What the LMG Sponsor Discussion Section Is For on the Linus Tech Tips Forums
The LMG Sponsor Discussion section is a community forum area for vetting Linus Media Group sponsors and raising problems with them. It sits under the "LTT Official" category, alongside LTT Releases, Forum Information, WHALE LAN, and LTTStore.com. If you want to flag a bad experience with a sponsor, ask whether a sponsor is trustworthy, or follow up on an unresolved issue, this is the place for it. It is a discussion board, not a formal support channel, and posts there do not by themselves change LMG's sponsor relationships.
Where it fits in the forum
The forums are split into three top-level areas visible in the page evidence:
| Area | Purpose | Example subforums |
|---|---|---|
| LTT Official | LMG-run topics and community programs | LTT Releases, Forum Information, WHALE LAN, LMG Sponsor Discussion, LTTStore.com |
| The Hub | General tech and non-tech discussion | General Discussion, Tech News, Off Topic |
| The Workbench | Build help and troubleshooting | New Builds and Planning, Troubleshooting |
| Computer Hardware | Hardware-specific discussion | Graphics Cards, CPUs/Motherboards/Memory, Power Supplies, Cooling |
LMG Sponsor Discussion sits in the first group because it is tied to LMG's own business relationships rather than to general hardware talk. The page evidence shows it with 4.7k posts and a recent thread titled "Dell battery DRM and Hidden OEM parts," which is a useful example of the kind of topic that lands there: a sponsor-related product or policy issue that the community wants to examine.
What belongs in the section
Use it for:
- Sponsor vetting — asking whether a company that sponsors LMG content is a good choice for a purchase.
- Problem reports — describing a bad experience with a sponsor's product, RMA process, or customer service.
- Follow-ups — adding information to an existing thread so the community can see whether an issue was resolved.
- Policy and practice discussion — topics like warranty terms, DRM behavior, or hidden OEM parts, as in the Dell battery thread.
Do not use it for:
- LTTStore.com order support — the page evidence explicitly says the LTTStore.com subforum is "Not for support" and directs people to email [email protected] instead. The same logic applies here: if you need a refund or a shipment fixed, contact the sponsor directly.
- General hardware troubleshooting — that belongs in The Workbench or Computer Hardware.
- Unrelated complaints — the section is about LMG sponsors specifically, not about every company you have dealt with.
How to participate
- Check for an existing thread first. Sponsor issues often repeat. Search the section for the company name before starting a new topic, and add your experience to the existing thread if one fits.
- Pick the right subforum. Confirm you are posting in LMG Sponsor Discussion rather than General Discussion or LTTStore.com.
- Write a specific title. "Dell battery DRM and Hidden OEM parts" tells readers what the thread is about; "Bad company" does not.
- Include the facts. Name the sponsor, describe what happened, give dates and order or ticket numbers where relevant, and state what outcome you want.
- Expect community replies, not an official ruling. Other members will ask questions, share their own experiences, and sometimes help you push the issue forward. A thread does not obligate LMG to act.
What to keep in mind
The section is described as "Community sponsor vetting, and helping to address problems with our sponsors." That wording puts the emphasis on the community doing the work. Threads can influence how sponsors behave and can warn other readers, but the section is not a contract, a guarantee, or a formal dispute-resolution process. Treat it as a place to gather information and pressure-test a sponsor's reputation before you spend money — and to document what happened after you did.