Intresting insight into Playmobil popularity/sales in the US, state by state

[core]

A little background, I posted this shopping deal over here yesterday (5803 Take-Along-Castle sale):

http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=3911.0

It's a 24-hr sale, and after the end of the day they do publish some stats as to how much the site sold:

http://kids.woot.com/Forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=3696956

Now, the interesting part imo is the color-coded map that shows how many sets were sold in each state (from a total of 1,580 sets; the lighter the color the more sales).  I'd reckon it's not everyday we're going to see this sort of sales data (or ever again!) out in the open.

There are obviously some basic assumptions and limitations, eg, limited to internet sales, and those who know/use woot, interest in knights theme, adult-driven decision, population of each state, etc.

Would you have guessed that it would be distributed this way?!

[Jimbo]

Would you have guessed that it would be distributed this way?!

I woot never have guessed it!

[Indianna]

Core, this "woot" thing is pretty interesting - can you tell us more about it?  Is it a forum community? A selling site? Both?  Is this type of website unusual or common?  Could this be a way for playmo fans and collectors to market and/or acquire sets at good prices and simultaneously support sites like Playmofriends and/or Playmodb?  Just curious as I haven't seen this type of site before.   

[core]

I'd suppose the best (long) answer to what woot! is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woot

In a nutshell, woot pioneered internet one-deal-a-day concept back in 2004 - ie, the website only sells one item on its website at a large discount, available for a 24hr period only.  I believe manufacturer are either actively sought out, or in more recent times manufacturers have actively sought woot! to unload specific items.  Mind you, it can get pretty 'addictive' and I do check the site out at least once a day (or there are several widgets/feeds that will alert you of the item forsale), and usually put in a couple of orders a year.

As far as I remember it's the first time a PM items has been featured on woot.  It would be interesting if we knew PM USA approached woot, or if it was the other way around ...

[core]

I woot never have guessed it!

nice one  woot!

The North-Western portion really lights up (iirc there's quite a few members from that area), some parts of N-E is a little darker than I'd expect - and the surprise for me is Oklahoma (where we're currently located for most of the year) has more sales than Texas!

[Rasputin]

Hi Core 

   I too have never heard of Woot. That sales chart is interesting to see where the set was sold most. It really was not that many sales given how many people are in the US. If you divide 1580 by 5o states it is only averages like 31 each or 1 for every 190,000 people . I guess if one was 100 and some only a few it still does not seem like that many sales for such a well priced item. I am reluctant to look into the site, especially since this is possibly the only Playmobil item they ever had. I just do not need or want anything else  I give in to toy temptation especially if its a great deal 

   Thanks for the info on the sale and if you ever see any other Playmobil on the site, please let us know 

   Rasputin "The Mad Monk"

[Martin Milner]

I think the map shows more about the distribution of Woot buyers than it does about Playmobil buyers, or buyers of this particular playmobil item.

The take-along castle has been out in the US for well over a year, so anyone who has visited a Target or similar store in that time has had the opportunity to see it and buy one. Woot has prsumably bought up unsold stock cheap, to see if they can shift it. People looking for toys on Kids.Woot would percieve this a a good deal (which it is), but are they going to buyn more Playmobil to go with it? Not through Woot at least, it would seem.

[Indianna]

 

Thanks for the wikipedia link, core!  I never remember to look up stuff there. 

I had never heard of woot before - it is an interesting internet selling concept - I wish someone would do it just for Playmobil.