- If you are a spoiler-loving kind of girl, find out your spoilers and try to forget about it. As someone who frequently is at the end of the delivery line for my favorite subscriptions, I can speak to the torture of waiting on your boxes. It is awful. Stalking the postman only makes it more stressful when delays occur. This is probably the hardest bit of advice to follow, but it has really helped me.
- If you do not get that one product your reallllllllllllly wanted, just buy it yourself. Do not wait in hopes that you will get it sent to you. I have only reallllllllllly wanted a few products that I did not get and I have never, ever regretted just buying it.
- Do not chase your losses. If once upon a time a subscription had a great box that blew the doors off and then sent several months of boxes you did not enjoy-cut them loose. It is not worth hanging in there in hopes that next month the box will be amazing. And if it is, you can just buy the things that you would have loved to get. Life is too short to stay subscribed to a box that is not making you happy.
- Do not buy long term subscriptions for new box services. They will try to entice you with great deals but let them prove themselves to you before you can commit. Having a long term subscription to an awful service is just a miserable affair no matter what kind of deal you scored.
- If you are new to subscription boxes, do not sign up for a ton and a half of them. Start with one or a handful and give yourself a few months to learn what you like.
- Do not make monthly wish lists. This only sets you up for disappointment. You will always have better ideas than what you end up getting.
- Do not have super high expectations regarding the matching systems. I fill mine out and ignore them. I cannot even imagine the logistical nightmare of trying to run one of these things. It is far too labor intensive of a proposition to match everyone perfectly every month. And if you expect this, you will be unhappy. Enjoy what you get. And if you do not enjoy it month to month, then unsubscribe.
- Fill out the reviews. They ARE kind of annoying, but the perks add up pretty quickly for most services and it helps you take advantage of another benefit of the service. That said, if you really do hate doing it, then feel free to ignore them if it makes you happier overall :-)
- Be aware of ranters. We love our friends and it is pretty nice when we can share the fun of subscription boxes with our peeps. BUT if you know someone who is rarely if ever happy with their boxes but stays subscribed and uses them as a monthly excuse to rant-run for cover. Change the subject. Just do not allow your experience to be tainted, and definitely do not allow this on the regular. Attitudes ARE contagious. Now this does not mean we all will not have the occasional awful box, that is a different matter entirely. Just be aware of how other people impact your enjoyment of something you pay for with your hard earned money.
- Evaluate your boxes over time. There is not one box that has not bummed me out at least once. If a service keeps bumming you out, ditch them. But if they have an off month or two, consider your experience with the service over time before you decided whether or not to stay subscribed. A good indicator for me is how I feel when I know it is coming or when it has arrived. If I am giddy, then the service is a good match.
Showing posts with label Subscription Box. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Subscription Box. Show all posts
Monday, April 7, 2014
How to Enjoy your Subscriptions More
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Goodies.co will be shutting down soon :-(
According to this article from TechCrunch.com, Goodies.co will be shut down over the next few weeks. I have really enjoyed this subscription, and so I am pretty bummed to hear the news. :-(
Enter my Feeling Grateful Giveaway here!
And please follow Spoiled
Boxes because it would make me smile :-)
Enter my Feeling Grateful Giveaway here!
 |
| Photo Credit: NYX |
Friday, October 4, 2013
What I am loving today: Hello Fresh! Review with $20 off Coupon Code!
Or as I like to call it, Hellllllllllllloooooooooo Fresh! Ha!
I have tried Hello Fresh now for several weeks, and decided I liked enough to share about it with you guys. The have two options, the Vegetarian option and the Classic option. I am a vegetarian so I was happy to see that option available but my boyfriend has ordered the Classic option, so I have seen both variations.
For the purposes of this review, I will be focusing on a single week from July of this year.
My Hello Fresh Arrives!- Hello Fresh ships fast and everything is packed really well. I thought it was sort of amazing the way they managed to get fresh ingredients to me looking great, no matter what the weather! Below you can see the ingredient and recipe cards. The front shows the ingredients for each recipe, and the back has the recipe itself, step by step, with photos.
