Somethingstore is an online store that sends customers a surprise item worth around $10 USD. Customers cannot return the item, but can give it to someone else. The store was created by Sami Bay in 2007 and offers a mix of high and moderate value items. Shipping is free in the US and costs around $5-9 USD elsewhere.
It can be fun to get an unfamiliar package delivered. “What could it be,” you might ask yourself before tearing open the package to reveal the contents. Maybe you’ll get an item you really love, or one you’re not so fond of. Ultimately, though, we must be able to identify with the excitement of the box shipped unopened, that “Wells Fargo Wagon” moment as sung in The Music Man.
Given this rather predictable excitement, the idea of getting something in the mail was marketed perfectly by a store called Somethingstore. Betting that most people don’t get packages in the mail often, the company asks you to give $10 US Dollars (USD) and then mails you something. The trick is, you won’t have a clue what that something is until you open the box.
There is a wide range of products that can be worth significantly more or slightly less than $10 USD. You might have a video game, an electric razor, a piece of jewelry, or a big floppy hat. Customers using Somethingstore are sometimes happy with the surprise purchases, and sometimes not, but most enjoy the experience, which is offered at a fairly low price. You can’t return items like you might when your favorite aunt sends you a gift you hate, but you can return the item to someone else who might like it.
The idea for Somethingstore must be credited to its inventor, Sami Bay, who launched his unusual website and concept in late 2007. Based in New York, the Internet-only Bay store is rapidly becoming a popular trend. Bay believes that most things submitted should have a high value, so customers can repeat and buy more things. Value is mixed between high and more moderate, with some customers receiving something worth far more than what they paid for, such as $25 USD gift cards to major retailers, and others receiving a “something” valued at roughly $10 USD or less.
Bay’s irreverent Somethingstore site makes it clear that this should be a fun and entertaining experience for consumers. His list of things that won’t be sent is an example of the sense of humor that pervades the Somethingstore concept. Exclusions detected are things like body parts and rare animals.
So, if you’re in the mood to get a surprise package and have $10 USD on hand, you can visit the Somethingstore online store and risk getting a funny or not-so-great gift. Shipping to the US is currently free. Shipping to Canada currently costs just under $5 USD, while elsewhere shipping costs around $9 USD. As of August 2008, Somethingstore offers gender-specific items for men and women, as well as gender-specific “something” for boys and girls.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
