Do you mind when your favorite content creators sell you "scams"?

[Bob_McMillan]

Remember Loot Crate? Seems like eons ago. Apparently they went bankrupt, to no one's surprise.

They were for a time the number one sponsor of nerd or nerd-adjacent content creators. These days its all VPNs and watches, basically any product whose sole unique characteristic is that they're being advertised to you by those you "trust". They're always marketed as being premium, but cheaper! Supposedly because they need less overhead selling online. But they end up being exposed as "scams" by people who are actually knowledgeable about the stuff.

So what do you feel about your favorite podcast trying to sell you overpriced crap? Usually I don't mind, sponsors seem to be the only way some creators can survive. But when they start saying how they themselves use it every day, or how they only accept sponsors for products they believe in, my cynicism skyrockets.

Bonus question, have you ever bought something from such sponsors? I've only ever gotten razors, but then they were bought for me so I didn't really care if they lived up the promises.

 

[Gordon_4]

Remember Loot Crate? Seems like eons ago. Apparently they went bankrupt, to no one's surprise.

They were for a time the number one sponsor of nerd or nerd-adjacent content creators. These days its all VPNs and watches, basically any product whose sole unique characteristic is that they're being advertised to you by those you "trust". They're always marketed as being premium, but cheaper! Supposedly because they need less overhead selling online. But they end up being exposed as "scams" by people who are actually knowledgeable about the stuff.

So what do you feel about your favorite podcast trying to sell you overpriced crap? Usually I don't mind, sponsors seem to be the only way some creators can survive. But when they start saying how they themselves use it every day, or how they only accept sponsors for products they believe in, my cynicism skyrockets.

Bonus question, have you ever bought something from such sponsors? I've only ever gotten razors, but then they were bought for me so I didn't really care if they lived up the promises.

The only creator I watch with that level of product placement is Linus Tech Tips but A) he's upfront about who's sponsoring him and B) I've never really felt like any of what he's pitched are scams. Most of them are tools I would perceive as useful - VPNs, network monitoring, man-scaping - or are IT products like graphics cards and monitors I'm broadly already aware of. I mean, maybe their not the most premium of premium but I've never been compelled enough to try them and find out.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

Not really. I figure most of the people they shill for they are doing so purely for monetary reasons and I haven't bought something due to a commercial since I was 17 so it doesn't matter to me whether it's a bad product or an amazing one since I'm not going to buy it regardless.

Obviously I prefer it when they shill for products they themselves like or use because it shows integrity, but I don't expect everyone to do that.

 

[Chimpzy]

Oh man, so many people pushing Raid: Shadow Legends. Or Raycon earbuds, aka rebranded chinese designs you can find on AliExpress for much cheaper.

But to answer the title question, no, it doesn't bother me. I'm well aware shilling is what makes the youtube world revolves unless you've big enough to survive solely off patreon or ad revenue, so I usually just zone out and/or skip it.

Bonus answer to bonus question: no, I've never bought any.

 

[happyninja42]

I don't really care that a provider has to plug sponsors to continue to function. Most of them also use Patreon because they dislike the unstable and predatory YT model, and similar platforms, but it's not always enough income, so they have to do ads. I generally don't pay them any attention, as I never buy their stuff, and most of my content providers are mature enough to actually stop using some sponsor if they're found out to be shit or a scam. I've had a few specifically do a video on why they no longer do them.

 

[Shadyside]

I just skip whenever the youtuber talks about vpn or whatever they are trying to sell. Almost everything on the market is mediocre and overpriced, so I never want to buy much of anything.

 

[happyninja42]

I just skip whenever the youtuber talks about vpn or whatever they are trying to sell. Almost everything on the market is mediocre and overpriced, so I never want to buy much of anything.

Yeah pretty much this, I don't mind them having to do it to sustain their channel, but I'm not going to watch it, as I generally have no desire to buy....stuff. Like Loot Crate, I never understood the appeal of that. It's random vendor trash you could pick up at novelty shops in a mall, why do I need to clutter up my house with a box of random shit?

I see things like Raycon, and VPN, etc as similar. I don't have any need for them, so I have no plan on buying. But I don't begrudge the online personality the need to peddle stuff to maintain a healthy revenue stream. It's still on me to have you know, self restraint and not just buy every damn thing someone dangles in front of me.

 

[Shadyside]

That loot crate garbage was so retarded. It was just cheap Chinese stuff that was hugely overpriced.

