Why are unboxing videos so popular?

[inf1nity]

I like Unbox Therapy on YT. It tells me what to expect in case I ever buy that product. What accessories are included etc. It also tells you more about the product than ads/pro reviews.

 

[Ichinisan]

Often, the person doing the unboxing misses the obvious correct way to open something.

The videos are useful when I'm trying to repackage a gadget to sell.

 

[Newell Steamer]

I never understood them myself.

I am OK with seeing what is in special limited uncensored collector's director's cut editions (i.e. the Breaking Bad barrel collection), but there is no need for me to watch a quarter of an hour of someone manhandling cheap plastic as they breath heavily.

Open the mother fucker, lay out what was in it and, yeah sure, give us your 'thoughts'. But, watching 10 fat fingers fumble with something as they try to hold a camera is just annoying.

 

[Blanky]

I don't get his success either. When I said that he was funny and exciting I wasn't talking about how I perceive him. This is how very young people think he is. Also, he is a good looking guy so he attracts the young female viewers.

When the young girls are watching his videos I think most could care less about the video game. They don't care about the mechanics of the game, or if it's any good. They just want to see Pewds play the game, and to look at his face. Just my opinion.

Also their friends have him so they have to as well so they don't miss anything he says, I guess. I find him of utterly no value at all, but there are many people on YouTube with tons of subs who really do little of value.

I have seen young girls able to spend hours on YouTube just watching other girls talking to the camera. And they dont have to be saying anything intelligent or reviewing a product or anything at all. Just inane rambling, and yet view after view.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Hickok45

 

[KeithTalent]

Something I have always wondered too. Makes no sense.

KT

 

[Kaido]

I like to see what I'm getting before I buy something. Its worked out 100% of the time.

Yeah same. Thinking about it, 3 reasons come to mind:

1. To live vicariously through the excitement of a new toy (haha I'm such a nerd)

2. To see what's actually included in the box (not all sites list the description of the box contents; i.e. something simple like a printer that doesn't actually include a USB cord)

3. To help speed up setup (especially if I'm rolling out a bunch at work & haven't done it before)

 

[skipsneeky2]

Found the Newegg unboxing of the Antec GX500 handy,always nice to see the product outside of a canned review on a Tech Site. Bought the case.:thumbsup:

Didn't care much for the lack of detail of the case,the two front switches turn the fans low,high or off.Big detail to miss Newegg in a unboxing video.Bring back Logan and his humor cause that chick is a drone i swear.

 

[TheSlamma]

so you can experience some of the thrill of buying shit, without buying shit

wonder if it works on people with CBD

 

[PliotronX]

I'm into the amateur BBW midget unboxing videos m'self.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

They make "unboxing" videos? Uhhh, I just called them "product reviews"... since they tend to give a bit of a review as well.

 

[Ichinisan]

Often, the person doing the unboxing misses the obvious correct way to open something.

The videos are useful when I'm trying to repackage a gadget to sell.

...and I really hate when they miss something in the box or misidentify it. It's often something that would have been useful to know about when comparing one product to another.

It might even cause people to throw-away useful things like a SIM eject tool or whatever.

 

[Ichinisan]

Some of the people making unboxing videos don't even understand what it's supposed to be.

No one wants to see you take a used Gameboy out of a box that had been packaged by an eBay seller.

 

[skipsneeky2]

They make "unboxing" videos? Uhhh, I just called them "product reviews"... since they tend to give a bit of a review as well.

lol yeah your right,well the item itself was outside of the box and what was in the box pretty much was all there.One big case and a small white box inside with all the items needed for the build.I like the Newegg videos the most though.

I think they do some unboxing stuff occasionally but yeah i could watch so many unboxing videos for a single item before i purchase it.Builds excitement prior to the purchase. Logan on Newegg could have sold me a penny for a dime with his overall excitement.

 

[Kaido]

They make "unboxing" videos? Uhhh, I just called them "product reviews"... since they tend to give a bit of a review as well.

