Birchbox February 2014 (SPOILERS)

[Rachel S]

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

I am not pleased AT ALL with my box. It's the worst I have ever received. I worked out the value of the samples and it comes to less than $9... For a $10 box.

After I tweeted about my extreme disappointment, BirchboxOps told me to email them at [email protected] but I don't see how that is going to help. I got a terrible box and they aren't going to send me a new one are they?

If you are wondering what I got:
-ayres soap
-agave hair treatment packet
-opi sheer tint- the amber one
-juicy couture perfume
-miracle skin transformer (which has so much shimmer! How could anyone possible use this?!)


Man It's too bad you don't like your box /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> My box this month is not my favorite, either.. I haven't gotten it yet though so I'm holding out hope that I'll be happier when it's in hand. I think it would definitely help to email them, and it looks like they are reaching out to you b/c they want you to be satisfied. They will probably give you points to use to purchase something you would be happy with. It's hard to calculate a monetary value of birchbox for me... I add in the fun of it and getting to try new products I wouldn't ordinarily buy for myself. And keep in mind the shipping is free, and you get to review your items for 50 points too /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[pinkcrayon]

That's interesting, my last Vitamin D test was at a 4, and the doctor advised me to take vitamin D but he didn't specify a high dose nor did he act particularly concerned.  I think this is the last straw for this doctor.  If you don't mind me asking, is your supplement OTC?  If it is, could you tell me what it is?

wow, I didn't realize low vitamin d was so common! the way my dr. acted about it, I thought it was some rare fluke thing. I get my supplements from gnc. I'm not sure the brand, but they come in 1000, 2000, and 5000. I'm taking the 5000 because mines so low, but I should get it tested again to see if its helped.

 

[sarasbeautyblog]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rachel S /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Quote: Originally Posted by sarasbeautyblog /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I am not pleased AT ALL with my box. It's the worst I have ever received. I worked out the value of the samples and it comes to less than $9... For a $10 box.



After I tweeted about my extreme disappointment, BirchboxOps told me to email them at [email protected] but I don't see how that is going to help. I got a terrible box and they aren't going to send me a new one are they?



If you are wondering what I got:

-ayres soap

-agave hair treatment packet

-opi sheer tint- the amber one

-juicy couture perfume

-miracle skin transformer (which has so much shimmer! How could anyone possible use this?!)



Man It's too bad you don't like your box

My box this month is not my favorite, either.. I haven't gotten it yet though so I'm holding out hope that I'll be happier when it's in hand.

I think it would definitely help to email them, and it looks like they are reaching out to you b/c they want you to be satisfied. They will probably give you points to use to purchase something you would be happy with.

It's hard to calculate a monetary value of birchbox for me... I add in the fun of it and getting to try new products I wouldn't ordinarily buy for myself. And keep in mind the shipping is free, and you get to review your items for 50 points too

The reason I put the monetary value up is to give you a sense for how small the samples really are. To me the value is important. It's a good indication that I'm getting what I pay for. And, I get what you and @TippyAG are saying about the experience being part of the value, but, as a college student with limited income (most of which goes to tuition and books), the value of the box sort of outweighs that. I don't think that $10 a month or $99 a year for the experience of getting a present in the mail is worth it. I want the contents to be useful and usable so that I can tell if I want to purchase it in the future. I guess I'm saying that I don't order Birchbox for the fun (though that is a bonus, no doubt); I order because I want to get good size samples to test out. Know what I mean? 

I might email but I haven't decided yet. I don't want to be flagged as a frequent complainer. I looked at the BirchboxOPs Twitter and they reach out to pretty much anyone who complains or is remotely dissatisfied.

Oh and @TippyAG, the Miracle Skin thing is a highlighting sort of thing. They say to use it on your whole face if you want but the shimmer is pretty chunky and it's silver. Even diluted with lotion, I think it is going to be way too much for me.

 

[AshJs3]

I am not pleased AT ALL with my box. It's the worst I have ever received. I worked out the value of the samples and it comes to less than $9... For a $10 box. After I tweeted about my extreme disappointment, BirchboxOps told me to email them at [email protected] but I don't see how that is going to help. I got a terrible box and they aren't going to send me a new one are they? If you are wondering what I got: -ayres soap -agave hair treatment packet -opi sheer tint- the amber one -juicy couture perfume -miracle skin transformer (which has so much shimmer! How could anyone possible use this?!)

I'm getting the same box and I think it's great! I've heard amazing things about the skin transformer!

