# Amazon buys Woot.com **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 1, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148 "2010-07-01T02:31:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/21 "2010-07-01T05:38:51Z")
Looking through past daily woots, it looks like it’s mainly a site that sells refurbished electronics. Seriously, I don’t think I saw a single electronic item (besides today and yesterday) in the last month that wasn’t a refurb. I’m assuming there is no warranty protection from a site that sells such wildly varying (and used) merchandise, so I have to say, that must be one hell of a community. Otherwise, I don’t know how much there is to mourn. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/22 "2010-07-01T05:50:28Z")
You know everyone is freaking out, despite what the Woot guys are say, and I don’t understand why. Amazon bought Zappos, and nothing really changed as far as I know. Amazon people are smart, they wouldn’t buy Woot just to turn it into something completely different. I just hope they add those four magic words to Woot: “Free Super Saver Shipping” ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/23 "2010-07-01T06:00:08Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > Looking through past daily woots, it looks like it’s mainly a site that sells refurbished electronics. Seriously, I don’t think I saw a single electronic item (besides today and yesterday) in the last month that wasn’t a refurb. I’m assuming there is no warranty protection from a site that sells such wildly varying (and used) merchandise, so I have to say, that must be one hell of a community. Otherwise, I don’t know how much there is to mourn. Huh? I’m looking through several past ones and not seen anything yet that says refurbished, and they all come with warranties. [June 27- Camcorder- 90 day warranty](http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=13367) [June 26- HDTV- 2 year warranty](http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=13363) [June 25- Canon printer- 1 year warranty](http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=13355) OK, I found [one](http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=13346)listing that mentions refurbished. Where are you looking? ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/24 "2010-07-01T06:14:22Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Huh? I’m looking through several past ones and not seen anything yet that says refurbished, and they all come with warranties. > > [June 27- Camcorder- 90 day warranty](http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=13367) > [June 26- HDTV- 2 year warranty](http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=13363) > [June 25- Canon printer- 1 year warranty](http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=13355) > > OK, I found [one](http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=13346)listing that mentions refurbished. > > Where are you looking? I’m looking here: [http://www.woot.com/Forums/Default.aspx](http://www.woot.com/Forums/Default.aspx) If you look at the second post on the thread for each item, they record the price and condition for posterity. According to that, the camcorder above is a refurb, but not the others. Just look: June 20 - HDTV - refurb June 10 - Notebook - refurb June 9 - HDTV - refurb June 7 - Netbook - refurb June 6 - Desktop - refurb June 5 - HDTV - refurb June 4 - Sansa Clip+ - refurb June 2 - iPod - refurb It seems that almost all of the big-ticket electronics items are refurbs (not that that should be too surprising for a deep discount site, but still). ETA: I do stand corrected on the warranty issue, though. That makes it more tempting. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/25 "2010-07-01T06:15:29Z")
For those who know that the really great part of Woot is the product descriptions, here’s a really good article about the head writer: > **[The Hack Hustle: The Inspiring Story of the Slacker Behind the Woot-Off](https://gizmodo.com/the-hack-hustle-the-inspiring-story-of-the-slacker-beh-5544625)** > > You've certainly read Jason Toon's work: he's head writer for Woot.com. But you might not have thought about the staggering amount of copy he has to write. And the first time he did a Woot-Off, neither did he. ---
**Author:** ![sco3tt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@sco3tt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sco3tt)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/26 "2010-07-01T06:29:13Z")
[We Got Acquired By Amazon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnCHCcveteA). “No more rollin’ in late with our pajamas on.” CEO Matt Rutledge’s [email to his employees](http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=13390) is a must read. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/27 "2010-07-01T06:38:58Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > ! > > By the way, I suppose this is a somewhat suitable place to brag that I’m awaiting delivery of my second Bag Of Crap, scored in the last Woot-Off! Me too! This is my first BoC. I am so thrilled! It’s on its way to me, to be delivered on the 6th. All I know is that it weighs a little over 5 lbs… so unlikely to be a HDTV. \<3 Woot \<3 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/28 "2010-07-01T11:28:13Z")
