Believe it or not, today marks a week from the offering, which means that we may start seeing some shipping activity any time now. With that in mind, and using the opportunity of "top of the page" post here's a copy of my SmartPost primer for those who needs some tracking guidelines:

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FedEx SmartPost primer for newcomers, and a reminder for the rest of Wooters (v. 1.6)

1. Before the tracking information shows up: Sometimes Woot is not e-mailing the tracking numbers until a few days after the packages are shipped. You can try and get the number by reference, by going to https://www.fedex.com/AltRefTracking?cntry_code=us and entering these three things: Your Woot order number goes to reference numbers box, select United States in destination country drop down, and Your Zip Code in a respective box. It's important to get all three pieces. Keep refreshing it, and if you're lucky, the tracking number will pop-up before the official e-mail comes. It doesn't ALWAYS work, but there's a good chance. Note, that if you've made multiple orders from Woot, you can enter several order numbers into the reference box, one per line.

1.1 A small tracking by reference tip: At first when you enter the tracking information your tracking page will be loaded by POST request. That means all data you entered is sent to server through internal fields. Each time you refresh you'd have to agree to repeat the POST operation, and you can't bookmark or transfer the link to another computer/smartphone/etc. However - if you press a purple RESUBMIT button below your results, it will change the request to GET, so that all information you entered will show up in a URL and you can now F5 it as many times as you want without further steps, make bookmarks or e-mail the link to self (or others).

1.2 If your weight shows as 1lb, it is most likely a placeholder, which will be replaced by more accurate weight once the package actually starts moving (or reaches a sorting station - see below). The dimensions will probably show as NA/NA/NA on those placeholder packages. Some people have reported packages showing as 1lb all the way until delivery, but turned out to be anything but, though there's always a slight chance that your package actually is a 1 pounder. So you never know.

1.3 To make it even more frustrating - the actual fact that you can track by reference, but if it shows as a 1lb with status Shipment information sent to FedEx does not yet mean the package actually shipped or even exists. All it means - a label which will eventually be attached to your package has been printed. It may be a few days before your beloved box will actually hit the road. Patience is the key here!

1.4 So how do we know for sure that BоC's are out? Keep looking through this thread, and you may spot a post by a Woot staff member (identified as such by a small icon next to their name), stating that all packages are shipped. Sometimes it will take FedEx a while before they show up or update, but once it's said here on the forum, you can be sure that they are out! Also keep an eye open for other staff members posts announcing possible shipping delays or otherwise!

1.5 Some wooters report being able to track, but not me! Am I screwed? No, you are not. The tracking numbers don't get into the system all at once. The track by reference starts working when FedEx receives your package info from Woot. They send them in batches, and if someone has a reference hit, does not mean everyone gets it at the same time. Sometimes it's days between batches are sent, and sometimes electronic info on some or all packages is not sent at all, which means not trackable by reference until it arrives (even if trackable by actual tracking number received from Woot). The actual tracking information (if you have tracking e-mail sent to you or it shows up on your order page) gets updated as the package is actually scanned at FedEx location. Provided that Woot ships them by truckload, it may not be instant at all, nor they will appear all at once. Sometimes it's not 'til the next day when you see it live, even if there are others that got scanned early in the game. Remember, if a staff member said that all packages are out - they are. It may take some time for them to go live, a day or two between first reported trackable package until the last one shows up in a system is not unusual...

2. To get the dimensions you need to create My FedEx account (no charge, and you don't have to give them cc number if you don't want to): http://my.fedex.com/ and make sure to switch to new or advanced version. Enter your tracking number, and the dimensions will pop...

2.1 Another way to get dimensions: If you have problems with My FedEx site, or just to make things easier - you can also download a very convenient FedEx Desktop application. It uses the same log-in credentials as your My FedEx account (you'd still need to have one), and tracks the same packages right from your desktop, without the browser.

3. Don't get too excited. For the first few days most people will probably have some sort of cubed dimensions. This is because in the beginning the dimensions are not real. They are guesstimated by FedEx based on weight (which may or may not be accurate). Here's the famous formula for you to check:

SIDE = ( 330 * WEIGHT ) ^ (1/3)
(side in inches, weight in lbs)

If it matches your dimensions to a few tenths of an inch - you know they are not real. That's for smaller packages. Those over 15lbs would always have the "dimensions" of a 15lbs package (or was it 16)... Again not real...

4. Once your package passed a sorting station - the updated weight and real dimensions may show up. Usually that's the first or second stop it makes after Dallas. In my case (North-East) in either Martinsburg, WV or at Kansas City, KS (I am yet to understand the logic SmartPost uses in sending the packages one route or the other), for many others it's New Berlin, WI or another major SmartPost hub. In some cases actual weighting/measuring may not take place even at the SECOND hub... or ever...

