Fuku FAQ?
7After somehow scoring my second fuku, and loving the experience, I'm sort of addicted as some of you others may be (especially when you miss one, you ever get that depressed feeling of knowing it may be months until you get a shot again?)
That said I couldn't help but wonder if there was a master thread anywhere of people discussing all they know/learned about the fuku process over the last year and change.
I'll put down what I'm curious about, with my guess at an answer, but if anyone knows more, let me know?
Does being VMP give you a better shot at scoring a fuku?
- I can't assume it should, though perhaps one less step on shipping prompt at checkout would help? I have been VMP the last 2 times fuku hit at midnight and scored.
Does being on a desktop computer over a mobile device (phone or tablet) give you a better shot (less captcha)?
- My guess here is that it doesn't matter, last time I was on my ipad, and on my desktop the time before that.
Does ordering frequently or recently give you a better shot?
- Maybe, because I think captchas are less likely to appear for frequent buys from IP ranges?
Does being logged in help?
- Almost certainly yes.
Does being closer to Texas help your chances on a larger score?
- I would think no, though you never know if any sort of bias in shipping occurs here.
Is the assignment of content to order numbers totally random, or is there some sort of thought put in?
- I believe this to be totally random, which may also answer #5 above.
Are long time meh members or those who never had a fuku (or received a super meh fuku) favored with better content in any way if they get an order in?
- I would guess that this is absolutely no and the shipping process is still 100% random.
How is it decided which fukus get a note, and how many notes are sent out in each fuku round?
- No idea.
Is there a minimum timeframe we can expect between fuku offerings or could it literally be 2 in a row?
- I imagine for various reasons there is a stretch between them, inventory, etc.
Is every fuku supposed to get a bag and do they sometimes just get missed, or is the omission deliberate?
- I am guessing they try and put a bag into every box but on oversell situations or sometimes just mistakes the famous red bag gets overlooked.
Meh, thanks for bringing the fun back to the $5 bag!
- 13 comments, 49 replies
- Comment
Humble brag...I've got every Fuku/o offered and can offer but one bit of insight.
There is no true process. Developing an intricate plan for the fukubukuro would go against all that we know of Meh. Anyone who feels there is a secret underlying process is wrong. Boxes are all pre-packed without labels. They go down the line, get a randomly assigned label and out it goes. Some get "lucky" most dont. Enjoy the ride and thrill of the chase because that's all one should really look forward to.
@studerc Me too!
@studerc I got all but the one where they proccessed for over an hour or something
Referring to #2: I was able to get my first 2 on my cell phone (Connected to home wifi) prior to my laptop loading. I had assumed it had something to do with a "light" mobile site vs the normal site. After that, laptop started loading faster.
I missed one fuku. Ironically it occurred while I was goat. I think it was @MEHcus' fault, but I'm willing to share that blame with @JonT. Anyway, I've gotten all of the others on my shitty little iPhone 5s. At least one of those (maybe two) was on cellular.
I'm 4 for 4 (attempted). Every one on an Android tablet. I don't know for certain, but have to believe, there is no preferential treatment of any kind when it comes to obtaining a Fuku. Team Meh is way to cool for that.
Here are some answers from a guy that knows a thing or two:
1. Does being VMP give you a better shot at scoring a fuku?
- Not even a little bit
2. Does being on a desktop computer over a mobile device (phone or tablet) give you a better shot (less captcha)?
- It depends more so on the speed of your device than the type of device you are on.
3. Does ordering frequently or recently give you a better shot?
- Nope
4. Does being logged in help?
- You can't order anything from us without being logged in, this one is a definitive yes.
5. Does being closer to Texas help your chances on a larger score?
- Nope, the fuku's are completely random and we pay no attention to what label goes on what size box or based on what is inside of the box.
6. Is the assignment of content to order numbers totally random, or is there some sort of thought put in?
- Completely random
7. Are long time meh members or those who never had a fuku (or received a super meh fuku) favored with better content in any way if they get an order in?
- See numbers 5 and 6 above.
8. How is it decided which fukus get a note, and how many notes are sent out in each fuku round?
- See numbers 5, 6, and 7 above. There isn't a set number of notes that go out in every round and, in fact, some rounds haven't had any notes at all. Just depends on what we have planned for that specific round.
9. Is there a minimum timeframe we can expect between fuku offerings or could it literally be 2 in a row?
- No set time. Basically we offer them up whenever we feel like it.
10. Is every fuku supposed to get a bag and do they sometimes just get missed, or is the omission deliberate?
- Every fuku should definitely have a bag. But human error can occur so some make it out the door without one but we'll always do our best to make sure that every fuku gets a bag.