 

[BrawlMan]

Nope. None of the content creators I subscribe to ever did The loot crate thing. There was the case with Maximilian where his dog was supposed to be in a fighting game, and there was a patreon for it from the developer. But that ended up going nowhere and he has yet to comment on it. I never gave any money to patreon, but I feel bad for the people you couldn't have bother to give money back to or at least warn them ahead of time that the game was basically a scam. He quietly pushed himself away from the situation. I still like the guy, but he definitely could have handled that better. I highly doubt most people will even remember it now.

 

[Shadyside]

It's a lot more annoying when commie and socialist youtubers are always railing about the evils of capitalism, but then turn around and try to sell you their garbage and patreon. Especially the ones who make six figures. I know this is the only thing they can live out of, but still.

 

[happyninja42]

It's a lot more annoying when commie and socialist youtubers are always railing about the evils of capitalism, but then turn around and try to sell you their garbage and patreon. Especially the ones who make six figures. I know this is the only thing they can live out of, but still.

It's fairly impossible to not operate within the confines of capitalism, and live. I'm sure they would all love to NOT have to do that, but they have to eat and pay bills.

 

[tippy2k2]

I don't see it any different then my local radio DJ doing an ad spot for X company. If you can get someone to pay you some extra money for a 30 second ad, go for it.

As to if I've ever bought, not from an online version but funny enough the local DJ plugging a CBD product. I've listened to this DJ long enough that I know he at least uses the products he sells and I was curious to try CBD for my headache issue. With his promo code thing, I got 20% off so if I'm taking a blind shot on a new product like this, I might as well get a discount on it through an endorsement of someone I trust (or trust as much as you can trust someone you've never actually met or talked to...).

 

[Shadyside]

It's fairly impossible to not operate within the confines of capitalism, and live. I'm sure they would all love to NOT have to do that, but they have to eat and pay bills.

I know that, but the ones who make 6 figures usually flaunt and live somewhat opulent. If I was a commie who made 6 figures, I wouldn't buy brands. I would open charities and live minimalistic. Just practice what you preach is all I'm asking.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

I don't see it any different then my local radio DJ doing an ad spot for X company. If you can get someone to pay you some extra money for a 30 second ad, go for it.

As to if I've ever bought, not from an online version but funny enough the local DJ plugging a CBD product. I've listened to this DJ long enough that I know he at least uses the products he sells and I was curious to try CBD for my headache issue. With his promo code thing, I got 20% off so if I'm taking a blind shot on a new product like this, I might as well get a discount on it through an endorsement of someone I trust (or trust as much as you can trust someone you've never actually met or talked to...).

Was it good?

 

[tippy2k2]

Was it good?

I just bought it this weekend so it is on the way.

I had tried a different CBD brand months ago but didn't think it helped. But I'm willing to give it another try (with a new brand) to see if I get better results as I've read that quality of the CBD can vary greatly between companies.

 

[Worgen]

I remember when this website tried to sell a scam to its users. It claimed to be one of those survey things for but for video games that would pay for your answers and it turned out to not even have any questions about video games.

 

[Silvanus]

Remember Loot Crate? Seems like eons ago. Apparently they went bankrupt, to no one's surprise.

Are you sure? Looks like they're still operating.

 

[lil devils x]

Are you sure? Looks like they're still operating.

Yea, My sister sent me some Loot Crate stuff with my Birthday present in July.
Yup still there:

Geek Subscription Box for Gamers & Nerds | Loot Crate™

Loot Crate is the #1 pop culture subscription-based service on the planet, bringing the love of pop culture conventions to fans at home. We work closely with creators and licensed partners like Warner Brothers, Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Universal, Bethesda, Crunchyroll and others to imagine new...

www.lootcrate.com

Looks like they were acquired by NECA.

Collectible Company NECA Acquires Loot Crate - Los Angeles Business Journal

Bankrupt gamer and geek subscription box service Loot Crate Inc. has received a lifeline from none other than Elvis Presley, or at least from the King’s marketing company, Elvis Presley Enterprises.

labusinessjournal.com

 

[Worgen]

Yea, My sister sent me some Loot Crate stuff with my Birthday present in July.

I never subscribed to loot crate but I did end up with some of their stuff from swap meets. Someone was just giving away a metal salor moon wand bottle opener. I still use it to this day.

 

[Dalisclock]

Doesn't it have something to do with youtube demonetizing videos left and right a while back? I remember there was a big deal about that a couple years back and apparently it's become a lot harder for youtubers to make ends meet because of it.

Or maybe I'm thinking of something else but I can't remember off the top of my head.