5. USPS Handoff: Once the package is reported to have passed a city near you - start tracking it on http://www.usps.com/, because that's who's delivering it to your door, and once the package is handed over by FedEx, they will have more up to date information. Do make sure that you track by actual tracking number (it will show up if you got a hit with reference tracking), because USPS does not track by reference. A thing to note - when handed over to USPS, FedEx always says a standard "allow 2-3 for business days for delivery". This is a standard message, and if your USPS facility is efficient enough, you may get it delivered as soon as the day of handoff (if it happened early enough).

5.1. USPS is not delivering for a few days after supposed handoff. Compliments go to the budget cuts and staff shortage at your local post office, as per a post by snaped, who claims to know the situation first hand: the pallets of SmartPost packages are handled at the lowest priority, after all other mail has been processed. So if your post office is a bit short on staff or overwhelmed with other mail (holiday seasons especially) it may well sit unsorted for a few days, after which their status is raised to priority and they finally get sorted and delivered. In my personal experience, I've seen them delivered the same day or as much as a full week late (that happened with non-woot package I was expecting around Christmas).

Good luck to all waiting for their hauls, and let the Woot Gods bless you with some amazing crаps!

Ya know, I think I am actually going to wait until X-mas to open mine. Like a gift from Santa, it could really be a box of coal.

rockabettygirl wrote:Ya know, I think I am actually going to wait until X-mas to open mine. Like a gift from Santa, it could really be a box of coal.

I would like to do that also but I am pretty sure I will be opening the box before I even walk in the house. My hope is I can not look at the forums after getting the shipping email but I dont have that kind of will power either.

rockabettygirl wrote:Ya know, I think I am actually going to wait until X-mas to open mine. Like a gift from Santa, it could really be a box of coal.

You say that now, and I know there are a lot of others thinking about it, but when that crappy box lands at your door you will want to open it even more the longer it sits. I tried to do this multiple times. The last time was bring it to a wedding so that we could all open it together... that was epic failure... the girls just couldn't wait and had already opened it when I got back.

So it might be easy now to say you are going to wait, but believe me, when that crap shows up you won't want to wait.

PUfelix85 wrote:You say that now, and I know there are a lot of others thinking about it, but when that crappy box lands at your door you will want to open it even more the longer it sits. I tried to do this multiple times. The last time was bring it to a wedding so that we could all open it together... that was epic failure... the girls just couldn't wait and had already opened it when I got back.

So it might be easy now to say you are going to wait, but believe me, when that crap shows up you won't want to wait.

We did that last year. It was fun opening a box that was a complete surprise to everybody. It got passed a round and played with. I still have a broken Hard drive rattle to bring those memories back ...snif. We'll do it again this year thanks to the Woot Gods and I am out of the message base just so I don't get a peek at what everybody else got. Merry Christmas,to Woot and everybody else who got a Burgandy Olfactory Center or lives vicariously thru us that have.

I'm using this thread to not have a panic attack thinking about the exam I have this afternoon. I am going to try my hardest to not be here once people start talking about what they've gotten. I honestly don't think I'll be able to wait for Christmas to open it unless it shows up the day before Christmas eve. And then I would take it to my grandmother's house for our giant family get-together and pass out whatever crap I don't want.

The suspense is killing me. My first Burgandy Olfactory Center Waiting until Christmas is not an option.

rockabettygirl wrote:Ya know, I think I am actually going to wait until X-mas to open mine. Like a gift from Santa, it could really be a box of coal.

I will be met at the door by 6 eyes begging me to allow them to help me open the mysterious package. I can't image I'll be able to wait...at least not with my sanity.

I have mine shipped to work to share with the people around here. Sadly Ill have to come in on vacation time to pick mine up. Im sure Ill still open it there and pass out some goodies from the box.

I wonder if the powers of woot are waiting until Christmas Eve to send out all the Burgandy Olfactory Center with Santa. Bring On Chimney!

LEM- wrote:Believe it or not, today marks a week from the offering, which means that we may start seeing some shipping activity any time now. With that in mind, and using the opportunity of "top of the page" post here's a copy of my SmartPost primer for those who needs some tracking guidelines:

How long did you wait just so you could get the top of the page? LOL.

Once upon a midnight dreary, Bags of crap make me weary,
Over many a quaint and crappy volume of forgotten score,
While I waited, breath so baited, upon the Woot gods that are so fated,
As of boxes fastly crated, crated with my craps galore,
'Tis some boxes, I grumbled, waiting on my craps galore,
Only crap, and nothing more.

Ah distinctly I remember, the last crap had was in November,
And each crappy member knocked so heavily upon my door,
Eagerly I wished the refresh; telling shipping statuses afresh,
Of my bag, the Bag of Coals - craps from forgotten olden yore,
The scurge and broken crap from the stank and rotten score,
Only crap and nothing more.

