Unboxing March 2014: Loot Crate vs Nerd Block

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Loot Crate vs. Nerd Block – March 2014

Loot Crate and Nerd Block are two very big subscription box companies. They both have a large fan base and they both consistently give out awesome product in their boxes. Loot Crate costs $13.37 a month plus shipping which comes out to be around $20 a month. Meanwhile, Nerd Block costs $20 a month but, since it ships from Canada, costs close to $30 after shipping. Regardless of which one you get, the items in the boxes will always add up to more than what you paid for the box.  And it’s a great way to collect nerdy t-shirts. Loot Crate includes a t-shirt in a few of their boxes each year and Nerd Block includes a shirt in every box which probably explains the added monthly cost.

This month, I decided to get both of them so I could compare them.

Here’s what I got and here’s what I thought!

Loot Crate

Loot Crate’s theme this month is Titan. They included an exclusive Titanfall developer t-shirt, lanyard, Attack on Titan Vol. 1 manga, Attack on “Titanfall” magnet, Attack on Titan Scout Regiment wrist sweatband, an e-book code for a Titanfall strategy guide, some taffy candy, a button, and some coupons. Overall, a very solid box and great items. The t-shirt is unique and apparently you can’t get it in online stores. I mean, you can get it off e-bay now because people are selling them from their crate but it’s otherwise exclusive to the box. The lanyard is snazzy looking, the manga I can’t wait to read, I’ll use the sweatband when I exercise, and if I ever get an Xbone I’ll read the strategy guide. This crate was better than last month’s Warriors themed one.

Retail Value: $53.95
Loot Crate Cost: $19.99
Rating: ★★★★★

Nerd Block

This was my very first Nerd Block because I missed the deadline for last month’s. Anyway, this month Nerd Block said they teamed up with Ubisoft for a special item in the box. Therese, Sam, and I thought it would have something to do with Assassin’s Creed or perhaps Watch Dogs. We were right. Nerd Block’s special item from Ubisoft was an Assassin’s Creed action figure toy. I might leave it in the packaging or take it out and display it on my desk. The other items in the box consisted of 3 different figurines (Legend of Zelda, Simpsons, and Star Trek), a hilarious pack of stickers, and a Darth Vader t-shirt. All the figures are just going to be desk ornaments because I don’t really collect them but they’re fun to look at. The stickers I’ll find someplace to put them, perhaps some on my bike and one on my snowboard. I am currently wearing the t-shirt right now and it’s probably my favorite item from the box. Not bad for my first Nerd Block!

Retail Value: $52.47
Loot Crate Cost: $29.49
Rating: ★★★☆☆

To put one ahead of the other you really have to look at how much effort goes into each box.

I think Loot Crate puts more effort into their boxes because they always have a central theme with all the items revolving around that theme. It makes the box feel more…together. You also have bathroom reading material because it comes with a little mini-magazine for you to read about all the stuff you got. Plus it’s $10 cheaper.

However, don’t just take my word for it.

Try both out, see which one you like. You won’t be disappointed either way.