We make an announcement, they make an announcement

[this*old*attic]

Treasure Trucks

That’s the new thing.

You get a text regarding the pick of the day or deal or whatever 

You go buy it online

You meet the Treasure Truck at the secret location near you to get the goods

Treasure Trucks!

Okay, EBay, now try to copy THAT! 😐

[richard1rst]

I've got this land in Arizona I'd like to talk you about.

Guaranteed it's going to be waterfront property right after the next earthquake.

Or maybe you'd be interested in my Bridge.

[this*old*attic]

I need a bridge. It can go over the River so the Treasure Trucks can get from one place to another.

[pburn]

Treasure Trucks were launched (or is that a boat thing?) in 2015, and Amazon has continually expanded that service since that time. It's not new . . .

[this*old*attic]

Really? I've been a Prime member for nearly 10 years and never heard of it.

And, LOL, I just got a text alert for a FREE new energy drink. Very catchy description when you go online to "pay".

I went ahead and signed up, just to watch a few days and see what's up. I'm too suburb-y and far from any truck stops anyway (plus it's not really my cup of tea).

[pburn]

It's not available in my city. Well, "town," really, if I'm honest about it. I'm not sure it stops in "truck stops," if we're thinking of the same definition. We have a Whole Foods, and they are using those parking lots, as well as the parking lots of big malls and what have you.

"Currently, Treasure Truck is available in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, or Tampa."

I suppose if you're not in/near one of those cities, you probably don't get the ads for it.

[a_c_green]

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@this*old*attic wrote:

You meet the Treasure Truck at the secret location near you to get the goods

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LOL... "Secret location"? Why does it have to be secret? 

That reminds me of the "white truck" guys, who would show up unannounced outside big-box stores on evenings and weekends, selling what looked like new merchandise at cheap prices out of the back of their van. For some reason, at least here in the Chicago area, they were mostly selling stereo speakers. By the time the customer got their purchases home and realized they were junk, the van was long gone.

[pburn]

Selling stolen property? No matter what else you think of Amazon, I really don't think that's quite their m.o.

I really think you're reading a bit too much into "secret location."

[richard1rst]

Understand I’m not here to shill for Amazon. I do not sell on that platform and I very VERY rarely buy from them.

BUT

Despite my initial skepticism I did a Google search and, by George, it actually does exist.

Why?

Well, one possible explanation:

Suppose you were grossly overstocked on something, or you just made a big buy and want to turn it as fast as you can.

You can either put it On Sale (that’s so pedestrian) or you can add some mystique. Make it a Must Have.

You have to sign up for this Treasure Truck (it’s not available to the riff raff dontcha know). Then you have to be at the right place at the right time, a knowing wink, a secret handshake, knock 3 times and tell ‘em Joe sent you, you get the idea.

It’s that old childhood taunt “I know something you don’t know”

Or the adult version “I’ve got something you don’t have”

It’s actually a very interesting marketing ploy. And despite some of the doubtful comments above it does look to be on the up and up.

[myjunqueyourtreasure]

I'm not in one of the market areas so I've never heard of it either.

Most likely a seller with a total overstock of certain merchandise they want to move fast. Secret location probably to deter theft maybe?

[richard1rst]

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@myjunqueyourtreasure wrote:
 Secret location probably to deter theft maybe?

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I think "secret" is probably being misused here.

If you needed to catch a bus to go from point A to point B the bus company would tell you where to be and at what time. That is not a "secret location".

If you had a blind date with someone you would agree to meet at a certain place at a certain time. That is not a "secret location".

Same thing here.

[myjunqueyourtreasure]

yes, secret as in not public knowledge.

[richard1rst]

But not secret as in nefarious (as some above have suggested - i.e. the "white truck" story.

[pburn]

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@myjunqueyourtreasure wrote:
yes, secret as in not public knowledge.

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Yes, it appears you have to sign up for the app to discover the item of the day and the location of the truck. You have to buy the item online first, and then go pick it up at the truck. 

For anyone who's interested.

https://www.amazon.com/tt/webview/howitworks

[a_c_green]

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@pburn wrote:
Selling stolen property? No matter what else you think of Amazon, I really don't think that's quite their m.o.

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No, no, not stolen property, just cheap Chinese junk. For some reason they managed to keep going for a while, despite a steadily increasing number of irate buyers on the lookout for them. At one point, Channel 7 News in Chicago put out a blurb saying, basically, "The white truck guys are at it again! They were seen yesterday in [some Chicago suburb]." (This was years before social media on the Internet would have been following their every move.)

I had one encounter with them myself in the parking lot of a Menard's [home repair big box store] in Crystal Lake, IL. They were just closing up the truck and scooting off as I was passing by, apparently due to some confrontation with a couple of unhappy guys who knew their routine.

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@pburn wrote:
I really think you're reading a bit too much into "secret location."

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Hey, I'm not the one inventing terms like "Treasure Truck" and "secret location"...