Roasted Eggplant Linguine
Warm Herby Mushroom Salad
Zucchini & Grilling Cheese Kabobs
Now that you have seen my pretty pictures (I had such fun taking them), here is the bottom line...
The bottom line-I LOVE Hello Fresh! All the recipes they have ever sent have been delicious and fresh. They ship quickly, pack the items well, and have the nicest customer service people of any subscription I have ever communicated with. They help tune me in to the ingredients of the season, and new foods I have learned to enjoy. There service is silly convenient, and a lot of fun. I wholeheartedly, unequivocally, recommend them. Try them out for yourself and enjoy!
*Enabler Alert: You can get $20 off your first box using this code FVSSNA
I have tried Hello Fresh now for several weeks, and decided I liked enough to share about it with you guys. The have two options, the Vegetarian option and the Classic option. I am a vegetarian so I was happy to see that option available but my boyfriend has ordered the Classic option, so I have seen both variations.
For the purposes of this review, I will be focusing on a single week from July of this year.
My Hello Fresh Arrives!- Hello Fresh ships fast and everything is packed really well. I thought it was sort of amazing the way they managed to get fresh ingredients to me looking great, no matter what the weather! Below you can see the ingredient and recipe cards. The front shows the ingredients for each recipe, and the back has the recipe itself, step by step, with photos.
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| Here is what it looked like when it arrived! |
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| Here are the menu cards for the week. I like how they lay out all of the ingredients. |
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| These are the Hello Fresh "Pantry" items. Ingredients you will be using across different recipes. |
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| Here is the recipe card and ingredients. |
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| My Linguine in the Wild! |
Warm Herby Mushroom Salad
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| Here are the ingredients along with the menu card. |
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| My finished product! It was actually prettier in person :-) |
Zucchini & Grilling Cheese Kabobs
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| Here are the ingredients along with the menu card. |
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| My finished product! I was SO proud of how pretty it was! |
*Enabler Alert: You can get $20 off your first box using this code FVSSNA
Enter my Feeling Grateful Giveaway here!
| ||
Monday, September 30, 2013
Wantable September 2013 Accessories Box
Wantable is a rather unique subscription box service in that it offers multiple types of subscriptions (cosmetics, accessories, and intimates) for $36 a month. It allows for a higher level of individual customization since subscribers take surveys detailing their specific preferences. They also let you skip as needed and return the whole box if it is not a match.
Wantable approached me to try one of their boxes for review, and I choose the accessories box since I have not had a lot of experience with boxes like it. I also tend to like it when other subscriptions send me things that fall into that category, so I thought it would be fun to try.
When I first approached the survey, I was a bit confused. I made selections, but it would not let me move on to the next page until I selected more possibilities on the page. When I touched base with Wantable about this, they let me know that there is a minimum number of options that must be picked, and that they were unaware that there was not a message explaining this. All in all, not a big deal, I just ended up picking a few more options than I would have without it.
They offer a lot of variation if desired, and it was fun to guess what I might get. I realized this was the one subscription where I surely could not count on any real spoilers!
Survey completed and my confirmation received, I thought it would be a while before I saw my box. I was wrong. Wantable blew my my mind by how quickly they expedited and shipped my order! I wish other services would jump on their bandwagon!
So...what did I get and how did they do?
The first item I received was a Bora "Betty" Watch I could not find the exact one I got online, but I found a site that sells the brand. The band actually looks more navy than bright blue in person. Hit or Miss? I would say a hit. This clean, sleek, slightly sporty styling is very me, and yet I am not sure I would have picked it up on my own. That is great, because I expect these services to stretch me a bit. A couple of hours after I got it, I was messing with the buttons on the side because I wanted to see if the watch had a working chronometer or if it was just cosmetic. It was just cosmetic and unfortunately, one of the buttons has stayed pushed down since I depressed it. This is kind of bummer, but I am sure I can figure out how to fix it.
