It was sad to see the news today that Microsoft has made the decision to shut down the Jellyfish Smack Shopping service.
This doesn’t come as a great surprise, as the published focus of the Microsoft acquisition of Jellyfish was to jump start what has become their Live Search cashback program and deliver a more customer-centric form of advertising to online shoppers. So although Smack Shopping is wrapping up, Jellyfish appears ready to live on in the Live Search cashback program. Brian and I think that cashback can be a game changer for online advertising, and remain excited to see what Microsoft is able to accomplish with the program.
Nonetheless, it is hard to see Smack Shopping go. From the start, the Smack Shopping community was fantastic. The talented team at Jellyfish worked really hard to deliver a unique shopping experience with Smack and the community responded, rewarding us in ways we didn’t even think possible when we launched the service. I’ve never seen a more loyal and engaged community of users online. All Brian and I can say is thanks to everyone who was involved. It sure was fun while it lasted. And we hope to see you stop by and say hello when Alice.com launches in a few months. Who knows, maybe even SD will be there. 
So in honor of Smack Daddy (and Carl), here’s a toast to Smack Shopping and the Smack community. *Don’t wait too long buddy. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone
(Disclaimer: Brian and I no longer work at Microsoft and the opinions expressed above are from us individually).
February 9th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Excellent post! It is a sad day to see Smack Shopping,Smack Daddy, and the entire Smack community desolve.
February 9th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Sob. It was a great idea that perhaps had the unexpected bonus of creating a community of friends (and a few enemies) in the midst of a shopping site. JF was a home online for me for the last two years, and while I definitely got some excellent deals, what I will remember were the hilarious chats, the user-hosted shows, and the “open all night’ feel of a place you could stop in and always find a friend. You probably didn’t plan that part, but it’s the best legacy of JF–there are Facebook groups in honor of JF, and people who will stay friends long after it shuts down on Sunday.
Keep the ideas coming, guys…and let SD out of the basement now and again, hm?
February 9th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
It is a sad day for me but long coming. I loved Jellyfish until microsoft took over. I joined for the great deals, that disappeared and the great chat, that disappeared…It was a slow painful death. I will miss everyone and hope that the many friendships remain and Alice.com is a success.. thank you Mark ,Brian, Jake, Heidi, Trixie, Jason, and anyone else I have forgotten.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
I’d have to second what Roberta (Gator) said…. it was a slow painful death. Jellyfish brought the best (and the worst) in people, but ahhh the memories. RIP.
Buddas
February 9th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I suppose……All good things must come to an end.
Best wishes with Alice.
February 10th, 2009 at 4:10 am
Wow … for some strange reason, the few eternal JF optimists got me thinking there might actually be hope for a while. But, sadly, my initial reaction to the June 30, 2008, announcement was the right one.
Truth is, MS sucked all the fun out of Smack when they shut the 24/7 aspect down (if not before). The worst part was the lie that something “new and improved” would be coming our way, while MS pulled away support, fun elements and eventually, staff. You guys are right; no other site in my experience had as much loyalty and energy as the original Smack you created. I was never “on the inside” with as much info as some other true fanatics had. I just enjoyed the experience and the people.
I’m hoping for even half as much energy at alice.com — looking forward to seeing what you’ve got cooked up this time, gentlemen. In the meantime, thanks for creating a place that has given me friends I never would have met without it.
Hope to see you peek in before the death march ends Sunday night. A few of us actually plan to be there to watch it shut down for good — ain’t we crazy?
February 10th, 2009 at 11:52 am
A sad, sad day indeed. While I initially joined to see what this reverse auction thing was all about, I found great deals and then found some fantastic friends that will be lifelong for some of us. It was a good run, but a slow and painful death. Thank you guys for the opportunity you afforded me to find some of the greatest friends I would have never found otherwise! Long live Smackdaddy!
February 10th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Just for ya’ll….. (I had time waiting for some work to finish… I’m so gonna miss JF)
Ahem…
A long, long time ago…
I can still remember
How the deals used to make me smile.
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people chat
And, maybe, they’d be happy for a while.
But february made me shiver
With every Outwit I’d deliver.
Bad news on the doorstep;
I couldn’t take one more step.
I can’t remember if I cried
When I read the last diatribe,
But something touched me deep inside
The day the Smack died.
So bye-bye, good ol’ Jellyfish site.
Had a guru and a Dilli,
But the guessing ain’t right.
