When people learn I work for The Verge, they inevitably ask: “Do you get to keep the gadgets?” Now that I film Today I’m Toying With, a video series where I share the joy of tech, I get that question more than ever.
The answer is no, we don’t keep them! Our ethics policy is clear: “We don’t accept things of value from companies or from their PR firms, period.” We don’t keep them, we don’t sell them, we don’t pass them to family or friends. We try to return them, and if a company doesn’t want them back, we give them away.
But I’ll let you in on a little secret — for over a year, I’ve been quietly asking those companies permission to give those unwanted gadgets to you.
I originally came up with Today I’m Toying With so you can live vicariously through me, playing with more cool stuff than you can necessarily afford yourself. (I certainly can’t afford a tenth of what I get to try this way!)
But what if you could actually reach out and touch these gadgets? What if I shipped you actual items you’ve seen in my videos on YouTube and Instagram and TikTok? What if I did it every month or maybe every week?
That’s what we’re going to do. I have dozens of awesome packages of gadgets to give away — Robot toys! USB-C chargers! Gaming gear! — and I’m going to keep giving them away as long as I can. Each prize box will be picked randomly from my big list, so neither you nor I will know exactly what each winner’s going to get.
We do have a few limitations. You’ll have to enter each new giveaway. Our legal team tells me I can’t send prizes outside the 50 US states and DC because paperwork gets complicated fast. If you’re a Verge subscriber, thank you for supporting our work, but sweepstakes like these can’t be subscriber-exclusive — they have to be “no purchase necessary.”
But if you’re eligible, there’s a chance you could get a package from me in the mail! Just fill out the entry form here or at Gleam with your name and email address, subscribe to The Verge on Instagram and TikTok, and keep an eye out for my next giveaway next month! (Follow me on The Verge or Bluesky to be extra sure you won’t miss an announcement!) You can find the official rules here.
‘Today I’m Toying with’ Giveaway #1
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Sweepstakes begins at 9:00AM ET on May 27th, 2026 and ends at 9:00AM ET on June 10th, 2026. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C., of legal age of majority and have access to the internet, and a valid email address. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Governed by and subject to the Official Rules, additional eligibility restrictions apply. Vox Media Privacy Policy
Sponsor: Vox Media, LLC, 1701 Rhode Island Ave., Washington DC 20036
