Home Comics & Toys Box of stuff face off: Nerd Nab vs Geek Crate

Box of stuff face off: Nerd Nab vs Geek Crate

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Nerdnab vs geekcrate

I know, I raved about how excited I was for Geek Crate, and then I went very quiet about the whole thing. Then I told you that Nerd Nab might be better. Well, the rad team sent me the first box, and I figure a picture (or two) is worth a thousand words. Or at least 250 words, right Geoff? I’m totally done with my article word count now, right?

First up, here is the Geek Crate that I was sent – sorry for no unboxing video; it came rather unexpectedly and I wasn’t sure what I was opening until the surprise element was already pretty much gone. It came in a brown box and included a t-shirt, Warhammer mini-figurines, a comic book and some chocolates.

GeekCrate 2

There was also a self-promotion magazine inside that didn’t really do it for me, as well as some stickers.

GeekCrate 1

At R300 per month, it just didn’t feel that worthwhile for me. Sure, maybe if I had gone out and purchased those same products it would have come to more than R300, but I just don’t see myself ever wearing the t-shirt except perhaps as lounge wear around the house, and I doubt that I will build the figurines. That leaves me with a comic book and some chocolate, and a bit of disappointment.

The second box I got to open looked snazzier from the outset. Sorry, I promise that I will do an unboxing video next time, I was just far too excited to rip into the box this time to pause and shoot footage. Here is the box of goodies from Nerd Nab:

NerdNab 2

As you can see, this one is way more gamer-centric, with goodies from franchises you know and love like Assassin’s Creed, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Oh, and Evolve. The box included a Nerd Nab t-shirt, Evolve bracelet, Assassin’s Creed keychain, Halloween light up stake, Fallout mask, Elder Scrolls soundtrack and Harley Quinn comic. The box costs R350 and comes out every two months. What I like about this one is that I know some of these products aren’t available even if you wanted to go spend that much at retail.

NerdNab 1

But that’s just the standard box. There is also a Nabber Plus box that includes a few extra items, and then the Motherload, which is a competition box valued at over R5 000 that can be won each month. I was obviously not a winner this time, but if I had been, I could have gotten a Thunderbirds board game, 9H SteelSeries headset and a leather jacket from Mad Max. Why couldn’t I have won that – that sounds awesome!

In large part, I think this has to do with that geek culture debate we had earlier this month. Not all gamers identify with the range of things that fall under geek culture. I think Nerd Nab seems more focused on gamers, with some other geek stuff thrown in for good measure, while other boxes (not just Geek Crate) are more about general geek culture and might include things from series and movies that may or may not appeal across the geek culture divide. I definitely preferred the Nerd Nab box that I got, and I’m looking forward to my next special delivery. Crossing fingers for the Motherload!

Last Updated: January 4, 2017

24 Comments

  1. Alien Emperor Trevor

    October 28, 2015 at 15:11

    I don’t see either of them being that appealing – there’s literally nothing there I would’ve been excited to see after opening them.

    Reply

    • Bob of the Khundelar

      October 28, 2015 at 15:15

      I agree. It’s also why I’m not sold on loot crate. If I wanted a particular item, I’d just go out and buy it.

      Reply

      • Brian Murdoch

        October 28, 2015 at 20:17

        I think it’s more about the excitement. the average gamer lives for the excitement of what’s around the corner in a game, experience and/or box. The items have a better appeal after that adrenaline just because of the moment. Is it more fun watching someone else play through a Batman game or playing it yourself?

        Reply

      • Zewp

        November 1, 2015 at 18:02

        I don’t know, some of those seem hard to get your hands on. I thought the first Geek Crate was absolutely shit and completely missed the plot, but this one I might actually subscribe to. These crates are all about the novelty value of owning random paraphernalia. It won’t appeal if you’re not into that kind of thing.

        Reply

  2. Milesh Bhana

    October 28, 2015 at 15:16

    also got my nerd nab today and was a little underwhelmed. (love the Vault Boy mask and AC Keyring though) I got keen on this kind of thing when i kept encountering lootcrate adverts, but that wasn’t available in SA.

