The items were better during the first few years. Recently they’ve been exceptionally bland and repetitive, with everyone getting pretty much the same selection of useless and usually worthless stuff (like acrylic paints) over the course of multiple events. Then so many people complained that they had one or two rounds of good ones, but that still doesn’t change the fact that the average IRK experience lately has been…mediocre, despite prices being raised considerably. All of the recent BOCs I’ve won at woot have been much better value.
I hope that IRKs are improved in these ways:
Better value overall (at least one or two decent, usable items in each).
Individual IRKs should be more unique.
Maybe offer male/female-centric versions by preference.
@ShotgunX nah the male/female thing would never work. Then we’d try to say we don’t want 3x size underwear. So now you have gender and size. And often won’t even include a clothing items. And what color 12-pack of acrylic paint you want. If you want 12 or 144-pack of Trackrs with dead batteries you should individually recycle responsibly. Just give us a plushie, some random socks, and some sort of maybe-functional appliance or electronic device.
@pmarin It doesn’t have to be a slippery slope. But I’ve had boxes that were 90% returned bras, fake eyelashes, and nail polish before. I’d rather gamble on clothing sizes for something that I could theoretically use, instead of getting a box of stuff that I have to dump into the garbage can because literally no one I know wants it.
This problem could also be alleviated by having better variety (which is the second improvement that I suggested). But they seem to oftentimes go with “themes” of sorts, and then a bunch of people get very specifically-gendered boxes that they don’t need whatsoever.
I got a power washer from an irk. Probably the most useful thing I ever purchased on meh, and it wasn’t even intentional. Ive spent the last hour debating today’s deal, the best way to explain my decision is essentially the same as Tom Brady leaving Gisele to play football. On one hand I go out at the top of my game, and never look back, and the other, I get to play football.
Maybe I complain too much. After all - the description is in the name - instant regret kit. I should have learned my lesson on my first one that had a bunch of garbage from the “free” box at someone’s yard sale: used pulp novels targeting women, ear buds that the rubber cord was breaking down and getting all sticky, a porcelain kid’s money bank with no plug in the bottom and other similar junk. The only thing in it that was worthwhile was the bag that essentially advertises that I’m a fool for wasting my money on an irk.
I’ve had some great ones, some poor ones, and some in the middle, but I’ve loved every one of them because of the anticipation. Even the sucky ones make my boring day better. And if it’s a great one? Then it’s made my entire month.
@k4evryng I had one that made me sad because it something I really could have used, one of those seated elliptical pedal things that would have been good for my mother; but it was totally busted and in pieces. Otherwise I’m like you, not expecting anything specific so it’s just fun!
The music that hit when I began saying “this IRK used to be…”
(It’s really my fault for getting that moofi padded mailer and finding a cardboard box with an MP3 player, multiple earbuds, and stickers and thinking lightning could strike twice. It wasn’t even that big of a zap then.)
So mercatalyst tells me I’ve snagged 33 IRKs and 4 Fukos. I can think of three memorable ones right off the bat.
Got a nice used stereo receiver once, already had a full set of speakers and subwoofer to go with it from an old setup, still in use.
Got a working hoverboard in one, probably still works but my daughter lost the charging cable.
Got a standing air purifier unit not too long ago that we use nightly.
Also got a wide assortment of useless junk, trackers, old iphone accessories, dollar store charging blocks, crappy wireless earbuds, face masks, broken, used and abused electronics.
Can’t find the items to justify the spend X and get a rebate IRKs as of late, but I did get a sidedeal one today.
@spinedoc it will take time for them to issue the credits. It is not an instantaneous thing. I think the write up mentioned that you could receive the Irk before you see the refund
@spinedoc Both are charged and then a credit is issued, which may take up to about 2 weeks. This is mentioned somewhere in the text. Each time they do this people get outraged, as apparently you are now. Chill, it will all work out.
I have gotten a few nice things, including one year some years ago toys that I could use as christmas presents for a couple of kids which was really lucky that year as I was in the middle of a financial mess due to medical crap. Because of that I’d say that was the best one ever. I also got a food chopper thing that was new and worked that I was able to sell for $85 along with a couple of other small items. I mostly keep the bags and occasionally something else in there. The rest I try to sell or donate.