@MEHcus #5 -- I'm assuming there's some bias towards geography? More assumptively, if your datacenter is in Texas, it's possible that folks in that region have less latency as a result.
Or is your platform more geographically diverse?
10 -- I didn't get a bag last round. Poop.
@MEHcus Who do I complain to about missing the last one? I feel this was totally unacceptable. It doesn't matter that I was out of town and sound asleep, I should have received a polite phone call or something from someone. It's just not cool. Not cool at all. I DEMAND SATISFACTION, SIR!
@Bingo
@ACraigL Nope, it really doesn't matter. The production line for these isn't set up in a way that favors one region over another. A box comes down the line and has the next label in the stack slapped on no matter where it is headed or what that box contains.
@MEHcus I think they're asking more if geographical location (TX?) means they're more likely to get an order though faster than say, someone in NY - due to the distance data has to travel.
@MEHcus I'm just pleased that you kids know some good music.
I think you've earned a medal for that.
@Thumperchick Oh, I see. No. Just look at the map from Fuku day. There are more orders based in Cali and the north east is littered with just as many as Texas.
@Thumperchick Thanks for clarifying.
@MEHcus I'd argue this make a case for geographical bias. It reasons that highly populated areas would light up (i.e. cali and new york), but those also have highly developed infrastructures and better bandwidth making it (a little) more likely to get through, faster.
However, the fact that Texas is so present in this map suggests to me Mr. Big State has more geographical opportunity that it's surrounding neighbors (most of the country).
Of course all of this may be moot if Meh servers randomly reject or ignore requests on a whim.
@ACraigL I think this is overthinking it a bit. When there are only a few hundred of these things to go around, it makes sense that the more heavily populated areas would be lit up as it's more likely that there were more potential buyers in those areas than in others. Bottom line is that our servers are not built to decline people trying to make a purchase from Montana over someone in Texas. There simply aren't as many suitors in Montana.
@ACraigL I would think that a higher percentage of residents in Texas know about Meh compared to other states (since they are based in Texas). So I would expect Texas to be lit up more on Fukus...as well as normal orders.
@MEHcus Thanks! I've never been accused of OVER thinking before.
@Bingo Don't get down on @mehcus. It's obviously the goat @christinewas 's fault. Please put the blame where it belongs. ( You are welcome goat. Always happy to make sure people invoke you when appropriate. )
@ceagee meh. I wasn't goat yet and I haven't been blamed by the disappointed party (or the disappointing party). I'll take a pass on this one.
I agree with @MrMark's thoughts about the state of Texas being generally more aware of the site. After all, I ended up here because of a Texan who knew about it because of things that wouldn't have happened if they hadn't been in Texas. (OMG, Texas did something good!)
@christinewas Well then it's clearly your fault you weren't the goat then.
@MEHcus I like to believe that you personalize the fukus a little bit, and make mine extra mediocre <3
I remember back September last year. I clicked on Meh right at midnight and it said, "Fukubukuro 2" and I read the description, got confused and googled Fukubukuro. By then (12:06), I noticed around 300 had already sold. Confused as I wasn't sure what it was, I immediately purchased it not knowing exactly what I would get. Those were the days when it took over an hour to sell out.
Since then, I've been able to get them all with the exception of the Fuku crash one (but not for lack of trying).
I can definitely attest to the randomness of the Fukus. I've had some that were very meh (July 2015--a fan and broken keyboard/November 2014--Turtle beach headphones) to some that were not meh at all (September 2014--Sony speaker dock/October 2015--Gopro).
@densa I still use that Sony speaker dock, even though it has a mediocre unused lightning connector. It actually doesn't sound half bad.
I want to know how does the inventory fulfillment happen? Do you walk through the warehouse and say, one of these, and one of these? (wand in hand, scanning as you go?) Or are there piles of boxes that are remnants or bundled crap with abc product that are slated to go to fukus and never taken into inventory? The value on some of these assets has to be pretty low and to actually pay someone to inventory, broken vcrs, etc., doesn't seem cost effective.
This may not belong in the FAQ page though.
@mikibell When fuku is approaching we tend to take the trash out to the dumpster a few less times.
@Pavlov There's something (at least potentially) horribly annoying about this woman's voice and something potentially inane about the song, but from the first time I heard it in the opening credits of the current season of Leftovers, I've been falling deeper and deeper in love with it every time I hear it. It gives me the super happies now and I even find it quite profound.
Funny how big a difference context and visuals make.
@Pavlov
@joelmw It's funny how beautiful and sweet this is while at the same time being ominous and extremely creepy--and sad.
@joelmw Iris was also featured singing "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" at the conclusion of True Grit (2010).
