My husband recently announced that he’d finally bought us a robotic vacuum to help with cleaning around the house. I naturally assumed that he’d ordered it from Amazon and that I could expect it to arrive in two days with Prime. To my surprise, however, he mentioned that he purchased it from a website called Woot.
Having never heard of the site, I was, of course, curious.
Seeing my skepticism, he said the only words that would put me at ease: “It was cheaper than Amazon.”
At that moment, I knew not only that I had married the right person (and a smart shopper), but that there was also a new site worth exploring.
I soon realized that he had discovered a hidden gem that would become a part of my online shopping rotation.
What Is Woot?
So, what exactly is Woot?
Woot is a legit website that’s been around forever — it even calls itself “the original daily deals site.” It used to offer only one flash deal each day, but Woot now offers multiple daily deals in the form of discounts and limited-time sales on everyday items.
The company, which is owned by Amazon, helps shoppers find deals on electronics, clothes, appliances, furniture, and even food.
You can search deals within one of seven main shopping categories:
- Home & Kitchen
- Electronics
- Computers
- Tools & Garden
- Sports & Outdoors
- Shirt (custom funny T-shirts)
- Grocery & Household
As with any deal site, you won’t be able to search for the exact item that you may be looking for. In fact, you never know exactly what’s going to be there as the selection changes every day.
However, the site is organized well enough that you can search through each category and filter to find items that you may be interested in.
Pro tip: There’s kid stuff to be found within those categories, too, meaning Woot can be a sneaky-smart way to find deals on children’s items throughout the year. Find something you like now? Grab the deal and stash it away for birthdays or Christmas later. Just don’t forget where you hide it!
It’s Also Hilarious
The revolving cast of daily deals keeps people coming back to the site, but for me, the funny writing does, too. Woot has fun with its irreverent product descriptions, like this recent deal for an outdoor/indoor smart security camera:
“Be on the lookout for anything, including Sasquatch or your daughter taking the last Fresca when you already specifically told her that’s Daddy’s soda.”
How Can Woot Save You Money?
The advantage of shopping on Woot is obviously its deep discounts on products. You may find items that are discounted up to 80% off of their original price — that’s a good deal in my book!
For example, the robotic vacuum that my husband bought was sold for 60% off its original price and $20 less than Amazon sells it for. This saved us around $300.
In addition to the deep discounts on new items, Woot also sells refurbished items that are sold for less than retail. This is typically the case for items within the electronics category.
You can find refurbished computer hardware, cameras, televisions, and more.
How to Follow Woot’s Daily Deals
If you don’t want to keep checking the site, you can track Woot’s promotions by following the company on Twitter or Facebook. You can also download the Woot app.
How to Shop on Woot
As you might imagine, Amazon makes it seamless to shop on the site.
If you already have an Amazon account, you can simply use your login credentials to gain access. Otherwise, you can create an account with your email address.
Once you’re logged into your account, you officially become a Wooter and can begin taking advantage of deals.
You can pay for your products with a credit card or Amazon Payments.
How Does Woot’s Shipping Work?
If you have an Amazon Prime account, you get the added bonus of free standard shipping on Woot. So in addition to getting a reduced price for your loot, you won’t pay extra to ship (but it takes longer than the one- or two-day shipping that Prime offers).
If you’re not an Amazon Prime member, you’ll pay for standard, one-day, or two-day shipping on your Woot order, with the prices going up the faster you want the item delivered.
What Is Woot’s Return Policy?
You can return most things within 30 days for a full refund minus the cost of return shipping. Clothing and shoes must be unworn and unaltered.
Food and perishables aren’t eligible for a return, but you might be able to get a refund.
What’s the Woot Community All About?
In addition to offering deals, the Woot site has an engaging (and funny) community that consists of a blog and various forums. Customers who are a part of this community are affectionately called Wooters.
You’ll find anything from blog posts about kangaroos to community members creating and participating in games within the chat. You can also find advice about what’s being sold and people’s experiences with those items.
It is a vibrant space for those who love Woot, their deals, and random banter.
Start Saving With Woot
If you’re as into saving a few pennies as I am, I recommend checking out Woot to find deals on those everyday items you already plan on buying.
You, of course, may not find the exact item you want, but you could find an acceptable substitute … or see something you didn’t even know you wanted.
— By Fo Alexander
Originally published February 2020. Updated in May 2021.