ValleySchwag arrives in the sunny UK!
Some of you may have heard about Valleyschwag - if not,where've you been for the last few weeks? Under a rock? I signed up and wanted to wait until I got my first package so that you could see the sort of stuff that they send out…here goes:
First up is the unopened package, wrapped in burlap:
I wonder what goodies are inside:
Sweet - I got the following:
- A really nice "fresh" RubyredLabs T-Shirt (thanks guys).
- PerplexCity Card Game
- MovableType Wrench/Bottle Opener (handy for the beer at the World Cup!)
- EFF.org Sticker
- abazab sticker
- ioda sticker
- a livejournal pencil
- and my personal favourite, the Goatse Sticker Set [link is Safe For Work]
I have the T-Shirt on right now. The other stuff will all be used eventually - probably most of the stickers will go onto the laptop. However, if you have a Dell, it is the obvious use for 1 part of the Goatse Sticker:
We all know that Dell are complete arses.
So, just how much did all these goodies cost? $20. And that includes postage. Bargain.
Get yourself over to www.valleyschwag.com and sign up for next months batch of goodies 
- also, you can see a short video, showing some of the hotties that work in the ValleySchwag office…
Comment by Chris McLeod — June 9, 2006 @ 1:30 pm
I got my schwag yesterday - got the exact same pack as you and I'm wearing the t-shirt to work today.
I'm already looking forward to the next delivery!
Comment by Oli Allen — June 9, 2006 @ 2:14 pm
I've heard quite a few negative comments about these guys - aparently you have to refer a lot of people to get the good stuff… May give it a go though, $20 isn't a great loss if it turns out to be crap.
However, I'd like to shake the hand of the guy who came up with the idea of making people pay for advertising materials
Comment by burt — June 9, 2006 @ 2:24 pm
Chris, I'm pretty pleased. $20 is nothing and shirt quality is quite nice.
Oli, they don't have an affiliate scheme or anything as far as I know. Can't see how to actually refer people? Masterstroke to charge people for free stuff
Not quite AIS though, did you watch that video?
Comment by Chris McLeod — June 9, 2006 @ 2:31 pm
I agree - I pretty much signed-up just to get a t-shirt a month. $20 is little more than postage costs (especially international) really so you're getting pretty good value.
From what I understand, they send you a bigger bundle if you do stuff like post pictures to flickr of you wearing you schwag/interesting uses of stickers or write blog posts/comments about them. Not sure how they trace it back though.
Comment by Oli Allen — June 9, 2006 @ 3:12 pm
"I agree - I pretty much signed-up just to get a t-shirt a month."
Is there anyone offering a service like that with non promotional shirts? If not, there's a business idea there for somebody.
I'd probably sign up to something like that if the shirts were decent quality - pay a subscription fee every month and then forget about it. Then you automatically recieve a few random shirts every month.
Like Valleyschwag, part of the attraction would be not knowing exactly what you'd be getting…
Comment by Dave — June 9, 2006 @ 4:12 pm
Threadless.com
They have a subscription thing. I've not tried it but someday I will. I love threadless shirts. Almost the only thing I wear.
Comment by Oli Allen — June 9, 2006 @ 5:08 pm
Ordered from them before but never seen that - I'll take a look, thanks
Comment by goatsesticker — June 10, 2006 @ 1:01 am
Your Goatsed Dell seems like a good prospect for posting at goatsesighting.com.
Thanks for the positive goatsesticker feedback!
Comment by Chance — June 10, 2006 @ 3:54 am
After reading Burt's post and figuring a T-shirt and assorted crap is worth $14.95 (the US rate), I signed up to see what I will get.
When you sign up, they ask you to put your blog URL in. I suppose if someone sees your pictures, post, or other content about the swag they will check and see who the URL belongs to. There is also another area to put all your other URLs in if you wish.
Comment by slee — June 10, 2006 @ 9:52 pm
right ive signed up lets see what i get next month - it seems a nifty idea
Comment by Oli Allen — July 5, 2006 @ 11:27 am
Signed up last month based on your recommendation, recieved mine today, pretty good I guess - got one of those cool rubyred shirts
The packaging wasn't as good this month though, just a paper bag
Comment by burt — July 5, 2006 @ 2:51 pm
Sweet! I haven't got mine yet, you must be one of the first to receive the latest pack.
New thread needed (with piccies), I reckon