Carter Burwell built the entire score for the film around hymns, "Protestant hymns certainly - Presbyterian most likely" was his goal. Variations on the theme of the hymn may be heard throughout the entire score.
See: http://www.carterburwell.com/projects/True_Grit.shtml for an interesing read.
My favorite song by far, in which Iris is featured is a duet with John Prine (which I'm fairly certain you and many others here at Meh will thoroughly enjoy - the song begins at about 1:30 if you're not interested in the backstory):
@Pavlov this song. this song... is incredible. Thank you.
@joelmw The relationship between the visual elements of a film and the musical score is the main theme of one of the mini-courses I occasionally teach - here's a Youtube video I use to illustrate one point prior to discussion / dissection of the topic over several classroom weeks:
@Pavlov just love this song. Thanks!
@joelmw Agreed. This song is like nails on a chalkboard.
I can see the potential in it to be non-annoying; but as it stands I'm kinda growling at you for enticing me to listen to it. Boo. :(
Yes, you have that much power.
I'm thinking if they reworked it so it was Alanis singing in her more rocker-Canadian-yodel-ey voice rather than this piercing country-yodel-ey voice then it might actually be a listen-able tune.
And more cowbell.
@Pavlov That Prine song ended up in my Tom Waits Pandora station somehow. I let it stay, I really dig it. That first one though, just grates on my nerves. I WANT to like it, because there's a certain charm there. But I do not.
@Pavlov Speaking of which, and (in my mind at least) related to Dement, Lera Lynn is maybe the best (and most consistently good) part of True Detectives, season two.
@Pavlov Another of my favorites.
@Pavlov What strikes me about the three is that each expresses a certain sadness, but enduring beauty and charm and somehow-hopeful mystery in the human condition. It's like, "Damn, that sucks and I will most-fucking-definitely (over)drink to that. But I still like us, goddamnit, not just in spite of but because of all of that bullshit." At least that's how it plays in my head. And there's a wisdom in a woman singing all folksy with a guitar that gets that better than anything else.
@pepsiwine Awww, you think I have power. You're sweet. I'll take it. :-)
I have to ask the real question - was the fucked up tape job in fuku #6 a thing to look forward to in the future, or just an accident that happened to a lucky few?
@uwacn we mostly sent those to the people that we figured would whine the most.
@MEHcus Burn!
Re #8. If you get one note, is it still possible to get another one sometime? Or is there a red flag somewhere that says no note for this person? Just asking for a friend. LOL
@pooflady Yes.
@pooflady ......like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld???.....
"No note for you!"
"Come back - ONE year!"
Yeah, so just who is the Note Nazi there at Meh?
Inquiring Minds want to know. ;)
@pooflady @djslack @pepsiwine don't worry about it.
I think that's right. Sometimes it's best to let the mystery be a mystery. I saw a street magician last night and it was definitely less enjoyable just watching for moves than being mystified by his effect. Still enjoyable, but less amazing.
@djslack
There's a pretty good book focused on this particular subject
Seriously though I think it all pretty much boils down to luck and speed.. and like @jont said awhile back (I think?), now that the servers seem to be running without many hiccups, it sells out pretty much immediately.
@Chops This seems like something I need to read as it incapsulates my life.
Is overselling Fuku's still an issue ?
@awk yes and no. We typically go in to it with a set number in mind but understand that the servers can't keep up just yet so we plan for an oversell. As such, the entire 'problem' with the oversell is somewhat none existent.
(@MEHcus)
I was excited when I scored a Roomba in my Fuku (considering that a lot of the people who have gotten more Fukus have not necessarily scored big items), but I was disappointed when I didn't get a Meh bag :(
My logic: A Meh bag I could carry around with me wherever I want, but I'm less likely to bring my Roomba with me wherever I go.
@FroodyFrog tell you what, send me your roomba and ill send you a fuku bag.
@FroodyFrog You can shoot us a message at meh.com/support to request a bag.
@studerc
Tempting offer. I'll think abo... No thanks.
@FroodyFrog Damn, really thought we had a good thing going there....damn @MEHcus had to pop in and offer one for free. Never gonna catch a break.
@studerc Actually, i think @MEHcus wants my sole. I don't mind, I've been meaning to get a new pair of shoes.
@FroodyFrog It's true. I want all the soles.
@FroodyFrog You're right. @MEHcus is a sucker for shoes.
Q#5. Does being closer to Texas help your chances on a larger score?
Perhaps not with getting a fuku, but being closer to Texas might help or hurt other spiritual and philosophical quests.
(Can i get a dedicated line into Meh offices? Not crossing any state lines?)