take 2 minutes and go re-read my very first comment in this thread.. you’ll see my complaint wasn’t that i got crap … it’s that everyone got the same crap …

i get that it’s a mystery box … when I got my Mystery box 31 days after i paid for it .. it was no mystery that i got .. it was the same goddam straw that everyone else had gotten and posted about

Jay – As stated many times… it’s a Mystery Sale! You knew that going in and now you’re upset.

Take responsibility for your own actions. You knew there was a chance you were going to get the “Monty Hall Deal.” If you didn’t like it, learn from that and move on. Don’t re-hash it again and again. Don’t buy the mystery sale again.

And it’s not a holier-than-thou attitude. I’m just tired of hearing people blaming others for their own ineptitude. And I’m quite sure I’m not alone in that sentiment. I say good day, Sir!

For what it’s worth, I’d like to point out that your feedback, good or bad, are published on Neatorama without being censored. We will continue to improve the Mystery Sale as we do the blog and the online shop. In the meanwhile, your support is needed and is very much appreciated.

I apologize .. perhaps I should have address each of you separately.. i did not intend for the “Holier than thou” portion of my rant to be directed at you ( did intend to direct it towards both TerryI & WillTheThrill )

I included you because i felt your initial comment implied that the comments should have remained closed to prevent valid complaints, However your reply provided clarification. Thank you

I was not aware of the previous discussion in the forum .. i’ve never visited the forum.. i only come here to read & buy crap .. not talk to you people (please note winky face… i kid)

I apologize .. perhaps I should have address each of you separately.. i did not intend for the “Holier than thou” portion of my rant to be directed at you ( did intend to direct it towards both TerryI & WillTheThrill )

I included you because i felt your initial comment implied that the comments should have remained closed to prevent valid complaints, However your reply provided clarification. Thank you

I was not aware of the previous discussion in the forum .. i’ve visited the forum.. i only come here to read & buy crap .. not talk to you people (please note winky face… i kid)

I think you have misunderstood me, and I do not understand how my post was ‘holier than thou”.
And this is beating a dead horse over and over because it has been discussed in the previous mystery sale comments and at length over in the forum.

I paid for a mystery item. I accepted that when I order something that is a mystery. It is like getting a “grab bag”. You do not know what you are going to get.

I do not disagree with those leaving their complaints – but to do it anytime the words “mystery sale” are brought up…well that is just tiresome.

“this is Neatorama – people like to complain. “

wow .. someone’s been drinking the koolaid … Look .. I get that you guys think this is a nonprofit and feel good about purchases “cuz you’re helpin’ the cause” (insert “cheezey sarcastic double thumbs up while winking real hard” action here) … great for you

However some of us legitimately feel ripped off.. regardless of how much we like the content provided here .. This is a business .. they gather articles (that other people wrote) add their $.02 & give you a link for more details … They also sell ad space and stuff in their online store ..

don’t get me wrong .. i like the articles, that’s why i keep coming back … But don’t expect me to “just put my hands on the monitor and believe” & feel good about throwing money away

If you were happy with the mystery box great.. leave a comment saying your happy .. but leave the holier than thou “i can’t believe all the negativity..” crap out Those of use that feel like we got ripped off have just as much of a right to post our discontent as you do your praise.

Jay

“You have to know going in that… there is a huge commitment and not a lot of money in it…We’re not out to gouge people.” – Jim Jones

If you want to be “conscientious consumers” go to to CostCo (or Walmart or Pennywise or wherever it is you can go to complain and whine ad naseum). It’s a MYSTERY SALE!!

I have missed all of them (but this one) and am excited at whatever comes my way. $9.95 be damned! It’s for a good cause – an excellent blog with brilliant content and my daily ritual. If I get straws I shall drink with a little more zeal. If I get a belt-buckle, then let the hoe-down begin! I shall wear it as a badge of honor! (Especially if it says “Neatorama”!)

So I say to you, my fellow Neatorama-blog-o-nauts, sale on! (Mystery Sale) Sale on.

The “mystery” was fun for two weeks and then it was just annoying to have to wait. Plus sending everyone the same thing (STRAWZ) was a major let down. I by no means was expecting a premium item, but come on – I can get straws for free at McDonalds.

I hate to say it, but I read Neat-o-Rama WAY less now, after the disappointing mystery sale experience.

I am sure Alex has improved the process and all that, so I hope you all get something great this time around!

On the note of supporting the blog – it seems like now that the readers write most of the posts anyway, the N-o-R staff now has time to get a part time job. Just a thought.

what I did not expect was for you to use this an an opertunity to unload hundreds of units of crap at MSRP + shipping (nor did i expect said $5 shipping to take nearly a month to arrive)

The Mysterbox tainted my entire perspective of neatorama. I felt cheated and hoodwinked yes it’s valued at $10 … I paid $15 and waited a month to get it …

if you honestly thought the strawz were worth $10 .. i feel like you would have listed them in the neatorama store .. not unloaded them on 90% of the people who bought mystery boxes

You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not please all of the people all of the time.

I got the straws last time. Not my thing, but my daughter sure got excited about them.

Can’t we all just get along?? Oh the humanity!

Unless you collect straws, my advice is to put a quarter in a bouncy ball machine and donate the remaining $9.75 to charity.

Also just because it cost you quite a bit to buy “strawz” doesn’t mean other people won’t feel taken when they realize even a 99-cent store could turn massive profit on these.

what you get:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/additional/large/diy_strawz_a ll.jpg

what you could get for $10:
http://www.kitchensupplydirect.com/DIX-JW74.html

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Scotch-Removable-Magic-1296in/dp/B00006IF61/r ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1241673924&sr=1-1

lets go LCD TV or PS3!

Please take a look at how much Strawz cost at other online stores, say Perpetual Kid: http://www.perpetualkid.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2643& dc=froogle0227

I wouldn’t be sore at all if there was at least a hint that gumball machine prizes were on the list of items considered “worth at least $9.95″.

@Everyone who participated in the Mystery Sale: Thank you! Your participation really goes a long way in supporting the blog.

@Everyone else who didn’t – As outlined in previous updates, I understand that many of you weren’t satisfied with the products you received. I’d like you to know that we take feedbacks very seriously and have invested quite a bit of time and energy in improving the subsequent Mystery Sales.

It is quite impossible to satisfy everyone. I’ve received complaints about the book that O was happy about, and kudos from those who liked the belt. Some of you liked the strawz, whereas others reviled it). But we continue to strive to improve the selections.

The one item I did like (that unfortunately still didn’t make up for the total spent) was a fascinating little fact book that I could enjoy while waiting at the doctor’s, taking the bus, etc. Exactly the sort of thing you’d expect someone that visits Neatorama to enjoy, really. More items like this would be awesome.

Don’t waste your time…