Welcome to the first installment of Shameless Plug Sunday. What’s it all about, you ask. Well I’ll tell you. Shameless Plug Sunday is going to be where we give out endorsements and plugs for companies and/or people we really love.
Let’s get this out of the way, we’re not going to be getting a cent for our plugs (okay we don’t get a cent for any of the work we do here…we do it for the love). These are people and companies that we think that you should all be paying attention to. With that in mind, lemme get rambling about our first endorsement.
I first heard about the Mysterious Package Company through, of all things, a Facebook advertisement. Now I’m the first to say that I normally I just block random ads. I’ve got no use for them. I’m on Facebook to look at cute animals and listen to my fellow nerd herd argue about who would win in a fight: The Beyonder or Cthullu. I don’t want to buy your useless crap but, ho, what is this?
“We tell you stories you can touch: unannounced deliveries of a strange and otherworldly nature.”
It’s safe to say that the MPC had my attention right away.
I visited the website and immediately struck by the next layer to their wonderful marketing campaign.
- Membership is 100% free.
- The nature of business is such that we must restrict much of our material to members only.
- Application does not guarantee acceptance. We reserve the right to deny membership without cause or notice.
Well now they really had me hooked in. It’s free but they can choose not to accept me. It’s like showing a child the most amazing toy ever and then saying, “You might get this but only if you can prove yourself to me”. I was hell bent on getting in.
The application was fairly standard…at first. Name. Location. Short essay answers about favorite movies and what about the MPC got your attention. Standard stuff. Then came the last two questions.
“How well can you keep a secret?”
Okay, that’s rather odd. I grinned and gave the standard response I normally give to such a question. The only way two people can keep a secret is if the other dead. Now, do you want to know a secret?
I’m so funny and edgy, I chuckled to myself. Then came the last question.
“What is your blood type?”
I paused. My fingers hung over the keys and I just…I paused. I seldom pause when answering questions or typing or really thinking for that matter. I’m just one running monolog that most people just find themselves unlucky enough to wander in on. AND. THEY. MADE. ME. PAUSE.
I suddenly flashed on the image of Sean Penn in “The Game”, handing his brother, Michael Douglas, a birthday gift. “It will make your life…fun,” he said. Then shit got crazy. It was the most epic adventure of not fun that was totally worth it. I shook off these thoughts and put in my blood type.
ENTER.
Then I waited.
And waited.
And waited.
I started to get nervous. I remembered stories of a friend who had been rejected by eHarmony and feared that I would find no love from this rather odd club/company/storytelling center. And then, when I had just about given up on being accepted by this curious company, I received an email from someone only listed as being “The Curator”.
It opened with “My dearest <Real Name Here>” and was filled with flowery language from another time. It gave directions on how to access the site and what to look for. It closed with, “So, welcome, and please feel free to visit us at any time. I look forward to getting to know you better. Your Servant, The Curator.”
They had me hooked. I ran to the site looked through what they had to offer. There were three levels of package with three levels of price.
- The Bespoke Experience. It started at $799.00 and involved conversations with The Curator to ensure that your experience was completely unique. The line that threw me in the description was, “As much or as little control as you wish…” Suddenly I felt as though I was staring down Sean Penn handing me a pamphlet for “The Game”. I flinched and moved along.
- The next level was three different stories involving various mailings over several months. All of the stories were about $179.00. I was chomping at the bit to jump in. Then Mrs. Darwin Law looked over my shoulder and said, “NOPE…maybe for Christmas if you’re good”. Suddenly I was that little kid and the most amazing toy wass being dangled in front of my eyes. I’ve done my best to be good ever since.
- The last level was their quarterly mailer, “Curios & Conundrums”. They had the catch up for the previous installments plus a sign up for the next chapter. Both together, before shipping and handling, $50.00. Mrs. Darwin Law gave me the thumbs up and I sent them my monies.