A.J. Morgan "Marie" Sunglasses in Brown Hit or Miss? Hit! These are fun! I feel like a diva fashionista with these on, and much more sophisticated than I actually am. Again, these are not something I would have picked out for myself but they are very cool :-)
Brown Leopard Scarf from Accessory St. New York I could not find the exact one I was sent online, but they carry the brand at Nordstroms. Hit or Miss? Miss :-( I cannot believe I am saying that about a scarf, since I have become quite the scarf lover over the last year, but this one is just not my speed. Now, this may change after I have spent some time with it. It is also definitely a nice warm one, so I will not get use of it very soon since it is warmer than usual at the moment. (Note to Mother Nature, I am not complaining).
Bottom Line: Two hits and a miss is not bad. I think the scarf came from having to select an additional style option that was not really me because of Wantable's minimum number of options requirement. I think had I been able to narrow my style choices a bit, they would have been three for three. Again, I cannot say with certainty that the scarf is a miss until I have really spent time with it, but it was not love at first sight.
Wantable's expediting and shipping was excellent, and my items were packed really well. They are really friendly and eager to assist customers as needed. My friends have had really good experiences with Wantable's picks and their customer service. I was actually impressed given all the possible options, how on target they were. (Side note: This also made me feel a little predictable and boring ;-). Bottom line, I would definitely consider using this service again I wanted to give myself a little treat. There policy makes it pretty risk free, and I have no doubt their customer service would continue to be easy to deal with should anything crop up. Plus, I definitely felt the value exceeded the cost of the box.
Please share if you subscribe or have tried Wantable, or if are considering giving them a whirl!
*Note-I was approached by Wantable and received this box free of charge for review purposes. Although I am grateful for the opportunity to review it, my opinions about the box and the subscription are truthful and entirely my own.
And please follow Spoiled
Boxes because it would make me smile :-)
Wantable approached me to try one of their boxes for review, and I choose the accessories box since I have not had a lot of experience with boxes like it. I also tend to like it when other subscriptions send me things that fall into that category, so I thought it would be fun to try.
When I first approached the survey, I was a bit confused. I made selections, but it would not let me move on to the next page until I selected more possibilities on the page. When I touched base with Wantable about this, they let me know that there is a minimum number of options that must be picked, and that they were unaware that there was not a message explaining this. All in all, not a big deal, I just ended up picking a few more options than I would have without it.
They offer a lot of variation if desired, and it was fun to guess what I might get. I realized this was the one subscription where I surely could not count on any real spoilers!
Survey completed and my confirmation received, I thought it would be a while before I saw my box. I was wrong. Wantable blew my my mind by how quickly they expedited and shipped my order! I wish other services would jump on their bandwagon!
So...what did I get and how did they do?
The first item I received was a Bora "Betty" Watch I could not find the exact one I got online, but I found a site that sells the brand. The band actually looks more navy than bright blue in person. Hit or Miss? I would say a hit. This clean, sleek, slightly sporty styling is very me, and yet I am not sure I would have picked it up on my own. That is great, because I expect these services to stretch me a bit. A couple of hours after I got it, I was messing with the buttons on the side because I wanted to see if the watch had a working chronometer or if it was just cosmetic. It was just cosmetic and unfortunately, one of the buttons has stayed pushed down since I depressed it. This is kind of bummer, but I am sure I can figure out how to fix it.
A.J. Morgan "Marie" Sunglasses in Brown Hit or Miss? Hit! These are fun! I feel like a diva fashionista with these on, and much more sophisticated than I actually am. Again, these are not something I would have picked out for myself but they are very cool :-)
 |
| My photo of the glasses |
 |
| Stock photo of the glasses. Photo Credit: A.J. Morgan |
Brown Leopard Scarf from Accessory St. New York I could not find the exact one I was sent online, but they carry the brand at Nordstroms. Hit or Miss? Miss :-( I cannot believe I am saying that about a scarf, since I have become quite the scarf lover over the last year, but this one is just not my speed. Now, this may change after I have spent some time with it. It is also definitely a nice warm one, so I will not get use of it very soon since it is warmer than usual at the moment. (Note to Mother Nature, I am not complaining).
