What's in the sack?
September 25, 2014 7:37 AM Subscribe
Flotsam General Store: A Post-Structural Online Shopping Experience. A new thing by H. Jon Benjamin (previously) and Eugene Mirman (previously). Here's how it works: You send them money. They send you a sack with things in it. What things? Things they've made. No really what things? You'll have to order a sack to find out.
For more info check out these writeups at the AV Club and Put This On.
For more info check out these writeups at the AV Club and Put This On.
What's in the sack?
Pain!
Wait, that was the box.
posted by Foosnark at 7:44 AM on September 25, 2014 [6 favorites]
Pain!
Wait, that was the box.
posted by Foosnark at 7:44 AM on September 25, 2014 [6 favorites]
Yes but on the Shop page they sell "Mystery Sacks." Not discounting your argument--they could very well send us sacs, in sacks!--but I don't think that's all they'll send.
posted by Cash4Lead at 7:45 AM on September 25, 2014
posted by Cash4Lead at 7:45 AM on September 25, 2014
I'm just saying K'S MATTER.
posted by maryr at 7:48 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by maryr at 7:48 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
...I can't help but read this in Gene's voice
"IT'S A MYSTERY SACK!"
posted by The Whelk at 7:49 AM on September 25, 2014 [13 favorites]
"IT'S A MYSTERY SACK!"
posted by The Whelk at 7:49 AM on September 25, 2014 [13 favorites]
I'm finding myself really drawn to this idea, but then again, I'm a kind of an idiot.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:56 AM on September 25, 2014 [22 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:56 AM on September 25, 2014 [22 favorites]
I feel like a $40 price point is low enough that they'll have a tough time keeping up with orders, no?
posted by uncleozzy at 7:58 AM on September 25, 2014
posted by uncleozzy at 7:58 AM on September 25, 2014
The original woot guy now ships a bag of stuff occasionally from meh. But Ya gotta be fast on the click.
posted by sammyo at 7:58 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by sammyo at 7:58 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
Post-structural?
Well, it's a sack. Now, a box, that's structural. A bag, they can stand on their own, a little. But a sack? No structure. Gotta stick it on a post.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 7:58 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 7:58 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
USA ONLY. ARRRRRRRGGHHHH
posted by wyndham at 8:00 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by wyndham at 8:00 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
I see here an opportunity to finish off all my Xmas shopping, and blame any person/present mismatch on someone else.
posted by fredludd at 8:01 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by fredludd at 8:01 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
I feel like a $40 price point is low enough that they'll have a tough time keeping up with orders, no?
I was all set to order until I saw the price - too steep for a mystery sack, even if it does come from two guys whose work I love
posted by InfidelZombie at 8:19 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
I was all set to order until I saw the price - too steep for a mystery sack, even if it does come from two guys whose work I love
posted by InfidelZombie at 8:19 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
yeah, came in to say that the woot! bag'o'crap was an interesting gimmick .. Not so sure about this.. Does their forum disemvowel "refurb" too ?
posted by k5.user at 8:27 AM on September 25, 2014
posted by k5.user at 8:27 AM on September 25, 2014
I dunno, I've spent more than 40 bucks on drinks before ...I can just see doing it one, as a birthday gift to myself...
WHAT'S IN THE SACK - you're paying for the experience of wondering.
posted by The Whelk at 8:33 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
WHAT'S IN THE SACK - you're paying for the experience of wondering.
posted by The Whelk at 8:33 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Can I pay for my mystery sack with Flooz?
posted by chavenet at 8:33 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 8:33 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
They send you a sack with things in it. What things? Things they've made. No really what things? You'll have to order a sack to find out. -- posted by Cash4Lead
Eponysterical! (Maybe.)
posted by gern at 8:38 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
I just ordered one. I'll post what I got in 6-8 weeks!
posted by orme at 8:38 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by orme at 8:38 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
I'm betting there's a Bob's Burgers t-shirt (and/or comic and/or CD) in the sack. Which, frankly, I would be more likely to buy than a mystery.
(The Bob's Burgers season premier is Sunday, October 5 at 7:30/6:30c. Only on Fox. Unless it's pre-empted by football, which, come on, it totally will be.)
posted by Sys Rq at 8:40 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
(The Bob's Burgers season premier is Sunday, October 5 at 7:30/6:30c. Only on Fox. Unless it's pre-empted by football, which, come on, it totally will be.)
posted by Sys Rq at 8:40 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Isn't this basically Quarterly.co with a sprinkling of caustic snark?
posted by youarenothere at 8:42 AM on September 25, 2014
posted by youarenothere at 8:42 AM on September 25, 2014
This could be an interesting trick- start out by delighting people with fun surprises, then go from a fixed reward schedule to a variable one. They may actually increase the amount people buy by decreasing the amount of good stuff they send.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:43 AM on September 25, 2014
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:43 AM on September 25, 2014
So, Benjamin and Mirman are clearing-out their garages?
posted by Thorzdad at 8:44 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Thorzdad at 8:44 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Post-structural perhaps, but most certainly not post-consumer.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:45 AM on September 25, 2014
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:45 AM on September 25, 2014
...I can't help but read this in Gene's voice
"IT'S A MYSTERY SACK!"
