AppSumo Black Friday Mystery Box Unboxing 2023
AppSumo surprised me with a mystery box ahead of their 2023 Black Friday sale. Here's what was inside and what to expect from their biggest deals event of the year.
A Surprise Package from AppSumo
Something unexpected showed up in my mail — a massive, retro-styled box from AppSumo that I genuinely had no idea was coming. For context, I've been an AppSumo customer since 2013, and my earliest YouTube videos were actually about AppSumo deals. Those videos have consistently been some of my highest-performing content, so I'm planning to ramp up AppSumo coverage again soon.
The timing wasn't entirely random though. AppSumo and I had recently agreed to do a few sponsored videos over the Black Friday period. I want to be upfront about that because transparency matters. One reason this channel has done well is that I've always been honest when a product doesn't deliver — and that won't change with sponsorships.
Sponsored Videos and Staying Honest
You might be wondering whether a sponsorship deal changes how I review products. The short answer is no. AppSumo has been genuinely great about the arrangement — they let me choose which products I want to feature. I'm not being handed a script or told to praise something I don't believe in.
My last AppSumo video was a review of Kissmetrics that I made entirely on my own. Nobody asked me to make it, nobody paid me for it. I saw a product I was excited about and hit record. That kind of impartial review will absolutely continue. But when AppSumo offers to support a video about a product I already like, that's a win for everyone — me, them, and you.
What's Inside the Mystery Box
The box itself was beautifully designed with a retro 90s theme. The inside featured code-style text reading "main print" along with "Hello, Sumo-ling" — a nice nod to the AppSumo community. There was also a QR code linking to their current giveaway where they're giving away seven Apple Vision Pro headsets (valued at $3,500 each).
First out of the box was a postcard continuing the retro aesthetic with the tagline "The 90s called. They want their prices back." It teased AppSumo's biggest sale of the year — a throwback party featuring lifetime deals, epic giveaways, and a celebration of both new and old tech. Intriguing stuff.
The Retro Merch Collection
AppSumo packed in some genuinely fun merchandise, all keeping with the throwback theme. There was a hat featuring an 8-bit taco design that immediately went on my head — I'm a hat person and this one delivers. Next up was a fanny pack with an old-school Nintendo-inspired 8-bit print. Not exactly my everyday carry, but the design was on point.
The final item was probably the best touch: a retro calculator watch. It's the kind of detail that shows AppSumo actually put thought into the whole package rather than just throwing together generic swag. As someone who's been in their ecosystem for over a decade, I appreciated the effort even though they definitely didn't need to go this far to win me over.
What to Expect This Black Friday
If you're into lifetime software deals, AppSumo's Black Friday event is typically their most aggressive sale of the year. Based on what they've teased, expect deep discounts on lifetime deals alongside some creative throwback-themed promotions. The Apple Vision Pro giveaway alone makes it worth keeping an eye on.
I'll be covering specific deals on the channel as Black Friday approaches, starting with my next video which will be a sponsored AppSumo review of a product I genuinely think is worth your attention. If you want to catch those as they drop, make sure you're subscribed.
Watch the Full Video
Prefer watching to reading? Check out the full video on YouTube for a complete walkthrough with live demos and commentary.
