@capguncowboy Agreed! I visit Woot maybe a handful of times a year and mostly because it was an error or wrong link I clicked, and I always leave in disappointment.
@capguncowboy ... Don't blame Amazon alone.. Any corporate entity would have done the same.. Blame our over-rated capitalist society and the toads who control it.
@txag96 ... Well, I don't know how to take what you just said but I feel a bit proud being associated with Bernie Sanders rather than wealthy corporate CEO snobs who wouldn't give you the time of day.
@capguncowboy Amazon did change woot a lot. But Woot thrived right at the beginning of the recession when there was overstock they could resell. That wouldn't have lasted forever.
No I think they're planning on scooping up a buncha smaller younger companies and they wanna crowd source some suggestions. I recommend this little place you mighta heard of called Walmart. They're in the same game of unloading junk for cheap and I heard they had to close some stores recently so you may be able to pick em up at a good price.
@nogoodwithnames ... But here's the hypocrisy.. As a continuation of this 'notice' they also said (after the closing of some) that others would be opened.. It's one of those tactical decisions that no one can understand but upper management and their so-called efficiency experts.. If they're not bringing in a thousand percent profit, dump it and find another location that will.
@unkabob most of their stores pull in around 3% profit. Target profit for the investors is over 1.5% and at least half is rolled back into the company. The only reason they make so much money is that it's 3% of billions of dollars. Not because the profit margin is so high.
I thought #4 was most righteous, "For the owners, sure, but not usually for the customers" then I realized they left out the most important factor.. The employees. Once a big company takes over they immediately replace the staff, at least that's what happened to the small printing company i once worked for and we had been considered profit producing employees. My take on it is when a big corporation buys out a small company it's for competition elimination purposes where Mom and Pop are forced to retire with a marginal lump sum profit or refuse and go bankrupt.
@unkabob Agreed. From my recent experience, it can be good for management at the big company, but not so much for the employees at the small company that gets acquired. Excellence by acquisition, I like to call it.
@ceagee ... I've never really experienced any small consulting or investment firms (as I rank them along side hedge funds).. You must be a New Yorker (that wasn't an insult).
Every time I've been in a merger (five times!!!), both at the acquiring company and at the acquired, it's been a very bad thing for employees and customers. Integrating two different sets of workplace customs is much more difficult than people realize. The only company that used to have acquisitions down to an art was Cisco. Usually mergers and acquisitions lead to layoffs, to a perceived decline in customer service, and to good people at both companies leaving for greener pastures before they can get sheared.
P.S. It also leads to at least six months of paralysis while senior management at both companies talk at each other and decide who loses power and what happens to areas of overlap.
Dear @snapster; please tell me that this question was just a nonchalant effort at amusement, and not a prediction of things to come. Don't make me cry.
Your occasional friend, and constant amusement, Shrdlu.
Should we watch out for one of those goofy "thanks for being a part of our journey" letters that startups always write when they get acquired? You know, the ones that go like this:
Dear Meh users. It's been an awesome couple of years. We've really taken the concept of a deal-a-day site to heights we'd never thought possible. Now we're excited to announce the next step. We're joining the great folks at Tricon Global. Effective immediately, we're sunsetting the meh.com site and all "mediocre" branding. All your personal data will be transferred to our new owners and will be governed by their privacy policy. We couldn't have done it without your help. Thanks for being part of our incredible journey.
@narfcake ... But then, after reading such depressing news, how amusing would that be except for management? DAMN! Now I'm starting to get bad vibes.. We need to express meh trust and leave rumors and innuendos to politicians.
You screwed up Woot, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't do it to Meh. My VMP will be cancelled and my presence will rival crickets around these parts if you sell!
Awesome! I've been trying to figure out how to break this bad habit of buying crap at 12:01 am and now it looks like you are going to break it for me! :p
So, as a member of ArchiveTeam, this has not been a good 2016 so far- lots of sites failing, going out of business, or discontinuing things (like Gametrailers.com just suddenly going out of business). It's a very bad thing because literally no one ever handles shutdowns in a proper manner (give the users ample notice, and have a working export function so users can retrieve their life from your site).
Please, please don't go under, and definitely don't tell us it's going to be okay if you do. Please don't have a message even slightly resembling @awk's post above.
I think this could be a good thing for Meh. Move the distribution channel to Amazon's centers, become part of PRIME, which is really what VMP is but a longer wait time, access to some of the largest purchasing power available, let customers speak to real people over issues through chat, phone and email, better return policy and servers that can handle the load.
Just don't deviate from 1 sale per day and demand they stay the hell away from the web site development and the forums.