The catch up package arrived and inside I found four little newspapers. I turned the pages, read the articles and muttered, “What the fuck is this?” in a good way. The articles were from all over the world and time. All were tinged with the occult and otherworldly. I dug deeper and found them all to be fascinating. Far off locations were explored. Ancient flying machines discovered. There was even an article on Bigfoot.
“Ho ho,” I chuckled. “These chaps have avid imaginations. They seem to be adept at writing in proper old world voices. What fun these fake articles are.”
I’m not sure what spurred me to start researching the articles but I did. That’s when things got seriously weird. 90% of the “fake articles” were, in fact, 100% real. This is up to and including an article from “Russia: Behind The Headlines” where the former President of said country admits that when you become president you are given the nuclear football…and a dossier on aliens living in Russia.
The next day I was in CVS. I bought a composition book, you know the kind with the black and white cover that John Doe fills with insanity in “Seven”. I filled it with notes, page after page of crazed scribbling, crackpot ideas and conspiracy theories on what the hell was happening.
Then I flipped to the last page of each installment for my notations. “Oh look,” I said, “they have crossword puzzles and horoscopes.” I’m rubbish at crossword puzzles so I had steered clear up to that point. I solved the first one and found…found…I fear I’ve said too much already but, safe to say, this is where the real game begins.
The journey that followed took me all over the globe and history. Hidden messages, ciphers, encrypted radio stations, mysterious phone numbers and buried clues tucked into webpage source codes. I felt my sanity slipping away with each particle of flavor my brain tongue lapped at. I was gripped with a sudden understanding of what crazed street preachers feel as they howl their truths and shake their poorly printed manifestos at frightened passersby.
“THERE IS A WAR BREWING,” I wanted to scream in the town square. “LISTEN TO ANDREW! HE KNOWS!”
And this, dear readers, was just the catch up package. This is only $25.00 worth of $50.00 purchase price I paid. I haven’t even received the new quarterly mailer yet!
It should also be taken into consideration that this is the Mysterious Package Company’s bargain experience. I haven’t had the chance to partake of their larger packages yet but I have to wonder, if they are willing to put this much work into their smallest package, what wonder, amazement and, yes, horror lurks in their larger works.
My name is Darwin Law. I write for the Nerdery Public and I wholeheartedly endorse The Mysterious Package Company.
Well that sums up my experience too a tee! I have also indulged into a mid level experience as well. I can be found in the sitting room, good write up indeed!
Your post gives me a great deal of excitement my newfound friend. I have just recently joined the gathering of seekers myself and have yet to receive my package. I am curious indeed as to the tale to be told, but you have given me hope and encouragement! I await my delivery!
I purchased a mysterious package ($200+ including shipping) as a birthday gift for my sister; purchased on Oct. 1, all four mailings should have been delivered by Feb. 15, 2015. As of now, only the first two mailings have been sent, and those two mailings were late (compared with the estimated ship dates provided). What’s worse, I’ve received no proactive emails from the company explaining the delays; I’ve always had to be the one reaching out. Very dissatisfied. And disappointed — I had high hopes.
well. that sucks all the balls. sorry your experience was less than good. hopefully, they’ll get their act together. Darwin super digs them. ~Bella.
I have experienced the same issue with their mailings. Ordered it for my father’s birthday and a month later the first mailing just barely sent out.They did mention that it would take about 2 weeks for delivery. Did not receive any mailings for the delay however, the money was taken out immediately from my account. Also I have informed my father of the issue and he still hasn’t received the first mailing. Not sure what is going on but it is quite disappointing.
By this point other packages have arrived. Are they as good or better?
Thanks
I have been informed that Darwin’s next package should be arriving sometime in June. He’ll be briefing us about it then. Stay tuned. ~Bella
Sounds interesting. I wish I had the money for this. Guess I will have to save my money.
You should find and play a PC game called Missing: Since January. I got all goosebumpy reading your review and it reminded me of playing that game.