And them good old boys were drinkin’ beer from WI
Singin’, “this’ll be the day that it dies.
“this’ll be the day that it dies.”
Do you write the livingroom chat,
And did you ever PM that,
If Smack Daddy tells you so?
Do you believe in feeding trolls,
Can Trixie save your mortal souls,
And can you teach me how to point real slow?
Well, I know that you’re wanting to noob
`cause I saw you starting to collude.
You both clicked on the pink blinkie.
We dig those funky avatars, see.
We were lonely interwebz folk
With a wishlist and some mirrors and smoke,
But we knew the Hot Nuts were no joke
Was the day the Smack died.
I started singin’,
“bye-bye, good ol’ Jellyfish site.”
had a guru and a Dilli,
But the guessing ain’t right.
Them good old boys were drinkin’ beer from WI
And singin’, “this’ll be the day that it dies.
“this’ll be the day that it dies.”
February 10th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
jellyfish needs to go. it hasn’t been any fun since microsoft bought it anyway. which is when you guys left. alice.com will be better than jellyfish ever though of being.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
We’re pinning our hopes on you guys, Mark & Brian…as one of the original JF participants, sad to see it go, but sadder to see what it became. But happy to have made some friends from the site, for which I will always be thankful.
(Not to mention the hot deal on the MacBook Pro on which I write…)
February 11th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
To me, Microsoft totally missed the boat on the social networking opportunity that the Jellyfish guys created. You guys facilitated a lot of it, but the users have been a passionate loyal bunch who now have to take their attention elsewhere. Such a shame – Microsoft could use help when it comes to relating to the human side of things.
Thanks for everything you provided us. I was addict – I’ll admit it, and got some great deals and met some fantastic people, a lot of whom I expect to keep in touch with.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Will Alice.com need a newbie guide? (I do freelance work!)
February 11th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I too am sad to see JF disappear, but what I won’t miss anymore are the scores of whiners and complainers lamenting the “good old days” and blaming Microsoft for all of the ills in our world (or at least, our online community). The truth is that even with just 3 deals a day, 5 days a week, Smack Shopping was still an “expereince”…and it never ceased offering great deals on almost every item (if a reseller makes money, it’s a good deal). If you waited too long, buddy, chances are you were just too greedy.
I enjoyed nearly every second of my 2+ years as a Smack Shopper, got amazing deals on 56 purchases, and received checks, PayPal deposits and great prizes that I truly had not “earned”. Let that be Jellyfish’s legacy…please. And let Alice users learn from the mistakes of their past and appreciate the new site for what it is, not what it isn’t.
February 12th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
If nothing else, I hope the spirit of SD lives on within all of your future ventures. (Maybe Carl not so much.)
God, I can’t wait to see those pink tights again.
February 12th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
So glad to see you guys are starting this new venture, alice.com. And I’m glad you have your own blog so that when you sell THAT off, I can follow you to your next online start-up.
I will miss Jellyfish and Smack Shopping, but I’ve been missing it for some time now. When SD was there and it was going 24/7, it was hitting on all cylinders. Just a great, extremely unique website and community. And you guys even stopped in from time to time which (a) showed us that you cared and (b) made US feel important as visitors. Great job on that site and I can’t wait to see what you’ll do with this new one. Cheers!!!
February 12th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Any chance of early access to Alice for us JF lovers?
For two years I’ve been watching the Smack almost every single day. Definitely going to miss everyone. And I never resold a single item I bought, everything was stuff for me (or gifts for the wife!)
February 12th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Thanks for all the great comments. Just another example of what a cool community the Smack is/was. I’m thinking about noob’ing the last deal tomorrow . . .
February 13th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
interesting post. it must be hard to see others manage what at one point was your baby. looking forward to alice!
October 5th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
So glad to see you guys are starting this new venture, alice.com. And I’m glad you have your own blog so that when you sell THAT off, I can follow you to your next online start-up.
I will miss Jellyfish and Smack Shopping, but I’ve been missing it for some time now. When SD was there and it was going 24/7, it was hitting on all cylinders. Just a great, extremely unique website and community. And you guys even stopped in from time to time which (a) showed us that you cared and (b) made US feel important as visitors. Great job on that site and I can’t wait to see what you’ll do with this new one. Cheers!!!
October 25th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Very cool… actually going to share this on my facebook wall ! By: Holiday Cheap Deals
December 30th, 2012 at 8:39 am
Children, after a certain age, seldom stay at
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