But usually, the big company will want to "cut costs", or it's not worth their while.
That money has to come out of somewhere, so unless the small company routinely set money on fire for fun, there's no real way to "cut costs" without screwing either the employees or the customers, or sometimes both.
now then, very much depends on how the big company handles it which in turn is very much dependent upon what industry we're talking about. it also depends on the size of the small company - if you only have a dozen employees, they're probably all safe.
Having been "spun off" twice and bought out twice, my experience has not been very good. New management comes in with no idea how the company got to where it was, replaces the idealism and driving force with monetary goals and ends up losing sight of what made the company what it was.
Don't worry they aren't selling to Amazon. Meh is selling to Jet!..... Who will turn around and make it as confusing as fuck and a torture to shop here.
suc·cess noun the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.
"Is it a "success" when a small, young company gets acquired by a bigger one?"
If the goal or aim of the company was to be acquired (IE Golden Road Brewery) then yes, that would follow. If their goal was not to be acquired and they were acquired anyway bankruptcy,illegal strong-armed takeover, etc. then no, that is not success.
@Shrdlu don't worry, we can't sell until we secure our next URL and I can't seem to get ahold of the bleh.com guys.
@snapster said 36 minutes ago [see above]
The domain is for sale at Sedo for $10k - we're all just a domain name acquisition away from our collective doom.
From the time I was with Amazon, I saw them gobble up several companies. I have also worked for small/medium companies that were bought out by large ones. The smaller person seems excited because it gives them more opportunities and stability. It's also a little strange for them, handing over the reins and not being the top person anymore. Then they are changed and aligned with the Amazon way, sometimes dismantled and core pieces folded into the company. The lucky ones boosted and funded because the serve a specific function (i.e. Kiva Systems). What I learned was, Amazon likes shortcuts with business development. See a small company that might have a very interesting product/model and buy them up. It's very mechanical, like some automated corporate system.
@The_Baron Same with eBay. Bought and dismantled several small companies. It starts out cool to say you work for eBay, but goes downhill quickly from there. Many lives impacted to fund the golden parachutes of people who made bad business decisions.
I knew Amazon was going to destroy Woot the minute I got that email. I was a member there since 2008 and bought hundreds of items. Once Amazon bought them, the prices went way up... They even started selling women's panties using photo-shopped models... I only came back for the TShirts after a while... then I just unsubscribed and faded away.
Found Meh only a week or so ago... DaringFireball did a story on it. Super excited about it. Don't sell it :)
I think all you conspiracy theorists have it totally wrong. The higher ups are just planning a hostile takeover of American Lighting, Inc. before the end of the fiscal quarter. Clearly controlling the "IMAP Policy" is the first step toward building the most mediocre empire ever.
It depends on whether the bigger company is looking to further the smaller one or kill it to reduce competitive pressures in the marketplace. Also could be considered a success if the smaller is losing it's shirt and manages to dump their problems on someone else.
If a small company is being acquired by big company then it will be beneficial for its employees monetarily as well as psychologically. And it is also good for its reputation. The name and fame which it failed to get earlier, will now be possible for it by working with the big company.
Is there a not-so-subtle hint in there somewhere? Amazon's buying you again?
-- let me guess, sellout.meh.com is coming next?
@WaltC Noooooo!!! Oh god....no.
@WaltC Amehzon? Noooo!
@Omehgawd
@WaltC I believe sellout woot came as a result of a partnership with yahoo at some point...
Yes. I'm still pretty torqued after the whole Woot thing.
You're not about to sell meh to Amazon now, are you, @snapster?
I don't think I like this question.
@Barney agreed :(
@stardate820926
@Barney https://meh.com/forum/topics/nobody-panic
This is a loaded question, just enough to piss off all the woot haters in the house. Which means changes are probably coming.
I lost a lot respect for Amazon when they bought Woot, then made it awesome*
*and by awesome, I mean made it really fucking shitty
Surely, there wouldn't be a round 2.
Right?
Guys?
@capguncowboy Agreed! I visit Woot maybe a handful of times a year and mostly because it was an error or wrong link I clicked, and I always leave in disappointment.
@capguncowboy ... Don't blame Amazon alone.. Any corporate entity would have done the same.. Blame our over-rated capitalist society and the toads who control it.
@unkabob Bernie, is that you? Congrats on New Hampshire, bro.
@txag96 ... Well, I don't know how to take what you just said but I feel a bit proud being associated with Bernie Sanders rather than wealthy corporate CEO snobs who wouldn't give you the time of day.
@capguncowboy Amazon did change woot a lot. But Woot thrived right at the beginning of the recession when there was overstock they could resell. That wouldn't have lasted forever.
