boomtube from them for a song, and managed to snag a $15 wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse set. Occasionally they haev pretty swank stuff.
posted by truex at 9:53 AM on January 10, 2006
With that said, I've ordered from them a few times and if there are problems (sometimes with item specifications or the like, but not often) they've done their best to correct them. I picked up a Virgin Electronics Boomtube from them for a song, and managed to snag a $15 wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse set. Occasionally they haev pretty swank stuff.
posted by truex at 9:53 AM on January 10, 2006
woot.com has personality. Personality goes a long way.
Amen. I check woot daily just to see what they've come up with and what they've written about it, even though they don't sell to Canada. Fun works.
posted by mendel at 10:13 AM on January 10, 2006
Amen. I check woot daily just to see what they've come up with and what they've written about it, even though they don't sell to Canada. Fun works.
posted by mendel at 10:13 AM on January 10, 2006
The only way woot could be better was if they didn't actually sell anything, but just pretended to. I've never bought their junk, but I do read it religiously to find new methods of slicing and toasting kittens.
and no, I don't make any kind of money off them, and no I am not in any way affiliated with them, and yes, the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated; but if it makes you feel better, you can think of me an an immortal zombie version of your 419th favorite comic book character, back from the dead. that is all.
posted by blue_beetle at 10:27 AM on January 10, 2006
and no, I don't make any kind of money off them, and no I am not in any way affiliated with them, and yes, the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated; but if it makes you feel better, you can think of me an an immortal zombie version of your 419th favorite comic book character, back from the dead. that is all.
posted by blue_beetle at 10:27 AM on January 10, 2006
And no one's mentioned the Bags o' Crap yet? For shame! Basically, you pay.. I think $5 and shipping if I remember correctly for a bag with some mystery item(s), for the most part people just get weird stuff, but they'll usually send off some speakers or other things. So it's sort of like playing the lottery.
There's also Midnight Box, it's not funny really, but it has a sort of game which I've never bothered to play. I did once order their version of a bag o' crap, and the box that arrived was of an old dirt devil. I thought to myself they must have just used some old box they had lying around and that's not really a dirt devil, but no, they actually sent me a dirt devil.
Haven't used it yet, but I do like the pen they sent with it.
posted by Talanvor at 11:23 AM on January 10, 2006
There's also Midnight Box, it's not funny really, but it has a sort of game which I've never bothered to play. I did once order their version of a bag o' crap, and the box that arrived was of an old dirt devil. I thought to myself they must have just used some old box they had lying around and that's not really a dirt devil, but no, they actually sent me a dirt devil.
Haven't used it yet, but I do like the pen they sent with it.
posted by Talanvor at 11:23 AM on January 10, 2006
The only way woot could be better was if they didn't actually sell anything, but just pretended to.
Mmmmm. Woot Spoof.
posted by grateful at 11:27 AM on January 10, 2006
Mmmmm. Woot Spoof.
posted by grateful at 11:27 AM on January 10, 2006
mendel I check woot daily just to see what they've come up with and what they've written about it
You must be joking
posted by jouke at 11:28 AM on January 10, 2006
You must be joking
posted by jouke at 11:28 AM on January 10, 2006
I think it suddenly started making the rounds because it was featured on Attack of The Show a few weeks ago
posted by poppo at 11:36 AM on January 10, 2006
posted by poppo at 11:36 AM on January 10, 2006
kickstart70 - And they still won't f'ing sell to Canada.
Yeah, I'm pretty annoyed by that too, but with the extra cost of shiiping plus paying the customs man, the price wouldn't work out to be that great of a deal - the rising CDN (against the USD) notwithstanding.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 12:31 PM on January 10, 2006
Yeah, I'm pretty annoyed by that too, but with the extra cost of shiiping plus paying the customs man, the price wouldn't work out to be that great of a deal - the rising CDN (against the USD) notwithstanding.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 12:31 PM on January 10, 2006
I think their "deal of the day" is great, but these deals aren't uncommon or exclusive to their site. You can see tons of GREAT deals on motherofalldeals.com (pops). That site aggregates deals from multiple other deals sites.
posted by pez_LPhiE at 1:02 PM on January 10, 2006
posted by pez_LPhiE at 1:02 PM on January 10, 2006
I've bought a few things - the big slow HD that Charlie Bucket mentioned, a really horrible camera and a microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse combo. The camera is now posted for sale on amazon. God, that's an awful camera.
posted by muddylemon at 1:24 PM on January 10, 2006
posted by muddylemon at 1:24 PM on January 10, 2006
Ah, the Mystery Bags! It's been claimed on the woot message boards that, occasionally, somebody gets far too damn lucky for their own good and ends up with a huge television or flat panel monitor or something, all for $1 + shipping. Good times.
