Finally Getting the Wizarding World LootCrate Hedwig Pin

 In the September, 2018, J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World Subscription Box by LootCrate, there was an item missing.  The theme of the box was Back to Hogwarts, and the four received items were House themed.  Nice items, honestly, but it felt like something was missing, and I was relieved to find a card apologizing that the pin, the first in a creature series, would arrive separately by mid-October.

I got the main box last week, and a week to the day, yesterday, this pin came in the mail, sooner than I was expecting, and much nicer than what was seen on the item info sheet.  The pin in the picture looked small, but this pin is a pretty good size.

 A full view on the card.

The pin next to a quarter.

I like the pin and its pearl accent.  It fits well with the Back to Hogwarts theme.

May 2018 J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World by LootCrate subscription box review

This is the May, 2018, J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World by LootCrate.  It's delivered every other month, priced at $44.99 with shipping.  A few boxes ago this subscription was running a month late.  Even though I'm reviewing this box in June, I'm happy to report that both the March and May box were shipped by the 15th of each month and was delivered in good time.  (I didn't review the March box, though it was received).

May is Hogwarts House Pride 2018: "Whether you're a brave Gryffindor, clever Ravenclaw, loyal Hufflepuff or cunning Slytherin, represent your house with this Hogwarts House Pride crate (new for 2018!), full of items for all occasions."

Many items were tailored to the house you subscribe to when ordering the box.

 Hogwarts House T-Shirt

"Embody the strength and power of your house's mascot in this stylish tee!"  I like the fact that this is a red shirt, that's a nice touch.  The styling is very simple with the lion sporting the same image as found on the below pocket watch and patch.  I do like it, just wish the styling was more creative, but I appreciate the fact that the shirt is red. *Exclusive Lootcrate item.

 Hogwarts Crest Socks and House Crest Socks

The only non-exclusive item in the box. "A wise Headmaster once said, 'One can never have enough socks.' We're honoring these words by including two pairs, this one featuring the Hogwarts school crest!/ Show off your house spirit (and keep your feet warm and toasty) in these colorful socks emblazoned with your house crest."

It's true, you can never have too many socks.  Wearing the house crest socks now.  It's funny how Lootcrate, on the info card, count each sock as a separate item instead of a set.  I still like them.

 Hogwarts House Patch

"Add a pop of house pride to your scarf, cloak or other magical accoutrement with this embroidered house patch!"  More substantial than a magnet.  The back side looks like this is an iron on patch, and I like the quidditch touch at the top.  I think I'll put this on the Gryffindor sports bag we got last year for House Pride 2017. *Exclusive Lootcrate item.

 Hogwarts House Pocket Watch

"This intricate, carved metal pocket watch features your house mascot on the face and outside.  Wear it as a watch or as a necklace and never be late again."

The best item in the box!

I love the way this pocket watch looks on the outside, and the lion charm on the chain is a great touch.  The inside image isn't in the same style as the outside, looking sporty, which is unfortunate.  But still, I love this pocket watch.  Very cool. *Exclusive Lootcrate item.

 Harry Potter Enamel Pin

"Lord Voldemort made eight Horcruxes, though only seven of them were intentional.  Our Exclusive Horcrux pin series continues with Harry Potter's infamous scar!"

So Lootcrate continues the horcrux set.  Not surprised they did the lightening bolt, as a pin of Harry's forehead would have been weird.  Written on the inside it reads, "Neither can live while the other survives."  That's a nice touch.  I wish the enamel color was either red or yellow/gold instead of black.  For those collecting the Horcux set, I guess it's nice knowing Lookcrate with finish the series.  Nagini is left, and since next box is magical creature themed, a Nagini pin makes sense. *Exclusive Lootcrate item.

The first house pride box Lootcrate did was better, but I do love the pocket watch.  I'm getting the next box, magical creatures, but after that we'll see.  I might get the boxes till the end of the year just to see if they do special items for the new movie, which I hope they do!  Lootcrate does need to include more exclusive/original/creative items, as this box is feeling tired.  There are so many unofficial Harry Potter boxes that feel more filled out and fun, so Lootcrate is getting good competition.  Lootcrate needs to play to the fact that they are official, licensed, and in the know in terms of the next movie.  And create more fun items that true fans would get a kick over!