Woot would have changed anyways.
No I think they're planning on scooping up a buncha smaller younger companies and they wanna crowd source some suggestions. I recommend this little place you mighta heard of called Walmart. They're in the same game of unloading junk for cheap and I heard they had to close some stores recently so you may be able to pick em up at a good price.
@nogoodwithnames ... But here's the hypocrisy.. As a continuation of this 'notice' they also said (after the closing of some) that others would be opened.. It's one of those tactical decisions that no one can understand but upper management and their so-called efficiency experts.. If they're not bringing in a thousand percent profit, dump it and find another location that will.
@unkabob most of their stores pull in around 3% profit. Target profit for the investors is over 1.5% and at least half is rolled back into the company. The only reason they make so much money is that it's 3% of billions of dollars. Not because the profit margin is so high.
I thought #4 was most righteous, "For the owners, sure, but not usually for the customers" then I realized they left out the most important factor.. The employees. Once a big company takes over they immediately replace the staff, at least that's what happened to the small printing company i once worked for and we had been considered profit producing employees. My take on it is when a big corporation buys out a small company it's for competition elimination purposes where Mom and Pop are forced to retire with a marginal lump sum profit or refuse and go bankrupt.
@unkabob Agreed. From my recent experience, it can be good for management at the big company, but not so much for the employees at the small company that gets acquired. Excellence by acquisition, I like to call it.
@unkabob Well said. Came here to say something like this but you did it better.
@unkabob Unless it's a consulting or investment firm or something like that where the employees brains are the company.
@tsfisch ... I usually just joke around on the meh forum but this question gave me bad memories I was trying to forget..
@ceagee ... I've never really experienced any small consulting or investment firms (as I rank them along side hedge funds).. You must be a New Yorker (that wasn't an insult).
@heartny ... Sometimes capitalistically referred to as hostile takeover.
Every time I've been in a merger (five times!!!), both at the acquiring company and at the acquired, it's been a very bad thing for employees and customers. Integrating two different sets of workplace customs is much more difficult than people realize. The only company that used to have acquisitions down to an art was Cisco. Usually mergers and acquisitions lead to layoffs, to a perceived decline in customer service, and to good people at both companies leaving for greener pastures before they can get sheared.
P.S. It also leads to at least six months of paralysis while senior management at both companies talk at each other and decide who loses power and what happens to areas of overlap.
@madamehardy ... Then in the end, what was once a good product finds it's way to become another corner cutting generic as quantity replaces quality.
Dear @snapster; please tell me that this question was just a nonchalant effort at amusement, and not a prediction of things to come. Don't make me cry.
Your occasional friend, and constant amusement, Shrdlu.
@Shrdlu don't worry, we can't sell until we secure our next URL and I can't seem to get ahold of the bleh.com guys.
Should we watch out for one of those goofy "thanks for being a part of our journey" letters that startups always write when they get acquired? You know, the ones that go like this:
@awk Yeah, but this is meh. Any news would be via a singing sock puppet.
@narfcake ... But then, after reading such depressing news, how amusing would that be except for management? DAMN! Now I'm starting to get bad vibes.. We need to express meh trust and leave rumors and innuendos to politicians.
@awk That makes me break out in a cold sweat reading that.
Whatever you do, take the money. Or don't. I don't remember.
@jmoor783 (April 24 can't get here soon enough).
You screwed up Woot, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't do it to Meh. My VMP will be cancelled and my presence will rival crickets around these parts if you sell!
@MrsPavlov I love this clip!!! Please come panic with us below.
https://meh.com/forum/topics/nobody-panic
Awesome! I've been trying to figure out how to break this bad habit of buying crap at 12:01 am and now it looks like you are going to break it for me! :p
Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Too early for an April Fool's Day joke or is this part of some elaborate long con?
So, as a member of ArchiveTeam, this has not been a good 2016 so far- lots of sites failing, going out of business, or discontinuing things (like Gametrailers.com just suddenly going out of business).
It's a very bad thing because literally no one ever handles shutdowns in a proper manner (give the users ample notice, and have a working export function so users can retrieve their life from your site).
Here's a great talk on the topic:
Jason Scott - The House is on Fire, the Fire Trucks are on Fire, The Fire is on Fire
(Skip to 15:50 or so to get to the actual talk).
Please, please don't go under, and definitely don't tell us it's going to be okay if you do. Please don't have a message even slightly resembling @awk's post above.
I love Jason Scott. He's a fine human being, and the world is better for him being here. That is all.
