We’ve received a number of tips indicating that that Jellyfish’s flagship product, online social shopping show Smack Shopping, is going to be shut down. This is surprising move for Jellyfish, a Microsoft-owned online shopping portal, since the premise of the show is based around the audience creating hot (low-cost) deals on online products. In a economy where a good deal is desirable, one would think Smack Shopping could survive. Scheduled shows used take place 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, but last year Jellyfish changed Smack Shopping format to only one show per weekday and none on the weekends.
We wrote about Microsoft acquiring the discount online shopping service, Jellyfish, in 2007. And creators and serial entrepreneurs Brian Wiegand and Mark McGuire have had several successes in the start-up world, with the most recent, Alice.com, set to launch this March. When Microsoft bought Jellyfish, they seemed optimistic about the website, saying that they “think the technology has some interesting potential applications as we continue to invest heavily in shopping and commerce as a key component of Live Search.”
Here’s the email sent to registered users.
Dear SmackShopping User,
Thank you for using SmackShopping and participating in the SmackShopping
community over the past few years. Regrettably, we are closing down the
site effective February 16, 2009. SmackShows, chats and other interactive
SmackShopping services will be discontinued at this point. However, you
will be able to redeem any coins you have accrued for 90 days (until May
15, 2009). At the end of 90 days the site will be brought down completely.Please do not reply to this email, but if you have any questions, please
contact us at questions@smackshopping.com.Sincerely,
SmackShopping Team
We’ve added SmackShopping to the Deadpool.
Thanks to Shawn Rubel for the tip.
fyi, they actually just integrated all the technology in live cashback. sad though. waste of money.
Such and addictive site, I have to say I was surprised to get the email. Thanks for the link love Jason and Leena.
I wonder if Microsoft will ever learn their lesson regarding content sites?
This makes me sad, and not just because I won 800 dollars (USD) on that site. Then I bought an iphone.
That service was completely co-opted by resellers well before Microsoft bought it, so I don’t think it was that big of a loss really.
It was an interesting site, but man the deadpool database seems to be growing up!
cooljobsalways
http://tinyurl.com/7uj5ay
Hello,
I have been an avid user of SmackShopping and used to wonder why would someone give out so much money.
TechCrunch is wrong in reporting, it is not users who create hot deals. It is simply a reverse auction site, where products are put for auction and price is lowered at a regular interval, until someone buys it. I bought products at 30 to 40% off and sold them on eBay to pocket some bucks.
Sad to see my source of revenue disappear.
I think it’s funny that there is a microsoft cashback banner ad on this post.
i used it to make some money as there was always steep discount on the products. i used to resell the products on ebay..make some bucks.
too bad they are shutting it down..there goes one source of revenue for me. another pink slip.
i know there were quite a few of us, resellers on the smack takign advantage of the discounts.
So is it now Live Cashback? I was thinking about buying a domain that jellyfish used to own, i wonder if it is now availalbe. It sounded like a fun site.
To me, Microsoft totally missed the boat on the social networking opportunity that the Jellyfish guys created, somewhat organically. The founders facilitated a lot of it, but the users are a passionate loyal bunch who are now looking to take their attention elsewhere. Such a shame – Microsoft could use help when it comes to relating to the human side of things.