[…] are some glowing reviews of the service: The Nerdery Public bought a package for himself so he knew the origin of the mysterious mailings, but he was still […]
I know I’m late to the game, but thanks for your very thorough review and description. I couldn’t find this information anywhere. I just signed up to be a member…really looking forward to it.
… anything? I, too saw the FB ad and was intrigued… did the other packages ever show up, or did the Curator take your money and run?
I also got pulled in via the Facebook ad, which prompted me to mention that extraordinary fact to my other content strategy colleagues _and_ to purchase experiences as gifts. We’ll see how it works out. I’m deeply curious also.
Signed up and was accepted, and am trying to decide on a package for my SO. I have been able to find some info on the King in Yellow as well as Risen, but not Tempus Fugit. I also frankly love the idol with ‘tentacles’ thingy that you can easily find on the web, but I’m not sure what story it is tied to (or if it is tied to an old story they don’t currently do).
I love LOVE the idea, there should be a lot of similar services, because done well it’s a concept with immense potential.
I think I know just how you feel. I’m working my way through the catch-up editions now and barely scratching the surface. I’m very happy so far.
Ok, so I am in but in this day and age getting a mysterious package especially from another country seems a bit dangerous not only for personal health but these attacks on everyone around the world. Hoping homeland security doesn’t show up at my door. That’s my only concern!
A hugely disappointing experience. I signed up, all excited, and ordered one of the larger packages for my mother’s 75th birthday. The first package arrived, and she was delighted – mystified – all that I expected. Then… nothing. The first mailing indicated she would be receiving another package in “5-10” days, which she eagerly anticipated for the first few weeks. Then anticipation turned to frustration, disappointment and skepticism. According to the timeline when I signed up, the experience should be concluding right about now, but she has yet to receive anything but the first mailing, which quite frankly she has written off as someone playing a cruel prank on her. I contacted the “Curator” who offered nothing but “oops, we are behind”, and has now even stopped responding to my emails. Do not waste your money. I spent $200 on a couple of pieces of paper, and now my mother even thinks I forgot to get her anything for her birthday. A fail all around. I’m debating just telling her what I bought and spoiling the surprise if the the other packages ever do get shipped – which I am highly starting to doubt.
Howdy there, doom spawn. Darwin here to follow up on some housekeeping at the behest of the bad ass boss, Bella. Yeah, I know I’m late to this but Mrs. Darwin Law and I have been moving into a better bunker and that takes time, focus and more skinned weasel carcuses than I can skin on my own. But I’ve said too much. Let’s talk MPC and…The Weeping Book.
To start with, I love getting MPC packages. They come in small balsa wood crates that look like they’re straight out of Raiders of the Lost Ark. This always adds to the sense of whimsy and wonder I associate with the MPC. Not to mention terror, of which there is plenty of in this package.
So, my package arrives and after the standard struggle with said glorious box I remove the lid and there it is. The Weeping Book. Twisted, stained, wrapped in a leather strap with a metal disc dangling from it, the book is pretty impressive on it’s own. But, whatho, there’s a handwritten letter to me about the boy.
My first thought: “This doesn’t sound good.” I was right and it only got spookier.
Unbinding the book I began to read. Well, I read what I could as pages had been torn out. The story goes from strange to creepy to sad to WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT to whew to ohshitohshitohshit.
I shan’t spoil the fun but it was well worth the ride. And hey, at the end of the day, you get a nifty metal medallion on a leather strap. It looks cool. Especially with all those markings etched into it. They look so familiar. They look like something in the…
…ohgod. The book.
The story isn’t over, children. Not by a long shot.
How long did you wait for the email?
How long did it take for them to accept your application?
When you sign up, they ask for your address! Is this the address your items are delivered to!? I’m asking because I’d like to send these packages to our house in the UK as supposed to our Canadian residence. (*used Canadian address at sign up as that is where I’m currently residing)
I hope they even deliver to the UK!