And the sad and lonely clicking sound of each F5 button,
Filled me - Chilled me with palpatations never felt before,
So that now - while I'm waiting - I stood repeating,
'Tis some boxes, waiting at my local store,
If only shipped upon the morrow, smartpost galore,
Only crap and nothing more.

Presently, the sound grew stronger, waiting then I could no longer,
'FedEx', said I ' Or Postal Service, truley your smartpost I deplore;
But the fact is I am sparing, and to my woots I am ensnaring,
And so slowly you refresh your condition, Upon myself I've laid a mission,
As of past legends folklore, restore to me my crappy tracking, amour
Only crap and nothing more.

Deep into the webs stood peering, hoping, waiting, fearing,
That craps of mine would stand uplifted, the rest I would outscore,
But the tracking did not prominence outpour,
While I waited, for my crappy bag that numbered only threescore,
Waited for my status tracking and forum comment to restore,
My Hope in Woot, and nothing more.

dubdubdub wrote:They are almost always between 4pm and 6pm Eastern. The only ones you have to stay up for are special holidayish ones (April Fools, Wootmas and Christmas).

Oh, and if anyone is counting... I can't submit to the Sack of Woot spreadsheet either. Using Chrome, Submit button says disabled.

It took me a few minutes before I finally saw the trick. You need to click where it says "click here", then some random numbers will appear. You have to type those numbers and the button will enable. You must prove you are human.

Dear Woot-Santa,

Thank you for my first ever Bag of Coal. I have waited a long time to finally have this opportunity. I am overcome with anticipation of what may be in my magical Schrodinger's Cat Box. So much so that I actually fear opening it and destroying that sense of hope and wonder. It's like being six-years-old again and waiting for Christmas morning. Has Woot-Santa considered me naughty or nice? (Have I graciously put enough patients on bedpans with a smile to pass muster? Or have I let one too many whiny, needy, demanding patient wait before answering their call light because, "I am not a concierge for Pete's sake!"?) Will there be joyful celebration or agonizing shame? Will there be the latest high tech toys from Woot-Santa, or socks and underwear from Aunt Grinchy? Oh the agony and the ecstasy!

ksmith8 wrote:Once upon a midnight dreary, Bags of crap make me weary...

Wow...

stele2 wrote:Wow...

Wow, indeed!

mariojill2001 wrote:How long did you wait just so you could get the top of the page? LOL.

Just about 'till midnight (EST) last night... I just couldn't pass the opportunity to make sure lots of people get a chance to see it. Once any kind of shipping movement begins - the pages will flip fast, and I'm sure there will be a few posts per page asking how to track by reference, and where the dimensions come from. So hopefully having it stuck on top of the current page for a while will help to avert a few :/

In the spirit of Christmas Song Parody writing...if you can even call it that. I present...

Said the woot bot to the little lamb
Do you see what I see
Way out on the web little lamb
Do you see what I see
A crap, a crap
Traveling in the night
On a truck form FedEx alright.
On a truck form FedEx alright.

Said the woot bot to the shepard boy
Do you hear what I hear
Ringing of the doorbell shepard boy
Do you hear what I hear
A crap, a crap
On the front porch
With contents questionable at least.
With contents questionable at least.

Said the woot bot to the mighty king
Do you know what I know
In your palace wall mighty king
Do you know what I know
A bag, a bag
Opened a Bag of Coal
Let us hope isn’t not a trap
Let us hope isn’t not a trap

Said the woot bot to people everywhere
Listen to what I say
Pray for crappy bags everywhere
Listen to what I say
The crap, the crap
Sitting in a box
It will bring us goodness not rocks
It will bring us goodness not rocks

The crap, the crap
Sitting in a box
It will bring us goodness not rocks

toddles12 wrote:It took me a few minutes before I finally saw the trick. You need to click where it says "click here", then some random numbers will appear. You have to type those numbers and the button will enable. You must prove you are human.

I proved I was human a few times (after a while it resets)... I will try it again once I get shipping info.

EQ2Junkie wrote:Dear I am overcome with anticipation of what may be in my magical Schrodinger's Cat Box. So much so that I actually fear opening it and destroying that sense of hope and wonder.

A Bag of Coal is nothing like schrodingers box. If someone puts crap in a bag, there will always be crap in the bag, nothing can change that.

ksmith8 wrote:Once upon a midnight dreary, Bags of crap make me weary

I want this on a shirt, shaped in the form of a woot! bag, like the Nevermore shirt.

ksmith8 wrote:Once upon a midnight dreary, Bags of crap make me weary,

Continued......

Back into my chair, returning, all my fingers itching, burning,
Success! At last, a tracking Number! The long awaited tracking score!
Surely, said I, surely there is something shipping, dimensions greatly pending!
Let me see what sizes ending, and these crappy bags explore -
Let my heart be still and my tracking numbers adore -
Crappy shipment, and nothing more.