You're lucky - I keep flashing to Brad Pitt in Se7en. "What's going on over there? What's in the sack? What's in the fucking saaaaaaaack?"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:50 AM on September 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
"IT'S A MYSTERY SACK!"
You're lucky - I keep flashing to Brad Pitt in Se7en. "What's going on over there? What's in the sack? What's in the fucking saaaaaaaack?"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:50 AM on September 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
XShe'll take the box! What's in the box? Nothing! Abolutley nothing! You're so stupid!!
posted by xarnop at 8:50 AM on September 25, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by xarnop at 8:50 AM on September 25, 2014 [7 favorites]
She'll take the box! What's in the box? Nothing! Abolutley nothing! You're so stupid!!
If I thought there was a chance of receiving a whole Red Snapper (veerry tasty!), I might order one.
posted by Ickster at 8:57 AM on September 25, 2014 [6 favorites]
If I thought there was a chance of receiving a whole Red Snapper (veerry tasty!), I might order one.
posted by Ickster at 8:57 AM on September 25, 2014 [6 favorites]
Ordered! Happy birthday, Sweets!
I'm delighted to give a gift of I-know-not-what to a guy-who-lacks-for-nothing. Bonus points given if it's a repurposed do-hickey from the back of someone's workshop!
posted by heidiola at 8:58 AM on September 25, 2014
I'm delighted to give a gift of I-know-not-what to a guy-who-lacks-for-nothing. Bonus points given if it's a repurposed do-hickey from the back of someone's workshop!
posted by heidiola at 8:58 AM on September 25, 2014
Ha, now here's an industry that can really profit from a distributed model! They just have to partner with the whole "downsize your life" movement. Here's a bag! Fill it up with stuff from around your house - the sweater that you bought even though it doesn't fit! Those three amazon packages you haven't even opened yet! A book that's been half-read for over 10 years! Put it all in the sac and mail it out! We only take 10% (plus S&H fee!)
posted by rebent at 8:58 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by rebent at 8:58 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
A Post-Structural Online Shopping Experience
When I was a waitress for a while at a Chili's (I was not very good at it) people would berate me about stuff over which I had no control, like how much a side of sour cream cost (I agree! It was excessive!) or the fact that you had to pay extra to substitute a side salad.
One time someone was really pushing me on this and kept being like "but it's called a side salad. Shouldn't it cost the same as a side?" as if I were going to shout "you're right! You cracked the code! Free salads for everyone!" He was basically a Freeman on the Land about Chili's side salad clearly thinking that if he deciphered the magic words he would be authorized to operate outside the normal rules. I wanted to be like "not only do I not set the prices, but my boss doesn't set the prices, and HER boss doesn't set the prices. His boss might set the prices. I don't know. I've never met him." Instead, as a sort of compromise, I told him that it was a post-structuralist salad because it was differential and not referential; "side" was not a signifier of its status as a side, it existed merely to differentiate it from the entree salad. I do not think he agreed with me but he did shut up.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 8:59 AM on September 25, 2014 [43 favorites]
When I was a waitress for a while at a Chili's (I was not very good at it) people would berate me about stuff over which I had no control, like how much a side of sour cream cost (I agree! It was excessive!) or the fact that you had to pay extra to substitute a side salad.
One time someone was really pushing me on this and kept being like "but it's called a side salad. Shouldn't it cost the same as a side?" as if I were going to shout "you're right! You cracked the code! Free salads for everyone!" He was basically a Freeman on the Land about Chili's side salad clearly thinking that if he deciphered the magic words he would be authorized to operate outside the normal rules. I wanted to be like "not only do I not set the prices, but my boss doesn't set the prices, and HER boss doesn't set the prices. His boss might set the prices. I don't know. I've never met him." Instead, as a sort of compromise, I told him that it was a post-structuralist salad because it was differential and not referential; "side" was not a signifier of its status as a side, it existed merely to differentiate it from the entree salad. I do not think he agreed with me but he did shut up.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 8:59 AM on September 25, 2014 [43 favorites]
I'm finding myself really drawn to this idea, but then again, I'm a kind of an idiot.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:56 AM on September 25
Also, even before I opened this thread I heaved a sigh and though "one of these is going to appear at my house."
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 9:01 AM on September 25, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:56 AM on September 25
Also, even before I opened this thread I heaved a sigh and though "one of these is going to appear at my house."