On the other hand I got one with 100% broken items, one where it wasn’t taped enough and came empty, and a lot of trash (eg trackers, ancient iphone cases and screen protectors, numerous broken items or things like pads for something I don’t own and fortunately people on here wanted the pads for postage so they got lucky even if I didn’t).
I am not sure if I have broken even over the years or not, but back when it was $5 I was willing to risk that as many times (although not all) I at least got the $5 back selling a few items or saving me money with respect to having to buy a present for someone. Then when the price went up I had to think hard about buying. I mostly didn’t. And, when the number sold at a time went to less than 500 I mostly didn’t get any due to high latency (page wouldn’t load until everything was sold out). But there used to be fun things going on on here for a while where it was worth coming here even knowing the odds of getting one was nil.
They used to be fun, cheap and worthwhile enough to take a chance on.
Fun-they used to customize them-I got 4 that were tailored exclusively for me (the one full of all types of balls was the best when I made the comment that about needing the IRK like I needed a third testicle).
Fun-trying to snag one when they popped up was fun and always a challenge.
Cheap-$ 5 but now you are forced to buy as much as $100 worth of stuff you really don’ need (although searching through side deal today brought back memories of IRK’s past-Keep it up)
Worthwhile-can’t even remember the last time someone got something that was new (not something new in a damaged box that couldn’t be resold). The new X box series X that I got couple of years ago was new unregistered and one of a kind.
In my experience of an admittedly small sample size of two the irk is basically someone else’s trash that I have to dispose of. Pass
Got a coffee + espresso machine, Mjollnir, a great jacket, and a bra too small for my wife. That last one was hard to explain.
@hchavers Seems simple enough:
Her cup runneth over.
@hchavers “Mjollnir”?
useless. the one thing that was better from woot
The items were better during the first few years. Recently they’ve been exceptionally bland and repetitive, with everyone getting pretty much the same selection of useless and usually worthless stuff (like acrylic paints) over the course of multiple events. Then so many people complained that they had one or two rounds of good ones, but that still doesn’t change the fact that the average IRK experience lately has been…mediocre, despite prices being raised considerably. All of the recent BOCs I’ve won at woot have been much better value.
I hope that IRKs are improved in these ways:
@ShotgunX nah the male/female thing would never work. Then we’d try to say we don’t want 3x size underwear. So now you have gender and size. And often won’t even include a clothing items. And what color 12-pack of acrylic paint you want. If you want 12 or 144-pack of Trackrs with dead batteries you should individually recycle responsibly. Just give us a plushie, some random socks, and some sort of maybe-functional appliance or electronic device.
@pmarin It doesn’t have to be a slippery slope. But I’ve had boxes that were 90% returned bras, fake eyelashes, and nail polish before. I’d rather gamble on clothing sizes for something that I could theoretically use, instead of getting a box of stuff that I have to dump into the garbage can because literally no one I know wants it.
This problem could also be alleviated by having better variety (which is the second improvement that I suggested). But they seem to oftentimes go with “themes” of sorts, and then a bunch of people get very specifically-gendered boxes that they don’t need whatsoever.
I got a power washer from an irk. Probably the most useful thing I ever purchased on meh, and it wasn’t even intentional. Ive spent the last hour debating today’s deal, the best way to explain my decision is essentially the same as Tom Brady leaving Gisele to play football. On one hand I go out at the top of my game, and never look back, and the other, I get to play football.
Maybe I complain too much. After all - the description is in the name - instant regret kit. I should have learned my lesson on my first one that had a bunch of garbage from the “free” box at someone’s yard sale: used pulp novels targeting women, ear buds that the rubber cord was breaking down and getting all sticky, a porcelain kid’s money bank with no plug in the bottom and other similar junk. The only thing in it that was worthwhile was the bag that essentially advertises that I’m a fool for wasting my money on an irk.
@tweezak people in a store once said my IRK bag was really cool, not realizing the celebration and ultimate disappointment that came packed in it.