I think this could be a good thing for Meh. Move the distribution channel to Amazon's centers, become part of PRIME, which is really what VMP is but a longer wait time, access to some of the largest purchasing power available, let customers speak to real people over issues through chat, phone and email, better return policy and servers that can handle the load.
Just don't deviate from 1 sale per day and demand they stay the hell away from the web site development and the forums.
you guys have trust issues
@Lotsofgoats Yep.
Once bitten, twice shy.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.
There's a sucker born every minute.
@Barney
@connorbush
Awesome for the owners of the small company.
But usually, the big company will want to "cut costs", or it's not worth their while.
That money has to come out of somewhere, so unless the small company routinely set money on fire for fun, there's no real way to "cut costs" without screwing either the employees or the customers, or sometimes both.
now then, very much depends on how the big company handles it which in turn is very much dependent upon what industry we're talking about. it also depends on the size of the small company - if you only have a dozen employees, they're probably all safe.
Having been "spun off" twice and bought out twice, my experience has not been very good. New management comes in with no idea how the company got to where it was, replaces the idealism and driving force with monetary goals and ends up losing sight of what made the company what it was.
Don't worry they aren't selling to Amazon. Meh is selling to Jet!..... Who will turn around and make it as confusing as fuck and a torture to shop here.
@MrMark I for one welcome our new alibaba overlords
@Lotsofgoats Yurbuds ANDROID IPHONE IOS SAMSUNG OVER THE EAR EAR BUDS NOISE CANCELLING 2.5mm" 3.5mm" CORNDOGS 2016 newest model
@Chops I'm in at corndogs
I stop buying any beer once it's been swallowed by ABInBev or the other one. Even beers I really liked like Goose.
suc·cess
noun
the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.
"Is it a "success" when a small, young company gets acquired by a bigger one?"
If the goal or aim of the company was to be acquired (IE Golden Road Brewery) then yes, that would follow. If their goal was not to be acquired and they were acquired anyway bankruptcy,illegal strong-armed takeover, etc. then no, that is not success.
Depends on what your initial goals are.
But if you're a small young company and you have a profit, that is a success on its own.
No staff has come to calm us down???
@conandlibrarian
https://meh.com/forum/topics/nobody-panic
@conandlibrarian
The domain is for sale at Sedo for $10k - we're all just a domain name acquisition away from our collective doom.
PANIC!!!!!
From the time I was with Amazon, I saw them gobble up several companies. I have also worked for small/medium companies that were bought out by large ones.
The smaller person seems excited because it gives them more opportunities and stability. It's also a little strange for them, handing over the reins and not being the top person anymore.
Then they are changed and aligned with the Amazon way, sometimes dismantled and core pieces folded into the company. The lucky ones boosted and funded because the serve a specific function (i.e. Kiva Systems).
What I learned was, Amazon likes shortcuts with business development. See a small company that might have a very interesting product/model and buy them up. It's very mechanical, like some automated corporate system.
@The_Baron Same with eBay. Bought and dismantled several small companies. It starts out cool to say you work for eBay, but goes downhill quickly from there. Many lives impacted to fund the golden parachutes of people who made bad business decisions.
i was looking through old emails and found the one that woot sent to announce their acquisition. link in the email to the letter:
http://www.woot.com/blog/post/amazon-woot-and-you-but-mostly-woot
@carl669
@carl669 - Fascinating re-read, 6 yrs down the road. The best intentions are subject to thermonuclear annihilation.
Oh, and sadly prognostic photo linked in that letter
More importantly, were the owners of the small company provided with Prime for life? Jeff? Jeff Bezos? Are you reading this?
I knew Amazon was going to destroy Woot the minute I got that email. I was a member there since 2008 and bought hundreds of items. Once Amazon bought them, the prices went way up... They even started selling women's panties using photo-shopped models... I only came back for the TShirts after a while... then I just unsubscribed and faded away.
Found Meh only a week or so ago... DaringFireball did a story on it. Super excited about it. Don't sell it :)
@us Welcome to Meh. Happy you found us.
I think all you conspiracy theorists have it totally wrong. The higher ups are just planning a hostile takeover of American Lighting, Inc. before the end of the fiscal quarter. Clearly controlling the "IMAP Policy" is the first step toward building the most mediocre empire ever.
It depends on whether the bigger company is looking to further the smaller one or kill it to reduce competitive pressures in the marketplace. Also could be considered a success if the smaller is losing it's shirt and manages to dump their problems on someone else.
If a small company is being acquired by big company then it will be beneficial for its employees monetarily as well as psychologically. And it is also good for its reputation. The name and fame which it failed to get earlier, will now be possible for it by working with the big company.