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You know, this is some shit that I expect when dealing with some shady asshole on ebay, but LMG?
Bro... Are you ok?
I always wondered if Linus was actually a slimy POS, but this Billet Labs situation has cemented it for me. If you haven't watched the Gamers Nexus followup video, definitely watch it.
I thought you were joking about the screwdriver until I had a check.
Christ alive. I saw the other items you mentioned as well. I'm impressed how they've managed to extort their fanbase for generic items.
For what it's worth, I can get a set of 8 screwdrivers in the UK for £5 (set of 42 for £21), a laptop backpack for £30, and hoodies for ~£30.
definitely not generic. not sure about their clothing but the other stuff is darn good quality. The laptop backpack you get for $30 DEFINITELY won't match the quality of theirs, the screwdrivers you mentioned are 1. not professional grade and 2. probably just a regular set and not ratcheting or compact.
Just because something is cheaper doesn't mean it's better.
Backpack: maybe not, but as long as it doesn't wear off. For example, I got myself an anti-theft laptop backpack (didn't even realise it was anti-theft when I bought it lol) and it was £25. I'm not going to pretend it has the utmost premium of materials woven into the backpack or anything, but honestly? It's not absolute crap either and it's still going one year later. All my other bags have been the same - not the most premium materials (prob. pretty simple stuff) but it does the job and sticks around forever.
Screwdrivers: So I found a ratchetng screwdriver for £21 - which comes with the bits (unlike from what I can see in LTT store, they seem to be sold separately!!!).
As for "professional grade", I have searched and searched online for an exact definition for what this could even mean for a screwdriver (because the implication is that other screwdrivers are Fischer Price plastic screwdrivers or something, which is absolutely hilarious to me and I kind of wish it was true) and I get wildly varying definitions (and that's from the ones I could even find. The most I can work out is that it had more random bits - which I think my example provides (with torx etc). If it has something to do with the "materials" of the screwdriver, then I will say I cannot remember a single time in my life when a screwdriver has broke on me. Generally I buy them (no matter how cheap) and I have it for life.
And yes, just because something is cheaper, doesn't make it better. But just because something is expensive, doesn't mean it is naturally better too. Clothing and quite frankly the backpack is incredibly subjective, so I can appreciate we don't see eye-to-eye on it. But the screwdriver? The LTT screwdriver is such blatant markup on standard screwdrivers that it boggles my mind how anyone could defend it. If they were something along the lines of $30-$40, i would think "yeah, they're expensive, but it's clear LTT has got to eat and the people who buy it are clearly supporting the channel" but at $70 it's practically robbery as an artform.
Fun fact: When I was trying to find the words "professional grade" (hint: couldn't find it) on the screwdriver page for the LTT store, I noticed this disclaimer text in the product description:
Now, to be fair, this is true with my cheap-o screwdrivers with the interchangeable bits too. However, I didn't fork out lots of money for the privilege.
Backpack: If you want a backpack to last 2-4 years, sure. but theirs is designed to last decades.
With the ratcheting screwdriver, i do agree. I just wanted to justify (idk if that's the right word im ESL) the price point that it's not that far out from other brands. And by professional grade i mean stuff like snap-on, and megapro. These brands are pretty much on par with pricing and quality.
Also the prices are definitely at least slightly inflated since their shop is a merch shop first, everything else second. You buy stuff from it to support their work and get a premium product with it.