Is worth it for the anticipation and entertainment value and occasional great surprise
!
@Kyeh YES!! That’s my philosophy as well.
I’ve had some great ones, some poor ones, and some in the middle, but I’ve loved every one of them because of the anticipation. Even the sucky ones make my boring day better.
And if it’s a great one? Then it’s made my entire month.
I guess I’m easy to please.
@k4evryng I had one that made me sad because it something I really could have used, one of those seated elliptical pedal things that would have been good for my mother; but it was totally busted and in pieces. Otherwise I’m like you, not expecting anything specific so it’s just fun!
The music that hit when I began saying “this IRK used to be…”
(It’s really my fault for getting that moofi padded mailer and finding a cardboard box with an MP3 player, multiple earbuds, and stickers and thinking lightning could strike twice. It wasn’t even that big of a zap then.)
I got a single bag of crap from Woot pre-takeover and it was hilarious. Haven’t ever picked up an IRK
So mercatalyst tells me I’ve snagged 33 IRKs and 4 Fukos. I can think of three memorable ones right off the bat.
Got a nice used stereo receiver once, already had a full set of speakers and subwoofer to go with it from an old setup, still in use.
Got a working hoverboard in one, probably still works but my daughter lost the charging cable.
Got a standing air purifier unit not too long ago that we use nightly.
Also got a wide assortment of useless junk, trackers, old iphone accessories, dollar store charging blocks, crappy wireless earbuds, face masks, broken, used and abused electronics.
Can’t find the items to justify the spend X and get a rebate IRKs as of late, but I did get a sidedeal one today.
They charged my credit card for both the IRK and the side deal. Just want to cancel everything at this point.
@spinedoc it will take time for them to issue the credits. It is not an instantaneous thing. I think the write up mentioned that you could receive the Irk before you see the refund
@spinedoc Both are charged and then a credit is issued, which may take up to about 2 weeks. This is mentioned somewhere in the text. Each time they do this people get outraged, as apparently you are now. Chill, it will all work out.
I have gotten a few nice things, including one year some years ago toys that I could use as christmas presents for a couple of kids which was really lucky that year as I was in the middle of a financial mess due to medical crap. Because of that I’d say that was the best one ever. I also got a food chopper thing that was new and worked that I was able to sell for $85 along with a couple of other small items. I mostly keep the bags and occasionally something else in there. The rest I try to sell or donate.
On the other hand I got one with 100% broken items, one where it wasn’t taped enough and came empty, and a lot of trash (eg trackers, ancient iphone cases and screen protectors, numerous broken items or things like pads for something I don’t own and fortunately people on here wanted the pads for postage so they got lucky even if I didn’t).
I am not sure if I have broken even over the years or not, but back when it was $5 I was willing to risk that as many times (although not all) I at least got the $5 back selling a few items or saving me money with respect to having to buy a present for someone. Then when the price went up I had to think hard about buying. I mostly didn’t. And, when the number sold at a time went to less than 500 I mostly didn’t get any due to high latency (page wouldn’t load until everything was sold out). But there used to be fun things going on on here for a while where it was worth coming here even knowing the odds of getting one was nil.
They used to be fun, cheap and worthwhile enough to take a chance on.
Fun-they used to customize them-I got 4 that were tailored exclusively for me (the one full of all types of balls was the best when I made the comment that about needing the IRK like I needed a third testicle).
Fun-trying to snag one when they popped up was fun and always a challenge.
Cheap-$ 5 but now you are forced to buy as much as $100 worth of stuff you really don’ need (although searching through side deal today brought back memories of IRK’s past-Keep it up)
Worthwhile-can’t even remember the last time someone got something that was new (not something new in a damaged box that couldn’t be resold). The new X box series X that I got couple of years ago was new unregistered and one of a kind.
How things have changed and not for the better.
I would say Irks break down as:
1/5 are Utter crap.
1/5 arepretty good
3/5 you get more than your money’s worth… Just not on anything you’d probably buy if it weren’t in an irk.
Was it possible to get multiple irks today? Just stick around all day clicking the 13.37 ones and then splurging on the Meh one?
Anymore 13.37 ones?