Bottom Line: Two hits and a miss is not bad. I think the scarf came from having to select an additional style option that was not really me because of Wantable's minimum number of options requirement. I think had I been able to narrow my style choices a bit, they would have been three for three. Again, I cannot say with certainty that the scarf is a miss until I have really spent time with it, but it was not love at first sight.
Wantable's expediting and shipping was excellent, and my items were packed really well. They are really friendly and eager to assist customers as needed. My friends have had really good experiences with Wantable's picks and their customer service. I was actually impressed given all the possible options, how on target they were. (Side note: This also made me feel a little predictable and boring ;-). Bottom line, I would definitely consider using this service again I wanted to give myself a little treat. There policy makes it pretty risk free, and I have no doubt their customer service would continue to be easy to deal with should anything crop up. Plus, I definitely felt the value exceeded the cost of the box.
Please share if you subscribe or have tried Wantable, or if are considering giving them a whirl!
*Note-I was approached by Wantable and received this box free of charge for review purposes. Although I am grateful for the opportunity to review it, my opinions about the box and the subscription are truthful and entirely my own.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Stages of Subscribing to Subscription Box Services
1. Denial
"What? People send you little presents every month? NO WAY!"
"I don't know if I really need a makeup subscription.
"I would never subscribe to more than one makeup subscription. Come on, that is a little excessive isn't it?"
"What? There's a box that just sends you nail polish?! Well, that doesn't really count as a makeup subscription does it?"
"What? There is a box that sends you all full-sized makeup every month? Well that is just economical! And those full-sized items would augment my samples so nicely!"
2. Anger
"Why didn't I find out about this box before?! I missed the good month!"
"Ugh!!! When are they going to ship!"
"Argh!!! The shipping is so slow!"
"Seriously SmartPost?! What magic journey will you send my box on this month? Is it possible for you to send my box on a slower, more indirect and bizarre route?!"
"Why does this box hate me? I never get the thing I want!"
3. Bargaining
"Okay, so if I skip a month of this sub, then I am only really subscribed to five, which is totally reasonable, especially since I would have to buy a lot of this stuff eventually, right?"
4. Depression
"I have spent HOW MUCH on subscription boxes?! How did that even happen?! I cannot give up this one, or this one, soooo....it looks like you are on the chopping block this month. But I will miss you, I promise."
5. Acceptance
"My name is Kitten Mittens, and I am a subscriptoholic."
And please follow Spoiled Boxes because it would make me smile :-)
More spoilers as I learn them!
"What? People send you little presents every month? NO WAY!"
"I don't know if I really need a makeup subscription.
"I would never subscribe to more than one makeup subscription. Come on, that is a little excessive isn't it?"
"What? There's a box that just sends you nail polish?! Well, that doesn't really count as a makeup subscription does it?"
"What? There is a box that sends you all full-sized makeup every month? Well that is just economical! And those full-sized items would augment my samples so nicely!"
2. Anger
"Why didn't I find out about this box before?! I missed the good month!"
"Ugh!!! When are they going to ship!"
"Argh!!! The shipping is so slow!"
"Seriously SmartPost?! What magic journey will you send my box on this month? Is it possible for you to send my box on a slower, more indirect and bizarre route?!"
"Why does this box hate me? I never get the thing I want!"
3. Bargaining
"Okay, so if I skip a month of this sub, then I am only really subscribed to five, which is totally reasonable, especially since I would have to buy a lot of this stuff eventually, right?"
4. Depression
"I have spent HOW MUCH on subscription boxes?! How did that even happen?! I cannot give up this one, or this one, soooo....it looks like you are on the chopping block this month. But I will miss you, I promise."
5. Acceptance
"My name is Kitten Mittens, and I am a subscriptoholic."
And please follow Spoiled Boxes because it would make me smile :-)
More spoilers as I learn them!
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