    However, lootcrate has started shipping to SA now (albeit for a pricey R410), it’s converted dollar pricing, so if the rand ever gets stronger, then it would actually cost the same as nerdnab.
    https://www.lootcrate.com/

    Reply

  3. HvR

    October 28, 2015 at 15:26

    In 3 weeks time you will be the only one wearing that Evolve bracelet.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      October 28, 2015 at 15:30

      LOL

      Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    October 28, 2015 at 15:34

    I’m giving Geek grate one more month to dazzle me, then I’m cancelling. Second month had mini nunchucks with pens that pull out and a lego Batman and a few other little trinkets. Sadly still no superhero shirt nor comic this month and the anonymous mask I did get is a little damaged.

    Reply

    • Zewp

      November 1, 2015 at 18:04

      Would you mind putting up a photo of the contents? I can’t seem to find a comprehensive list of what’s in the October Geek Crate. People on their FB page seemed happy with it but then again, there were people who were happy with the first crate too.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        November 2, 2015 at 07:54

        Sorry it’s at home. I got a white lego batman with guns O_o, then there’s a tiny simpsons figurine. I got Yao a basketball player. There’s an anonymous mask but one with an elastic at the back. Mini nunchucks but if you pull the handles out there’s pens. A key ring with a pointer you can use on touch screens instead of your finger. Three back to the future sticker and some pokemons cards.

        I kinda just want a super hero tshirt first 😐

        Reply

        • Zewp

          November 2, 2015 at 18:33

          Thanks! Sounds like they’re on the right track, at least. It’s certainly miles ahead of last month’s box. Hopefully the content keeps improving. If we’re lucky, companies might even sponsor some stuff if they’re successful enough.

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            November 3, 2015 at 08:10

            Yeah, I’m getting another one.

  5. Hammersteyn

    October 28, 2015 at 15:36

    Nerd Nab unboxing

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      October 28, 2015 at 15:42

      Warn him not to buy Evolve!

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        October 28, 2015 at 15:44

        teehee

        Reply

  6. Marius Nell

    October 28, 2015 at 16:24

    geekcrate 2nd box was much better than the first

    Reply

    • Brian Murdoch

      October 28, 2015 at 20:18

      Well, if you like fake LEGO, sorry LEGB…? My son was not impressed. 😛

      Reply

      • Marius Nell

        October 29, 2015 at 07:06

        i found that hilarious, especially after it was hawkeye in a batman package :):):)

        Reply

        • Brian Murdoch

          October 29, 2015 at 13:03

          I want a hawkeye! That stuff I understand. We can’t expect them to open each box before they send it.

          Reply

      • HvR

        October 29, 2015 at 08:36

        Was it at least Lego compatible

        Reply

        • Brian Murdoch

          October 29, 2015 at 13:03

          Not sure, will check with my son.

          Reply

      • Zewp

        November 1, 2015 at 18:08

        Hehe, I’m probably partly to blame for that. Me and a few others told them they need to go to the China Town in CT if they want cheap geeky things for their crates. I know the one at Century City sells those LEGB knock-offs.

        Reply

  7. Blackwidow Unboxing

    November 5, 2015 at 21:48

    https://youtu.be/BS8WPQnmTFE check out my trailer for the coming months

    Reply

  8. Felicia

    November 17, 2015 at 10:14

    I ordered a Nerd Nabber at rAge and I must say when I got the box I was completely disappointed. I love the Loot crate idea but its just to expensive even though it is in SA. When I ordered I had to full in my preferred platform of gaming and they kept mentioning Halloween this set up certain expectations which were not met. Vault Boy mask personally eh. The Halloween light is just some cheap Halloween crap they chucked in to pretend they thought about Halloween. The tattoo is there to make me a walking advertisement no thanks. The comic was a free comic which you could easily have gotten if you attended any comicfest comic store on Halloween. The rubber wristbands ok I am still wearing mine but doesnt add much value. The music cd again not bad but not great. The assassins creed keychain is the only thing in the box worth it but since I can pick one up for about R50 doesnt make the box worth it. And the biggest disappointment the shirt, again sticking with the walking billboard theme (I know its Halloween but walking billboard was not my intended costume) it has no interesting picture, its white and semi see through. The packaging and flyer are nice but I would have rather had a plain box and better content. All in all Nerd Nabber Alpha was a waste of money.

    Reply

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