lol. I too can carry a grudge, so I guess I kinda understand. Still, woot will only be owned by Amazon, you won’t even hardly have to know. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/29 "2010-07-01T11:32:00Z")
> [@sco3tt](#): > > [We Got Acquired By Amazon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnCHCcveteA). “No more rollin’ in late with our pajamas on.” > > CEO Matt Rutledge’s [email to his employees](http://www.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=13390) is a must read. Rutledge’s email is way too much fun - now I wish I worked for woot. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/30 "2010-07-01T12:42:00Z")
It reads just like any other woot listing; pointless meandering with little sprinkles of truth in there followed by some odd and unique language. It sounds like it’s filled with sarcastic assholes. I wish I worked there. I love shopping at [shirt.woot.com](http://shirt.woot.com). I really need to buy one of those @-@ walker shirts before it’s too late. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/31 "2010-07-01T12:45:35Z")
So how does the Kindle handle pdfs? I have a lot that I wouldn’t mind keeping on something like this. Can the Kindle search pdfs? Can it use the interactive pdfs, like directly go to a page from the index? I might be willing to get one now, especially if it can do those types of things, especially the searching of a pdf as I do that a lot. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/32 "2010-07-01T13:32:22Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Why is he in charge of where you buy stuff from? Well, like I said in my OP, I know I’m a grown woman, and I can buy stuff from wherever I like. But some stuff is just not worth jeopardizing marital harmony for. 😉 I called him last night to tell him this news, and as I predicted, he wasn’t happy. I said to him “Now I guess I won’t be buying anything from Woot, either” and he laughed. Then I said “Well, or at least anything that you know where I bought it. . .” and he laughed harder. My guess is that if I really put my foot down and said “I’m buying a Kindle, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me”, he’d get over it pretty quick. 🆒 But seriously, a Kindle is not worth arguing about. To us, not much is. He has his ‘rules’ that I respect, because he doesn’t have many. I have my ‘rules’, which he respects, because I don’t have many. It’s one of the reasons we’ve been happily married for almost 22 years. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/33 "2010-07-02T04:37:49Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > For those who know that the really great part of Woot is the product descriptions, here’s a really good article about the head writer: > [http://gizmodo.com/5544625/the-hack-hustle-the-inspiring-story-of-the-slacker-behind-the-woot+off](http://gizmodo.com/5544625/the-hack-hustle-the-inspiring-story-of-the-slacker-behind-the-woot+off) I hate the product descriptions. Just tell me what it is without the crap. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/34 "2010-07-02T13:22:49Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > [What is Woot?](http://www.woot.com/WhatIsWoot.aspx)Every once in a while, they’ll have what’s called a Woot-Off, where instead of selling one item that day, they’ll unload a whole bunch of stuff in limited quantities. As soon as one item sells out, the next one goes on sale. The Woot-Off can last a day or two. When they do this, do they say so? What I mean is, if I check this morning and see an item I’m not interested in, can I tell there’s a Woot-Off going on and I should check back later? ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/35 "2010-07-02T13:31:21Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > I hate the product descriptions. Just tell me what it is without the crap. Just scroll down. They have a fuddy-duddy version after the entertaining one. > [@Wheelz](#): > > When they do this, do they say so? What I mean is, if I check this morning and see an item I’m not interested in, can I tell there’s a Woot-Off going on and I should check back later? As a general rule, they run these monthly – usually sometime in the third week of the month. You can tell one is going on by the orange flashing Woot-Off lights. That means it’s time to settle in for a couple of days of furious F5-ing. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/36 "2010-07-02T14:50:31Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > Let us know how the cedar planks work! I was eyeing those. The first plank cooking is done – [Plank Chicken Pictorial](http://www.sirblah.com/photo/index.php?album=Plank+Chicken)! ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/37 "2010-07-02T17:04:04Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > The first plank cooking is done – [Plank Chicken Pictorial](http://www.sirblah.com/photo/index.php?album=Plank+Chicken)! Maybe it’s just 'cuz it’s lunch time, and I’m hungry. But _damn_ those look tasty! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/38 "2010-07-02T19:33:01Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > The first plank cooking is done – [Plank Chicken Pictorial](http://www.sirblah.com/photo/index.php?album=Plank+Chicken)! Those look great! Well, my Bag of Crap just arrived. A very exciting moment! But, only for a moment. If it makes those of you who have been trying in vain to get one feel better… once again, I received complete and utter crap. •(2) “Would You Rather?” desktop calendars •(2) “High School Musical” alarm clocks •A “Pirates of the Caribbean” accessory bag for something or other •A mini Woot! flying screaming monkey. The mini flying screaming monkey is the nicest thing in there. I already have the large one, so it’ll make a nice companion. Oh well. Another BoC excitement squashed by the cold harsh reality of true crap. But I’ll keep trying! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/39 "2010-07-02T20:08:26Z")
Some choice quotes from that letter: > [@](#): > > Today is a big day in Woot history. This morning, I woke up to find Jeff Bezos the Mighty had seized our magic sword. Using the Arthurian model as a corporate structure was something our CFO had warned against from the very beginning, but now that’s water under the bridge. What is important is that our company is on the verge of becoming a part of the [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) dynasty. And our plans for Grail.Woot are on indefinite hold. > > … > > We think now is the right time to join with Amazon because, quite simply, every company that becomes a subsidiary gets two free downloads until the end of July, and we very much need that new thing with Trent Reznor’s wife on our iPods. > > … > > Other than that, we plan to continue to run Woot the way we have always run Woot – with a wall of ideas and a dartboard. From a practical point of view, it will be as if we are simply adding one person to the organizational hierarchy, except that one person will just happen to be a billion-dollar company that could buy and sell each and every one of you like you were office furniture. > > … > > We are excited about doing this for all sorts of reasons. One, our business model is so vague that there’s no way Amazon can possibly change what it is we’re truly doing: preparing the way for the rise of the Lava Men in 2012. > > … > > Q: Is Snapster leaving? > A: Are you kidding? He’s out the door about ten seconds after that check clea- that is to say, Snapster will continue as [Woot.com](http://Woot.com) CEO, just like before, and the rest of our staff’s not going anywhere either. Woot and all our various sites will continue to be an independently operated company full of horrible, useless products and an untalented jerkface writing staff, same as it ever was. > > … > > Amazon is interested in us because they recognize the value of our people, our brand, and our unique style of deep-tissue, toxin-releasing massage. I want to have his baby. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148/40 "2010-07-02T21:03:28Z")
I got into woot recently. I had heard about it for years, but never really looked that closely into it, because every time I went it was after a deal had already been gobbled up. A few months ago I saw a cool shirt and followed a link to see were it came from and saw it was from their shirts section. A 10 dollar t shirt is not a bad deal,so I tried it out and in the process found out that new deals start at Midnight central and ever since then I have been hooked. So far, I have gotten 3 shirts and a really good deal on a new Canon WiFi printer. I have hedged a bit about a few electronics items, but I took my finger off the button when I saw that they were refurbished. I have nothing against refurbished goods, you can often find a good deal on them. But, that’s the thing, finding deals on refurbished goods is not uncommon. I like woot best when the deals are unheard of. (For instance, that Kindle deal was tempting! I just don’t buy enough books to justify it. I usually use the library. Or leech off of friends.) Sadly, I always forget about the woot offs, so I have never even seen a bag of crap up for sale. Someday! I doubt the Amazon purchase will change things much. I read an interview with the Zappos founder recently were he said the reason he allowed Amazon to buy them out is because they believed in his business model and they were willing to let them run (somewhat) autonomously. I figure the same thing is going on with Woot. It was pretty awesome that they got to follow it up with cheap kindles. That’s a win for both parties. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-buys-woot-com/545148.md?page=3)