January 2018 J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World by LootCrate subscription box review

Trouble, Harry Potter's got trouble,

Right here in Lootcrate City!

With a capital "T"

That rhymes with "P"

And that stands for . . .

Yeah . . .

This is the January, 2018, J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World by LootCrate, which is a month late due to an item that got delayed at the factory, or so forth.  The November box was a month late as well.

 This box features 5-7 exclusive and officially licensed items.

I underlined that last bit on purpose, because they state it on the website. 

Price for this box, plus shipping, is $44.99, a price increase of $2.  The price increase, which was added to the March box (which will hopefully ship in March), was added for shipping.  What's interesting is how small the January box is.  I put it next to the November box, which is ironically smaller than its previous months.

The info card shows the size of the box.

Along with being late this box only came with 4 items, instead of the advertised 5-7.

Everywhere I've been reading on the net people are not happy.

I'll detail my thoughts after going through the items.

 (Box Theme)

 Hogwarts House Tie

 This is a nice tie.  It's 100% polyester.  I'd value it about $15-20, from what I was seeing online.  Hot Topic has a 100% polyester skinny tie for $12.90.  The Universal Studios Harry Potter online shop has silk ties for $31.95.  I like the lion, makes it more unique, but as my Dad pointed out it's a little off center.  But it is still a nice tie as I don't have one. 

 Black Family Tree Tapestry Shawl/Scarf

This is a nice long scarf. Really nice unique item that I'd value between $20-$25.  I love genealogy, and it's fun to see Sirius Black's complete family tree.  The scarf looks nice rolled up.  All the faces blacked out our family members who have been disowned, aka turned good.  Love the medieval tree feel.

 Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem Pin

This pin is really nice, my favorite pin thus far.  Love the little stone and jewel details.  Value $10-13.

The Wand Collection Book

This is a smaller paperback version of the book that came out last November.  I looked through one around Christmas at a Barnes and Nobles.  The Hardback is so much nicer.  I can see some people not happy with this item simply because they may already own the nicer version.  The pictures are very nice, and I've always found the different wands in the Harry Potter universe to be interesting.  What would have been nice, and this is a critique of the book overall, is if full descriptions of each wand was included: Length, wood type, and core material.  That would have been so nice. Value $13-18.

So the box . . .

I do like the quality of a few items.  Like the tie, scarf, and pin.  The book is nice to have, and I'm glad I didn't already have one.  But there are only 4 items when a minimum 5 was promised, late a month, with a price increase.  If this box is going to continue Lootcrate needs to get it together.  Find a way to get on track with the shipping, and be more transparent with their costumers.  I'm getting this box through May, as May is my B-day month.  May cancel after that.  The next box has already been charged, so I'm getting that regardless.  Guess we'll see how March goes.

Overall personal value for box is low end $58. 

(This blog post wins an award for the overuse of the word "nice".  Oops.)

November 2017 J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World by LootCrate subscription box review

This is the November J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World by LootCrate, which is a month late due to an item that got delayed at the factory.  This box features 5-7 exclusive and officially licensed items.
 

This subscription is bi-monthly, coming every other month.  At the outset of the box the cost was $34.99 per box plus $5 shipping.  Now it's $37.99 with $7 shipping and handling.  We got an email earlier this month that shipping was increasing by $2, hence the $7.  So now, if you get the "box to box" plan, the total cost is $44.99.  I've already paid for the January box, but I don't know if I'll get more than that.

This months theme: Secrets of the Wizarding World.

 Ariana Dumbledore Secret Compartment Picture Frame

This is a picture shadowbox.  I love that the picture of Ariana can be switched out. There's a magnet that keeps the box closed, and a back hook thing if you want to hang it.  There are hooks on the inside that aren't too difficult to unscrew.  The inside picture is the Room of Requirements.  Cool touch. Very innovative item.

 Blind Pig Coasters

These coasters are a hard cardboard, double sided, based on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.  I loved this image from The Blind Pig speakeasy in NYC.  One of my favorite art images from the movie.  The coasters are nice, I'll use them, very fun.

