Birchbox February 2014 (SPOILERS)

[SOSRedAlertSOS]

Birchbox does chose what goes in the boxes though, they could have easily included another item in the box.  I know that the peelie and the card are extras, but the peelie as least is the saddest extra I have ever seen.  At least the shadows can be used once, enough to get a feel for them to leave a review.  But how do you review a product that won't even cover you whole face one time?

I agree with you. Those type of peelie samples belong in magazines.

 

[gemstone]

Here is a big gripe about newsgistics:  they are so unreliable about updating tracking!  I feel like my box just disappears until it is received by USPS.

ETA: my box left Elizabeth, NJ three days ago and has not been seen since. (It's only three hours from me)

 

[Rachel S]

Quote:Originally Posted by gemstone /img/forum/go_quote.gif

 

Birchbox does chose what goes in the boxes though, they could have easily included another item in the box.  I know that the peelie and the card are extras, but the peelie as least is the saddest extra I have ever seen.  At least the shadows can be used once, enough to get a feel for them to leave a review.  But how do you review a product that won't even cover you whole face one time?


I completely agree the peelie is pathetic... However I still I don't think it was Birchbox's fault. Even if they had included another sample in the box, people would've still complained about the peelie (b/c it was pretty much pointless). From what I've seen/heard, a 4 sample box is not unheard of. Basically that is what a lot of us got this month, plus a peelie/cardboard extra. I think we were all just really hyped about this Us Weekly collaboration and expected a lot out of it. Myself included!

 

[Wida]

Deleted

 

[kawaiiwoofs]

box 2 came in.

no broken glass but oil spilled EVERY WHERE.

 

[kawaiimeows]

Really interesting article about Birchbox and how it's struggling to expand.  It's too bad the author didn't make any attempt to talk to people who actually like their BB.  I don't think five people is a very good sample. http://ohhword.com/2014/02/12/is-birchbox-starting-to-hit-some-scaling-woes/

This article seems pretty poorly written. Like they had an idea for a headline and found a few opinions that fit that headline.

 

[MissRoe]

Quote: Originally Posted by IMDawnP /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Oh yes. I received this in December in Morelia and instantly purchased a full size which I NEVER do with hand creams. Never. Last week I was going to purchase a second tube to keep on my desk at work but that 1 (of the 3) scent was no longer listed. I was so sad thinking they may have dropped it from the shop but when I checked again yesterday all 3 are now showing as out of stock. I put myself on the waitlist so I can get another as soon as they come back in.
Never fear IMD-I tagged Camille Beckman on one of my IG posts last week and they actually responded. I then wrote back and told them that BB was out of Morelia Monarch. Camille Beckman responded again telling me that Birchbox placed an order last week and that stock should be back up soon!! 

 

[MissRoe]

Quote: Originally Posted by usofjessamerica /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  box 2 came in.

no broken glass but oil spilled EVERY WHERE.
Yep, my bottle wasn't properly closed. Or it bounced off of the Ruby Wing nail polish for so long that it loosened itself on the journey to my home...Hellloooo-pillow packs??!! Especially with 2 glass items in 1 box...

 

[amorgb]

Quote: Originally Posted by gemstone /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Yes- I think a lot of ipsy subscribers expect it to be the same as ipsy, and it is not supposed to be.  People who love ipsy tend to want full size products, and lots of makeup- things that take forever to get through so you aren't trying to buy more right away.  Birchbox is truly a sampling service- you will get a full size every now and again, but I got a full size of the stila one step bronze in july of 2012 and I don't think I will ever get through the whole thing.  Birchbox incentivises you to buy from their shop because of the points, they count on that the majority of subscribers will use their points when they reach 100, and then spend real money to cover the rest.

I think most of the people who get an receive both see value in both methods.

I just don't trust any article like that who only interviews the unhappy people.  We had a similar issue on this thread sometime last year- someone set up a poll and sent it out to all the subscribers about what they thought about birchbox- but it was made by someone who was very unhappy with the service, so all the answers were skewed towards what was wrong with it, so a lot of people who like bb felt like it was pretty biased from the get go, not purposefully of course.

I honestly think this is the best summary of the differences between Birchbox and Ipsy that I've seen thus far.  I've seen a lot of people talking about how they don't like the points system Ipsy has (don't get me wrong, I'm not disagreeing with them!), but I really think you hit the nail on the head with this explanation! 

 hehe

 

[knightsgirl]

The cap was off of one of my BP oils, huge oily mess in the box. They're sending a whole new box yay! I wonder how many they're having to resend with that terrible packaging idea?

 

[Charity1217]

Quote: Originally Posted by gemstone /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Yep- this happened to me several months ago.
Did you receive the box shown (the same as the box that was shipped earlier) or a different box?  I was going to put the polish and pores no more up for trade but I wanted to make sure that I am getting that box.

 

[Heather Hicks]

Quote: Originally Posted by amorgb /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I honestly think this is the best summary of the differences between Birchbox and Ipsy that I've seen thus far.  I've seen a lot of people talking about how they don't like the points system Ipsy has (don't get me wrong, I'm not disagreeing with them!), but I really think you hit the nail on the head with this explanation! 

 hehe
But I would add to it that people who stick with Ipsy care less about customer service, while Birchbox subscribers appreciate good customer service. I actually fall into both categories--I want lots of makeup in larger sizes for fun, but I want to try out quality products I might buy. If Ipsy offered better customer service, I wouldn't think about unsubbing, well, other than for monetary issues, which I have right now in droves. But because of how Ipsy screws up and then tries to lie their way out of it, I'm really feeling the urge to cancel at the moment. Compare how Birchbox has responded to all the broken bottles. Night and Day!!!