I nearly got in on the mystery bag goodness, once. I saw it not five minutes after it was posted, but they sold out in the time it took me to get my credit card out of my wallet.
posted by truex at 1:36 PM on January 10, 2006
I nearly got in on the mystery bag goodness, once. I saw it not five minutes after it was posted, but they sold out in the time it took me to get my credit card out of my wallet.
posted by truex at 1:36 PM on January 10, 2006
That's a great site. I've gotten some neat + cheap electronic doodads there. They're based not far from where I live.
I think my favorite sale description was when they had some NBA toy set (I think it was a LEGO kit) and the item picture was the little figures posed in a reenactment of the infamous Ron Artest/fans in the stands brawl. IIRC, the item itself was billed as an "NBA Riot Playset" or sommat.
Woot itself is a novel idea, especially coming as it does well after the time when conventional wisdom said that the days of small internet businesses of its type making any sort of real money were over...
posted by First Post at 1:41 PM on January 10, 2006
I think my favorite sale description was when they had some NBA toy set (I think it was a LEGO kit) and the item picture was the little figures posed in a reenactment of the infamous Ron Artest/fans in the stands brawl. IIRC, the item itself was billed as an "NBA Riot Playset" or sommat.
Woot itself is a novel idea, especially coming as it does well after the time when conventional wisdom said that the days of small internet businesses of its type making any sort of real money were over...
posted by First Post at 1:41 PM on January 10, 2006
And of course (one of?) the creator(s) is a Mefite...
Who?
Bagels?
posted by Marquis
Nope -- but I wish I was!
posted by bagels at 2:35 PM on January 10, 2006
Who?
Bagels?
posted by Marquis
Nope -- but I wish I was!
posted by bagels at 2:35 PM on January 10, 2006
There is a woot clone called midnight box that is similar, but they add a twist... they reveal puzzle pieces and some people buy it before they even know what the hell it is, because the price gradually goes up as more is revealed on what the product is...
Normally, I find woot to have much more interesting (but still usually lame) deals. However, lately midnightbox has had a $149.99 PSP and a $69 or $79 Nintendo DS... refurbished, I assume, but still great deals...
Generally, most stuff on woot and midnightbox sucks.. but it's worth checking every night because the great deals really are great...
posted by twiggy at 3:59 PM on January 10, 2006
Normally, I find woot to have much more interesting (but still usually lame) deals. However, lately midnightbox has had a $149.99 PSP and a $69 or $79 Nintendo DS... refurbished, I assume, but still great deals...
Generally, most stuff on woot and midnightbox sucks.. but it's worth checking every night because the great deals really are great...
posted by twiggy at 3:59 PM on January 10, 2006
Google article says Westinghouse sold its small appliance operations in the early 1970s. How old are those bagel toasters?
posted by Cranberry at 4:01 PM on January 10, 2006
posted by Cranberry at 4:01 PM on January 10, 2006
the new company still manufactures under that brand name, Cran.
posted by amberglow at 4:50 PM on January 10, 2006
posted by amberglow at 4:50 PM on January 10, 2006
I liked the demotivational poster contest where the posters had to feature a recent woot.com product.
posted by A dead Quaker at 6:04 PM on January 10, 2006
posted by A dead Quaker at 6:04 PM on January 10, 2006
They didn't have bagels in the 70's. --smackfu
You know you can't say things like that without a sarcasm tag...people will believe you. Just because you know that according to legend, the world's first bagel was produced in 1783 as a tribute to Jan Sobieski, King of Poland who had just saved the populace from the hordes of Turkey infidels, is no reason to muddy the waters.
posted by dejah420 at 10:15 PM on January 10, 2006
You know you can't say things like that without a sarcasm tag...people will believe you. Just because you know that according to legend, the world's first bagel was produced in 1783 as a tribute to Jan Sobieski, King of Poland who had just saved the populace from the hordes of Turkey infidels, is no reason to muddy the waters.
posted by dejah420 at 10:15 PM on January 10, 2006
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