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 9:01 AM on September 25, 2014 [9 favorites]
Ha, now here's an industry that can really profit from a distributed model!
Holy shit, you need to get on this now. Now. NOW!
...no, really, what the hell are you waiting around for? I'm not joking, none of us are joking. Nobody is laughing. Go. Now.
posted by aramaic at 9:11 AM on September 25, 2014
Holy shit, you need to get on this now. Now. NOW!
...no, really, what the hell are you waiting around for? I'm not joking, none of us are joking. Nobody is laughing. Go. Now.
posted by aramaic at 9:11 AM on September 25, 2014
Yeah, I've seen Audition.
No way in hell I'm falling for this.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:19 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
No way in hell I'm falling for this.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:19 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
Do you too have trouble disposing of all the money that filters into your life and accumulates like drifting snow?
Buy this dumb sac(k)!
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 9:23 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
Buy this dumb sac(k)!
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 9:23 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
I bought one. Not sure why. But who knows? I've spent way more on definitely useless crap, I can spend $40 on probably useless crap.
posted by aviwarner at 9:37 AM on September 25, 2014
posted by aviwarner at 9:37 AM on September 25, 2014
I'm giving away my great idea for a restaurant here, but I don't even care, I just want to see it happen. I think it's kind of related to this sac-au-lae idea...
You walk into the restaurant, sit down, and you are brought food. There is no ordering, there is no choosing. You are brought food and you pay for it. You can eat it or not, that's not the responsibility of the restaurant. I also think it would be nice if the waitstaff was rude and unaccommodating. What you want water instead of milk? Sorry, you'll have milk.
posted by joecacti at 9:40 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
You walk into the restaurant, sit down, and you are brought food. There is no ordering, there is no choosing. You are brought food and you pay for it. You can eat it or not, that's not the responsibility of the restaurant. I also think it would be nice if the waitstaff was rude and unaccommodating. What you want water instead of milk? Sorry, you'll have milk.
posted by joecacti at 9:40 AM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
"IT'S A MYSTERY SACK!"
" ... mystery sack, mystery sack, are you ready for your mystery sack ... ?"
posted by octobersurprise at 9:44 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
" ... mystery sack, mystery sack, are you ready for your mystery sack ... ?"
posted by octobersurprise at 9:44 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Ha, now here's an industry that can really profit from a distributed model!
I thought that had already been done.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:51 AM on September 25, 2014
I thought that had already been done.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:51 AM on September 25, 2014
"But it's really great shit, Mrs Presskey."
posted by Herodios at 9:59 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
A sac. Not a sack, a sac.
Ceci n'est pas un sac.
posted by malocchio at 10:10 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Ceci n'est pas un sac.
posted by malocchio at 10:10 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm still rather enjoying this roomy comment box I got from MetaFilter for only $5.
posted by stltony at 10:12 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by stltony at 10:12 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
I think I'd be really disappointed if I didn't get Bully.
posted by malocchio at 10:17 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by malocchio at 10:17 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm also curious about the contents of the sac. But not $40 curious.
That being said, I'd like for someone else to take the plunge and report back on what they got.
Now I am $40 curious... with someone else's money.
posted by dfm500 at 10:20 AM on September 25, 2014
That being said, I'd like for someone else to take the plunge and report back on what they got.
Now I am $40 curious... with someone else's money.
posted by dfm500 at 10:20 AM on September 25, 2014
Guys, if you send me just $38.99, I will send you some things in a sac.
posted by geegollygosh at 10:32 AM on September 25, 2014
posted by geegollygosh at 10:32 AM on September 25, 2014
As long as they don't send me a pig in a poke, I'd be OK with...
No, no, I think I'll pass.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:35 AM on September 25, 2014
No, no, I think I'll pass.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:35 AM on September 25, 2014
You walk into the restaurant, sit down, and you are brought food. There is no ordering, there is no choosing. You are brought food and you pay for it.
I went out to eat with Tyler Cowen once and that's basically how it worked -- Tyler told the waiter to just bring us "good stuff" and he did and we ate it.
I have no idea what the names are of any of the dishes I ate that day but it was an amazing meal.
posted by Jacqueline at 11:03 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
I went out to eat with Tyler Cowen once and that's basically how it worked -- Tyler told the waiter to just bring us "good stuff" and he did and we ate it.
I have no idea what the names are of any of the dishes I ate that day but it was an amazing meal.
posted by Jacqueline at 11:03 AM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
I bought one! I'm going to give it to my brother for Christmas sight unseen. Hope it's not full of porny stuff to suddenly show my whole extended family at the gift exchange!
posted by Kwine at 11:10 AM on September 25, 2014
posted by Kwine at 11:10 AM on September 25, 2014
Favorite part, from the FAQ:
Q: Do you offer returns, exchanges, or refunds?