 I Am Lord Voldemort Magnet Set

My least favorite item in the box.  I'm not even going to open it, just see if I can find a family or friend who would like it.  What is seen are the only magnets in the package.

 12 Grimmauld Place Collapsible Tote

On the inside of the pouch is a collapsible tote bag, and when opened up the pouch becomes a front pocket.  Really cool item, and I love the design.  Definitely fits the secrets theme.

 Glow-in-The-Dark Marauders Tee

This is a really cool T-shirt!  I couldn't get a good picture of the glow in the dark aspect, but it's a lovely drawing of Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs.  The tree itself is the Whomping Willow.

 Helga Hufflepuff's Cup Pin

The latest pin in the Horcrux series.  Since I haven't been getting all the boxes, I don't have all the pins, but I do like this Hufflepuff cup pin.

You can reverse the box to make the Marauders Map!  Really cool if you want to use it as a storage box instead of throwing it in the recycling bin.

The price for the box is starting to get steep, but I do like how innovative and different all the items in this box are.  And all the items are exclusive to this box!  You can't buy them anywhere else.  So if you want unique Harry Potter merch, this box is a good choice.

J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World by LootCrate subscription box review

This is the first box in the new J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World by LootCrate, featuring 5-7 exclusive and officially licensed items in each box, delivering right to your front door the magic of the Wizarding World from Harry Potter to Fantastic Beasts and everything in between.

The subscription is bi-monthly, coming every other month, which means the next box will be delivered in January.  The cost is $34.99 per box, plus $5 in shipping.  You can save $3 with a six month subscription and $12 with a year subscription.

When you first sign up for the box you select your gender and shirt size, and then what Hogwarts house you sort yourself into in case there are house specific items (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin).  Unfortunately I didn't get any Gryffindor loot in this box--I'm looking at you January--as everything in this box ties into the new Fantastic Beasts movie which was released to theaters last Friday.

(BTW, the next box is open for new subscriptions.  This box pictured in this review sold out within the first week of going on sale.)

I opted for the box to box subscription, as I wasn't sure if I'd like it.  After receiving this box it's a huge winner!  The spoiler pictures I saw online over the weekend didn't do the box justice.

 Fantastic Beasts T-Shirt

Each LootCrate seems to always include an exclusive t-shirt, and this shirt shows the first page in The New York Ghost newspaper, which is featured in the movie.  Also, this shirt is unisex, so they didn't send a fitted women version.  It's a fun shirt, and I like being able to read all the headlines.  I wish I could read all the printed text!  That would be cool.

 Pop! Figure Assortment, Niffler.

Each box comes with a Pop! figure with a random chance of receiving either Newt Scamander, Tina Goldstein, the Niffler, Albus Dumbledore or Jacob Kowalski.  I got the Niffler!  A new creature who is a bit of a thief, not to give too much away.  He's an enduring beast.

 Pigwidgeon Plush

Ron Weasley's owl!  And he's super soft.  I'll be keeping him on my reading chair.

 Bowtruckle Pin

When I first saw the spoilers for this box I couldn't make this pin out.  At first I thought it was simply a green creature hanging out in a pot.  It's really a Bowtruckle Pickett hanging out in Newt's front pocket.  The creature itself, as seen in the movie, is cute.  I'm not sure what I think of the pin, and I'm obsessed with pin trading.  (I've got a nice Disney parks pin collection, not to mention all my Odyssey of the Mind pins.)

 Hedwig/Letter Keychain

This keychain has some serious weight and is quite sturdy!  It also has a faux leather tassel, which is apparently in fashion right now.  (tassels were on everything last Summer.)  I like this keychain, and I'll be hanging it off my backpack, ol' school style.

 MACUSA Notwbook

My favorite item in the box.

A notebook featuring the Magical Congress of the United States emblem.

 It's seriously nice, though I wish the pages were lined, but I'll still use it as a journal.

 And the scroll we received details each item in the box.

The January box is currently on sale, if you like what you see here and would like to give this LootCrate subscription a try.