Yeah...I did one once. Best Buy accidentally released a Wacom touchpad early and my video got like 50k hits in a few hours. Too bad I didn't know about Youtube ads back in 2009

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThYspkvKC6g

My only claim to fame & my desk is a wreck

 

[cronos]

Sometimes it's interesting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIf9GdCzY_Y

 

[Maximilian]

You can tell things you wouldn't otherwise know, but theres two kinds of unboxing vids IMO:

- The first kind sucks, they unbox the product spend 10 minutes rambling about how pretty the fucking box is and then read the specs off an autocue or something, useless, I can get that info from wikipedia, these vids are done by marketing shills.

- The second kind, they unbox the product, use it, give thoughts on it, X was difficult to install, Y looks good but if also using X it will be a tight fit etc etc, very useful info! Stuff that cant be quantified in specs. These vids are also possibly done by marketing shills but they at least have an interest in what they're talking about, makes a huge difference!

 

[Carson Dyle]

You can tell things you wouldn't otherwise know, but theres two kinds of unboxing vids IMO:

- The first kind sucks, they unbox the product spend 10 minutes rambling about how pretty the fucking box is and then read the specs off an autocue or something, useless, I can get that info from wikipedia, these vids are done by marketing shills.

- The second kind, they unbox the product, use it, give thoughts on it, X was difficult to install, Y looks good but if also using X it will be a tight fit etc etc, very useful info! Stuff that cant be quantified in specs. These vids are also possibly done by marketing shills but they at least have an interest in what they're talking about, makes a huge difference!

Good points.

The first bunch are like the Newegg reviewers who give a product one star because they thought the item didn't get to them fast enough. Just all around 110% clueless.

 

[Childs]

Hickok45

I guess he unboxes ammo...

Yeah...I did one once. Best Buy accidentally released a Wacom touchpad early and my video got like 50k hits in a few hours. Too bad I didn't know about Youtube ads back in 2009

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThYspkvKC6g

My only claim to fame & my desk is a wreck

You did a good job! :thumbsup:

 

[gorobei]

if i buy something expensive(over $1000) like a laptop, i video the unbox just in case someone broke into it and replaced it with a brick kind of crime or if some part is missing. that way i have evidence if i need to send it back to the retailer. i dont put the videos on YT tho.

ill watch one of the informative ones if i'm going to buy something and want to see that parts and manuals a sku comes with. the oohhh ahh shiny thing vids are worthless. any vid that cant get to the actual item out of the box in the first 5 min tends to be a sign of a bad vid.

 

[clamum]

Ugh, I have no idea. So many people on YouTube will do a "product review" and it just consists of them opening a frickin box and giving a short crappy review with info that you could've just gotten from the manufacturer's website.

 

[FeuerFrei]

They've been around for years but I believe the general public just now discovered them - that's my take.

I'm more into boxing videos where they package up items for shipment. I just enjoy a fine package.

 

[mizzou]

Unboxings are a great way to see what is actually in the box. They way some are made seem a little fetish'y but.....overall I do have concerns about what is actually included with the product. The biggest desire to see whats in them, is when you are dealing with a product that has multiple SKU's out there and it's confusing what differences exist between them.

Now...I don't want them to tease the damn box and use vanna white hands to sex it up, just show what's inside. Open it up and show it to me. SHOW IT TO ME!!

 

[mizzou]

Oh and on the Let's Play videos, I have watched them in the past to see what a game is like before buying it. Some do such a good job at making the game appear fun (more fun then it is) a'la Robbaz, that you may actually find the game less interesting when you purchase it and play it.

Back when I was younger, I used to watch my older brother play Nintendo and DOS games in awe of his masterful ability. I suppose watching these let's play videos is not much different. At a certain point, I'd rather be in control and doing the action myself...not watching someone else have fun. But sitting next to someone, you are sort of a 2nd player because you can provide input and ask questions. Watching it on youtube, you are just watching someone else rehashing the same experience.

 

[BoomerD]

I don't get it either. It's MUCH better to watch someone put stuff INTO boxes...