Hopefully someone will have answers.
I blanked on my blood type. Ha! Might not even be accepted.
Thanks for this great article.
I received the experience as a Christmas gift. The first letter arrived and was mostly illegible and what I was able to read said it was passing a burden on to me… then the box came a few weeks later and it was a journal of a small boy who was taking his dog to be put to sleep… then the kid is sent to Europe to school… on it goes and the kid returns home. I never found an artifact unless the journal was it. I just didn’t get it. Sorry.-
How long did it take to receive your reply email? Too excited to wait!
Oh this sounds glorious! Like Raiders of the Lost Ark, National Treasure, The Game and some hints if Diagon Alley all in one! Im so poor it will be a year before i can try at any level but its engraved on my Bucket List now! Aaaagggh! So exciting!
This company really needs to get its act together with regard to shipping things out in a timely fashion. The estimated schedules have not even been close. for 200 bucks, I have higher expectations in this regard.
I’ve had the same experience as Jay Bee. I ordered a package for $199 in February as a coaches gift. All mailings should have been completed by the end of April. He has only received the first 2 of 4. I contacted the company and they said there were issues with supplies for the 3rd shipment and they guaranteed delivery the week of May 23. It is still listed as pending and I now can’t get any replies from the company. Extremely disappointing.
The Weeping Book story sounds perfect for our oldest son. I know it says Horror, and may not be suitable for under 16. He’s 13. And very mature. So…. How SCARY is this one really?! Thanks!
Awesome review, was hoping to get the future-time one for my dad! We love Sci-fi and I’m hoping he will like it.
I have ordered The King in Yellow for my best friend. He is mid way through the mystery now and is fascinated, though slightly paranoid about where it’s coming from. I sent under the Ceiba Tree to my niece. Should be arriving today. Can’t wait to see where this goes!
I would appreciate some suggestions for how appropriate it is for teens. Mysterious is ok and I teach forensic science, but I’m not sure if I feel comfortable getting it for my teen daughter. If it goes as dark and disturbing as say, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, that’s too much for a sub-adult, in my opinion. I also want to be sure it’s legit and not something actually dangerous.
It’s a mystery package that you attempt to solve through puzzles and cyphers … there’s no rape, implied or otherwise.
This is great info! Are you aware of similar experiences offered by other companies, by any chance?
Unfortunately, this was a spur of the moment purchase that turned into a plug. We aren’t aware of any other offers like this, but we’re sure you could find some with the Googles. ~NP
I ordered Tempus Fugit for my son who lives in Taiwan (I’m in Canada). Everything was going great. Mailings getting to him in a rough approximation of their stated times and answers to queries were quick and polite. And then … a dead stop. The reveal. The most important item. They were to send it one week after they shipped the package. It didn’t go. I emailed and was promised it would be sent ‘next week’. It didn’t go. I emailed them again and was promised it would be sent next week. It didn’t go. I emailed again, a little more discouraged, and was promised it would be sent next week. It didn’t go. Finally, they offered to EMAIL the reveal, which I accepted. At that time they said they would still mail the paper reveal … next week. It didn’t go. I seriously lost faith after so many unfulfilled promises. The reveal did finally get mailed, but the empty promises put quite the kibosh on my initial excitement over the company. They offered me $100 on any purchase through The Mysterious Package Company, but I’m really not sure I trust them enough to take them up on that. Too bad, because I was quite enthusiastic to start with.
Our experience was not so nerve wrecking or annoying. You should take up a complaint with MPC. We just wanted to write about how awesome our experience was. ~NP
I really think the hype is overblown since I have ordered this for a friend and we were both completely disappointed at the amount of money asked vs. what you actually get. I think you could put together some fake documents with some fancy online fonts or templates and put together a role playing game for a friend that would be cooler and less expensive. Not worth the amount at all.