Geek Fuel EXP is a monthly subscription box filled with fandom tees, figures, comics, and goodies.
Note: Due to an error in their shipping department, we have been receiving the Geek Fuel boxes a month late. We are told the problem has been rectified and we should have the October box soon.
In addition, Geek Fuel wanted us to pass along this message about ordering from them during the holidays: "Throughout our discussions with the major freight carriers (FedEx, USPS), they are expecting major holiday delays. We recommend shopping early this year in November to be safe and we will be offering holiday gifting options in November to guarantee delivery before the holidays."
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 a month, save with longer subscriptions.
The Products: Games, toys, collectibles, and other exclusive gear.
Ships to: The U.S. for free.
Geek Fuel September 2020 Review
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Included was an info card with details about each item. This month's card looks like the quarter machine that you used to love as a kid because it popped out a surprise toy, sticker, or collectible.
Also included was a sticker from Black Panther. No doubt in remembrance of Chadwick Boseman.
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"Atari" Shirt
This black T-shirt sports a distressed Atari logo atop a rainbow grid for a 3-D look. I don't know if Geek Fuel gets its shirts made at the same place or what, but this is the second shirt I've received from them and they fit great. After I modeled this for the photo, I just wore it all day. The shirt comes in a box designed to look like an old Atari game called "Fuel's Revenge." I was more of a NES guy, but definitely remember playing the Atari system. Since I was used to the newer system, the impact of the Atari was lost on me. Although I did wear an Atari shirt in high school. Its logo still represents an old school, pioneering mentality in the video game community. Great shirt.
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The Legend of Zelda 3D Light - Retail Value $15.99
This month Geek Fuel is sending subscribers one of three Zelda-themed lights (batteries not included). They are the familiar Tri-force, rupee, and a heart container. They are more of a decorative item than a functional light but cool nonetheless. I must say I was happy to receive the Tri-force, as it is the iconic symbol of The Legend of Zelda. While I played the original game on NES plenty, I was actually more of a SNES's "A Link to the Past" kind of guy.
Note: A quick internet search will give you an array of purchasing options for these lights. Some cheaper, some pricier. I chose the Amazon link because it seemed like the most dependable. I also noticed the different lights vary in price, which, if you care about value, may impact your enjoyment of the box you received.
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Geek Fuel Travel Tumbler and Straw - Exclusive
I was underwhelmed with this item, although if you need a cup this one will do the job. It's the size of a pint glass. It has a screw-on top with an accompanying straw. Inside the insulating void is a piece of paper with a Geek Fuel design that I think is supposed to look like Louis Vuitton. Honestly, no one needs this. Chances are you have plenty of cups and a travel cup/mug that you prefer over this. It's not microwave or dishwasher safe. You can't even see the design through the red tint, which is a moot point, because we don't want Geek Fuel-branded merchandise in the first place. We want the nostalgic pop culture things Geek Fuel usually provides. If Geek Fuel wants to include branded items, that's fine, but they should be throw-in items. Not something subscribers paid for. And go back to the info card and read the cup's description and try not to cringe.
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Fantastic Forgotten Fortunes of Rare Retro Relics, Trinkets Treasure, and Trash (F.F.F.R.R.R.T.T.T. Mystery Bag) - Exclusive
That was a mouthful. I found this part of this month's box to be the best. The bag claims they've unearthed a cache of vintage pop culture collectibles. Whatever the case, it included three little trinkets: a small plastic figure, a collector's card, and a candy. The figure looks like a curtsying clown and comes in a plastic container that looks like it came out of a quarter machine. The card is from Supergirl and has a sticker on the back. I used to eat a lot of Warheads as a kid. Maybe it's because I'm over 30 now, but I did not enjoy the sour candy very much. Somehow, each one of these tiny items hit home for me. Even though I never had these items as a kid nor do I particularly care about Supergirl, there is something about each item that reminds me of being a kid and getting excited about the smallest thing. I would have loved to get a subscription box of just these F.F.F.R.R.R.T.T.T. Mystery Bags.
If you received Geek Fuel this month, please comment with the contents of your mystery bag and what you thought of it.
Verdict: Another OK effort from Geek Fuel. Since moving from quarterly to monthly, there are fewer items. There were four this month, so if you don't like one item – like me – that's 25% of the box or $7.25 of the cost. The winner for me was the mystery bag. There's no monetary value there, but, like last month's TMNT action figure, it made me feel like a kid again. That's a personal reason, but that is to say, the item did exactly what Geek Fuel intends to do: remind us of the things we grew up loving. I hope they are able to do more of that, although they have a lot of different childhoods to consider. As for the value of this month's box. I feel like it's not there. The shirt is nice. The prices for the lights were erratic. The mystery bag held more emotional value for me, which may not be true for everyone. And that cup... don't get me started on that cup.
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 4 items has an average cost of $7.25 (I did not include the Wakanda sticker in this breakdown).
Check out all of our Geek Fuel reviews and all of our Geeky Subscription Boxes in the Subscription Box List.
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