Geek Fuel EXP is a monthly subscription box filled with fandom tees, figures, comics, and goodies.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Geek Fuel
The Subscription Box: Geek Fuel
The Cost: $29 per month, save with longer subscriptions.
The Products: Games, toys, collectibles, and other exclusive gear.
Ships to: The U.S. for free.
Geek Fuel "Scallywag Edition" April 2021 Review
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Included was an info card with details about each item. This month's theme is "Scallywag Edition" and the card has a pirate theme to it.
Note: There was a last-minute change with the Firefly items. The keychain in the booklet is not included. Instead, subscribers will receive one of two different Firefly items. This information change was sent in an email.
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"As You Wish" Exclusive Shirt - Listed Price $20.00
I think we can all agree "The Princess Bride" is among the most beloved movies. While the film has many, many memorable quotes, perhaps the most often recited is Westley's "As you wish." The shirt itself is a charcoal black tee with a red, tan, and white design. At the center of the image is the titular character above the scene from the Cliffs of Insanity. At the top of the shirt is the familiar quote. Many tiny details are pulled from the film, such as the poisoned goblet, the priest's hat, and the rodents of unusual size (although they just look like rats, because there are no rodents of usual size). I think Geek Fuel has once again produced an excellent, unique shirt design.
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Bangarang Letter Opener – Exclusive - Listed Price $20.00
Another beloved film and a favorite of mine is "Hook." Here is a 7-inch letter opener in the likeness of Pan's sword from that film. A fake, half coconut holds the opener when not in use. The items come in a nice box that looks like a treasure map with movie quotes on it. Inside the box, a card has "Bangarang" and crossed swords on one side and, on the other, silhouettes of Rufio and Peter with a golden sword between them and a movie quote. Overall, I was very impressed with the design of the packaging. My one small complaint would be the coconut. I wish it looked a little more realistic and maybe had rubber on the bottom so it didn't move around on a smooth surface. Like most stuff from Geek Fuel, I like the idea of an item starting a conversation people maybe wouldn't have had otherwise. If someone had this letter opener on their desk and another fan of "Hook" saw it, it would be an instant connection. Like a band shirt (or movie shirt). I applaud Geek Fuel for finding new ways to apply nostalgia to everyday items.
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Firefly Keychain or Pendant - Listed Price $15.00 and $35.00, respectively.
I hate to admit this in writing, but I've never watched Firefly. Heard nothing but good things, but I just haven't got around to it. I was confused to receive a necklace instead of the keychain in the booklet. I inquired about this and a contact at Geek Fuel said the booklet should have read subscribers will be getting one of the two items. An email to subscribers soon followed confirming the items and values.
The email said "lucky" subscribers will receive the "Leaf on the Wind" pendant. It features, of course, a small, sterling-silver plated metal Serenity sitting atop a 14K gold-plated metal leaf, which measures just under two inches. The mantra "Leaf on the Wind" is that of Wash, the pilot of the Serenity. The pendant comes in a neat, velvet-lined, wooden chest, which may be from the show – I don't know. Just for comparison, Amazon is selling this for $50.82.
The keychain, which can also be made into a pendant with a black cord (included), features a gold-plated Serenity. It sits atop a bronze-finish metal leaf, itself measuring just under 2 inches. It comes attached to a heavy-duty bronze-finish key chain. You'll need a pair of needle-nose pliers to make the switch to a necklace. It's currently sold out on the manufacturer's website, but can be found here for $13.34
For what it's worth, the keychain that was originally featured in the booklet is also around two inches big and is just the ship cast in solid metal with a pewter finish. The booklet says the manufacture actually used special effects files from the series and carefully scaled down the ship to fit on your keychain. The booklet lists the value at $10. Here it is on Amazon for $5.75.
I would have preferred the original keychain in terms of personal preference, but that is just me. The disparity in the value of the two leaf items is noteworthy. There is a difference of $20 ($25 if you go by the manufacturer's site and much more if Amazon is to be believed). That's a pretty large gap. I haven't seen anything like that in over a year of reviewing. What do you think? What did you receive?
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"Here You Guys" Sticker – Exclusive - Listed Value $3.00
Almost every Geek Fuel box I've reviewed has had a sticker inside and it typically is not included in the overall value. However, this is the largest sticker I've received from them. So I can see why it was part of the value this time. The pirate-themed sticker is 6 x 4 inches and features a "Goonies" version of the Jolly Roger. The skull is that of the Sloth character, which I thought was another inventive nostalgia incorporation. I like that they didn't try to force any quotes onto it. This would also make a great shirt.
Verdict: Another box of good and clever items within a good theme. Geek Fuel continues to find new and interesting ways to bring nostalgia to different items. Although I may not use it myself, I was impressed by the letter opener. They took a symbol from that movie and thought, "How can we make this a fun, useful item?" I enjoyed the large sticker of one of my favorite childhood movies. The Firefly items are a bit of a mystery. Both are great in their own ways, but the difference in value is stark. I could see subscribers being disappointed to receive the keychain simply because of the price disparity. That leaves the shirt as my favorite item. I'll never grow tired of The Princess Bride and I already love this shirt. In my opinion, Geek Fuel almost always knocks it out of the park with their shirts. Overall, I think this is a solid box. Check out below if the value holds up.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? You'll likely start with next month's box.
Value Breakdown: At $29 per month + free shipping, each of these four items – including the sticker – has an average cost of $7.25. Geek Fuel is now including the value of the items on the info card. According to the suggested value, this box clocks in at $58 or $78 – depending on which Firefly item you received (and more, depending on where you would purchase it from). One on hand, $58 is is a little less than the recent totals of $60+. On the other, $78 would likely make this the most value subscribers have received from this box. At least, recently. I found the situation a little bizarre, but the value is undeniable. What do you think of the Firefly items? If you're a subscriber, which one did you receive?
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