 

[Amby6912]

Quote: Originally Posted by gemstone /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Yes- I think a lot of ipsy subscribers expect it to be the same as ipsy, and it is not supposed to be.  People who love ipsy tend to want full size products, and lots of makeup- things that take forever to get through so you aren't trying to buy more right away.  Birchbox is truly a sampling service- you will get a full size every now and again, but I got a full size of the stila one step bronze in july of 2012 and I don't think I will ever get through the whole thing.  Birchbox incentivises you to buy from their shop because of the points, they count on that the majority of subscribers will use their points when they reach 100, and then spend real money to cover the rest.

I think most of the people who get an receive both see value in both methods.

I just don't trust any article like that who only interviews the unhappy people.  We had a similar issue on this thread sometime last year- someone set up a poll and sent it out to all the subscribers about what they thought about birchbox- but it was made by someone who was very unhappy with the service, so all the answers were skewed towards what was wrong with it, so a lot of people who like bb felt like it was pretty biased from the get go, not purposefully of course.
I get four separate subscription boxes and love each of them for different reasons. None of them offer the same things. At first, I was really hesitant to try Birchbox because the negativity from Ipsy subscribers and I'd seen dozens of videos with constant "foil packets" but then I saw something that changed my mind and I saw it here on MUT: someone had decanted a foil packet sample into one of those little lip makeup pot things. I realized that I needed to stop with the Birchbox vs Ipsy comparison because they are totally different subs. Since I've started getting BB I've noticed big time how different they are. I get Ipsy because I do love the full size makeup stuff. I get Birchbox because Birchbox sends more hair and skin stuff (and I have seen them send tea and chocolate;two of my absolute favorite things). Plus, a lot of the samples are the cutest little mini things and I love the cute mini things! And my other two I love for different reasons as well. That article was ridiculous. You can't write an article based on a small sample like that when the people all seem to be disappointed customers. So I totally get your point. And I'm rambling now so I'm gonna shut up. 

 

[kawaiiwoofs]

My BP oil leaked allll over the box. At least the tea was wrapped in foils so those were safe. They're also super tasty!

 

[cobainrls]

Quote: Originally Posted by knightsgirl /img/forum/go_quote.gif

The cap was off of one of my BP oils, huge oily mess in the box. They're sending a whole new box yay! I wonder how many they're having to resend with that terrible packaging idea?
They are sending me a new box as well!

 

[amorgb]

Quote: Originally Posted by Heather Hicks /img/forum/go_quote.gif  
But I would add to it that people who stick with Ipsy care less about customer service, while Birchbox subscribers appreciate good customer service. I actually fall into both categories--I want lots of makeup in larger sizes for fun, but I want to try out quality products I might buy. If Ipsy offered better customer service, I wouldn't think about unsubbing, well, other than for monetary issues, which I have right now in droves. But because of how Ipsy screws up and then tries to lie their way out of it, I'm really feeling the urge to cancel at the moment. Compare how Birchbox has responded to all the broken bottles. Night and Day!!!


I'm so sorry you have to deal with all of that.  I don't actually get either Birchbox or Ipsy right now but I'm following both to see which one I want to try more, so thats why I found the breakdown really helpful.  I do think you have a good point too and its definitely something to take into consideration.  You shouldn't have to put up with being unhappy when you're the one paying for the boxes!

 

[Rachel S]

Quote:Originally Posted by knightsgirl /img/forum/go_quote.gif

The cap was off of one of my BP oils, huge oily mess in the box. They're sending a whole new box yay! I wonder how many they're having to resend with that terrible packaging idea?


From the sounds of it, A TON! I wonder if they will do something to ensure it doesn't happen a second time with the new box??

 

[jennm149]

Quote: Originally Posted by usofjessamerica /img/forum/go_quote.gif

My BP oil leaked allll over the box. At least the tea was wrapped in foils so those were safe. They're also super tasty!

Harney & Sons tea is terrific!  It's all we drink around here.

I was lucky with my liquid items.  My (third) box came with the perfume and BP oil in the pillow pack.  And I got the OPI in purple!

Still waiting for boxes 1 and 2.  They were supposed to be delivered today, but Mother Nature apparently didn't want me to have them just yet.

 

[kawaiiwoofs]

I found that I've been discovering my favorite teas from birchbox (this one, Kusmi, etc ) more often than I discover a favorite new beauty product!

Harney & Sons tea is terrific!  It's all we drink around here. I was lucky with my liquid items.  My (third) box came with the perfume and BP oil in the pillow pack.  And I got the OPI in purple! Still waiting for boxes 1 and 2.  They were supposed to be delivered today, but Mother Nature apparently didn't want me to have them just yet.

 

[Allison H]

Quote: Originally Posted by cobainrls /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  They are sending me a new box as well!
I hope this issue doesn't happen with my box...I was suppose to get it yesterday, but due to the snow it was not delivered. It was sent back to another state instead, which makes no sense to me...I'm scared that with all of the added travel my little glass bottle will be broken.

On a positive  note, it does look like Birchbox is great at sending out a replacement box/item. I'm glad to see their customer service seems awesome, this is only my second box with them.