Ha, ha,ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, haha, ha
posted by klausman at 11:13 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
Q: Do you offer returns, exchanges, or refunds?
Ha, ha,ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, haha, ha
posted by klausman at 11:13 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
You walk into the restaurant, sit down, and you are brought food. There is no ordering, there is no choosing. You are brought food and you pay for it.
This is a prix fixe or a table d'hôte if I'm not mistaken. How about instead a restaurant where you order items, but you never get what you ordered?
posted by octobersurprise at 11:50 AM on September 25, 2014
This is a prix fixe or a table d'hôte if I'm not mistaken. How about instead a restaurant where you order items, but you never get what you ordered?
posted by octobersurprise at 11:50 AM on September 25, 2014
How about instead a restaurant where you order items, but you never get what you ordered?
We already have this; it's called the Taco Bell drive-through.
posted by uncleozzy at 11:52 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
We already have this; it's called the Taco Bell drive-through.
posted by uncleozzy at 11:52 AM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
A few months ago I would have really rolled my eyes at this consumerism-gone-wild gambit, but now I'm hooked on Birchbox where I get a box of samples every month. In fact, I'm so hooked on Birchbox that I bought my husband the male version for his birthday. He has gotten 2 boxes ($20.00 per) so far and he has really enjoyed them. "Oooo, lets see what's inside." What's inside is still inside because he doesn't really take the samples out and use them, he just opens the lids and smells the contents. "This is nice, smell this." He waits anxiously for that next box...
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:52 PM on September 25, 2014
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:52 PM on September 25, 2014
I see here an opportunity to finish off all my Xmas shopping, and blame any person/present mismatch on someone else.
Some lucky Mefite is gonna have a sack for Quonsmas this year!
posted by Benway at 12:58 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Some lucky Mefite is gonna have a sack for Quonsmas this year!
posted by Benway at 12:58 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
You walk into the restaurant, sit down, and you are brought food. There is no ordering, there is no choosing. You are brought food and you pay for it.
A number of places do this they call it "sunday dinner" or somesuch, which is basically a prix frixe.
Just set menus and almost no ala cart ordering was pretty common in France, not surprised it's taking off here - it does solve a few problems.
posted by The Whelk at 1:02 PM on September 25, 2014
A number of places do this they call it "sunday dinner" or somesuch, which is basically a prix frixe.
Just set menus and almost no ala cart ordering was pretty common in France, not surprised it's taking off here - it does solve a few problems.
posted by The Whelk at 1:02 PM on September 25, 2014
Secret Life of Gravy, I have that, but for snacks, so there's NO LOSING.
posted by maryr at 1:09 PM on September 25, 2014
posted by maryr at 1:09 PM on September 25, 2014
Well, there could be losing, but I told them not to send me anything with walnuts.
posted by maryr at 1:15 PM on September 25, 2014
posted by maryr at 1:15 PM on September 25, 2014
So, basically Loot Crate, but less pop-cultural, more hand-made, and more expensive?
posted by JHarris at 1:52 PM on September 25, 2014
posted by JHarris at 1:52 PM on September 25, 2014
Ha ha ha sounds good seriously though what's in the sack?
posted by turbid dahlia at 2:46 PM on September 25, 2014
posted by turbid dahlia at 2:46 PM on September 25, 2014
Danger!
posted by The Whelk at 2:48 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 2:48 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
C'mon you guys seriously
posted by turbid dahlia at 2:50 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by turbid dahlia at 2:50 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
20 bucks, same as in town. Antlers not included.
posted by litleozy at 3:01 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by litleozy at 3:01 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
40$ is the magic number.
I'm split mind on this one.
As an artist, I wish I had a snazzy web site where people could pay me ridiculous amounts of money for my zany ideas.
As a consumer, I piss in your general direction.
In the end, it prolly has more to do with the s#it you can get attention with than anything else.
Remember the Axe Man of NYC?
posted by xtian at 5:38 PM on September 27, 2014
I'm split mind on this one.
As an artist, I wish I had a snazzy web site where people could pay me ridiculous amounts of money for my zany ideas.
As a consumer, I piss in your general direction.
In the end, it prolly has more to do with the s#it you can get attention with than anything else.
Remember the Axe Man of NYC?
posted by xtian at 5:38 PM on September 27, 2014
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Flotsam offers three sacs of hand-chosen items that are hand-hewn by machines in America and are shipped directly to you. What you receive depends on what we choose for you in the moment. In this way, a symbiotic chain is created between producer and consumer. Our mission is to always build on that chain, until that chain enwraps all of us and we are thusly bound together, chained.
A sac. Not a sack, a sac. How biological. How fetal. How ballsy. *shudders*
posted by maryr at 7:42 AM on September 25, 2014 [9 favorites]