Open here, the crap-bag tracking, when, with much todo and finger smacking,
In there stepped reality galore.
Figments of imagination, dark and twisted, lackluster shipping confirmation,
One pound, it says, weighs my a-waited crap of rancor,
A foot cubed, this mystery I wait to explore,
Crappy tracking, nothing more

Then the forum, abuzz and lighty, talking of dimensions flighty,
By the crapload, weights and measures the masses did outpour,
`Though it be the shipment goes`, I said, `over smartpost cargos,
The travel time, it is subjected to methods considered lessor,
Expect it not upon the morrow, rather upon the winds of change it soars'
Read LEM's Primer - por favor.

Day by day, hour by hour, watching,waiting soon devour,
All breath within me, as if I had laid upon the seashore,
A tick! a movement of the tracking, as a redwood falling, cracking,
Moving closer to my celestial wanton door,
My dreams are peaking while I slumber in sopor,
Crap soon cometh, while I snore.

Local FedEx doth deliver! The excitement now makes me quiver!
2-3 days for delivery soon, around the box we will commune,
To share in delight the mystery within, I implore
To share the wonder of the crappy bag, strewn about the wooden floor,
Crap has come upon my shore.

With breathless wonder, I tear the box asunder,
And much to my surprise and fear, on opening that box of lore,
Crap, I find has taken toll, Oh this heartless game enroll!
My wish for something so much better, something worthy of decor,
Dashed to tiny bargain plastic pieces strewn about the floor,
Only Crap - and nothing more.

It's official. I've refreshed (or reloaded) the comments pages now more than I did to score my bright orange corvette in hopes that shipping information would start sneaking it's way on the forums.

I blame the craptastic ebay touchpad sale fail for my neediness...

dubdubdub wrote:It's official. I've refreshed (or reloaded) the comments pages now more than I did to score my bright orange corvette in hopes that shipping information would start sneaking it's way on the forums.

As have I. I had almost no trouble at all getting my first Burgandy Olfactory Center after failing on several other occasions. The impatience is insanity.

ksmith8 wrote:Continued......

You have made my entire afternoon better.

[quote postid="4762822" user="ksmith8"]Continued......

I haven't enjoyed reading so much since the new cereal boxes came out. Thanks and great job!

alcapone2 wrote:are you Rachel Rappaport the recipe submitter or just a fan of goodness?

Hardcore fangirl, her stuff's helped make a better chef out of me.

I'm also a food nerd for the following sites: http://crepesofwrath.net/
http://smittenkitchen.com/

And maybe I should take this chat over to home.woot, right? ;)

... sorry I didn't get to this reply sooner! Been a bit busy here in wootland!

So I was tracking 2 orders by reference, and just got notification of the Woot Calendars shipping, and since they were the last item of the woot off...... it's time for the Burgandy Olfactory Center YAY!

All I know is, if the Burgandy Olfactory Center doesn't show before Christmas, I'm going to have to recycle one of the woot! boxes, put crapola in it, and put it on the front porch just so the kids will stop bothering me.

So this was Burgandy Olfactory Center LXIX? That means the Christmas Burgandy Olfactory Center is number 70? Must be an epic pull then....

Argh I was so sure the Bags of Crap would show up in track by Reference today. I really hope mine gets here before Christmas!

ksmith8 wrote:So this was Burgandy Olfactory Center LXIX? That means the Christmas Burgandy Olfactory Center is number 70? Must be an epic pull then....

LXIX is 69 in roman numerals.

sinrobuckethead9 wrote:LXIX is 69 in roman numerals.

It sure is, which makes the actual Christmas Dec 25 expected Burgandy Olfactory Center number 70.....

Well...everything else from the woot-off that I ordered shipped, (just not notification of the calendars) so fingers crossed for maybe tomorrow!

I can only hope that these will ship in some sort of alphabetical order, being that my last name starts with "zol", I should be expecting mine by easter !

would be worth waiting that long to give up my Burgandy Olfactory Center virginity.

Has anyone's Burgandy Olfactory Center from 12/6 shipped yet?

rockabettygirl wrote:Ya know, I think I am actually going to wait until X-mas to open mine. Like a gift from Santa, it could really be a box of coal.

Mine is a Christmas present for my sister! She watched me as I opened mine previous Burgandy Olfactory Center and was very anxious and excited, so i figured that if she is going to be that excited to watch someone else open a Burgandy Olfactory Center she I couldnt imagine how excited she would be if she had her own!... So I have decided to give this one to her and share the joy of opening a Burgandy Olfactory Center

cjmiller9 wrote:Well...everything else from the woot-off that I ordered shipped, (just not notification of the calendars) so fingers crossed for maybe tomorrow!

Just got my calendar shipping notification, so any minute now....