 

[katiecoll]

Quote: Originally Posted by adeaea /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  I'm so disappointed!  I logged in yesterday morning and my January box showed as being amazing full of stuff I've been wanting... Liz Earle cleanser, Coastal Scents Reveal, some sort of handmade hand cream, Klorane fig shampoo, and an under armor headband.  I received the headband last month but didn't even care about a dupe.  Well I got my box today (3 days early!) and it's completely different and nothing exciting... the half up hair wrap, tea, a tiny tube of Paula's choice, a tiny sample of W3ll, and whish body butter.  Seriously... tea AND the hair wrap?  boo.  I logged back in and now it is showing that as my box.  Has this ever happened to anyone before?  I want the box it showed yesterday lol!
 The exact same thing happened to me with a gift subscription I gave to my Mom. Same exact boxes too. And I know she would have liked that first box more than the second!

 

[inlustro]

Quote: Originally Posted by With2Ls /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  That's interesting, my last Vitamin D test was at a 4, and the doctor advised me to take vitamin D but he didn't specify a high dose nor did he act particularly concerned.  I think this is the last straw for this doctor. 


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


wow, I didn't realize low vitamin d was so common! the way my dr. acted about it, I thought it was some rare fluke thing.

RE the whole vitamin d thing, as I understand it, there wasn't a test for it until pretty recently. So if it seems like all of a sudden everyone and their mother is being diagnosed as vit d deficient (it certainly seemed that way to me), it's not that there's a sudden drop in people's health, it's that we weren't testing for it before so no one knew. I think testing for vitamin d levels has become routine in some circles and not others, AND, I believe there was recently a paper suggesting that maybe the purported health benefits of supplementing vitamin d are not so strong as they originally thought. So some doctors may fret while others say no big deal.

In any event, for what it's worth, I also supplement vitamin d at the suggestion of my GP, as mine levels were ridiculously low. I got mine OTC, in chewable/gummy form, and I think 2000 "units" per day is the normal dose. Each gummy has 1000 units.

 

[PR Rosebud]

There was a glitch when they posted the february boxes where january boxes had been posted for people instead, which obviously people weren't going to get.  The majority of probably the discussion on monday was about it, but they fixed the glitch pretty quickly

 

[PR Rosebud]

Mine showed my Feb box on Monday and now has been showing my Jan box since Tues. They are still having problems.

 

[Rachel S]

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

The reason I put the monetary value up is to give you a sense for how small the samples really are. To me the value is important. It's a good indication that I'm getting what I pay for. And, I get what you and @TippyAG are saying about the experience being part of the value, but, as a college student with limited income (most of which goes to tuition and books), the value of the box sort of outweighs that. I don't think that $10 a month or $99 a year for the experience of getting a present in the mail is worth it. I want the contents to be useful and usable so that I can tell if I want to purchase it in the future. I guess I'm saying that I don't order Birchbox for the fun (though that is a bonus, no doubt); I order because I want to get good size samples to test out. Know what I mean? 

 

I might email but I haven't decided yet. I don't want to be flagged as a frequent complainer. I looked at the BirchboxOPs Twitter and they reach out to pretty much anyone who complains or is remotely dissatisfied.

 

Oh and @TippyAG, the Miracle Skin thing is a highlighting sort of thing. They say to use it on your whole face if you want but the shimmer is pretty chunky and it's silver. Even diluted with lotion, I think it is going to be way too much for me.


I hear ya, totally... Everyone has different wants/needs/expectations when they sign up for BB. It just bums me out when I am so happy with it and see others getting disappointed time after time. I don't know why, I guess I just want everyone to love it as much as me?? Haha but seriously it will only take you a minute to email them so you may as well! Good luck either way /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[ariana077]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rachel S /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Quote: Originally Posted by sarasbeautyblog /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I am not pleased AT ALL with my box. It's the worst I have ever received. I worked out the value of the samples and it comes to less than $9... For a $10 box.



After I tweeted about my extreme disappointment, BirchboxOps told me to email them at [email protected] but I don't see how that is going to help. I got a terrible box and they aren't going to send me a new one are they?



If you are wondering what I got:

-ayres soap

-agave hair treatment packet

-opi sheer tint- the amber one

-juicy couture perfume

-miracle skin transformer (which has so much shimmer! How could anyone possible use this?!)



Man It's too bad you don't like your box

My box this month is not my favorite, either.. I haven't gotten it yet though so I'm holding out hope that I'll be happier when it's in hand.

I think it would definitely help to email them, and it looks like they are reaching out to you b/c they want you to be satisfied. They will probably give you points to use to purchase something you would be happy with.

It's hard to calculate a monetary value of birchbox for me... I add in the fun of it and getting to try new products I wouldn't ordinarily buy for myself. And keep in mind the shipping is free, and you get to review your items for 50 points too

Sorry to hear, however I HATED my August box when the website went live and I now am the proud buyer of 2 of those items and trying to decide whether another is worth continuously buying.  (Plus Juicy smells really good I got it in both my boxes last month!)

 

[justliz87]

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


wow, I didn't realize low vitamin d was so common! the way my dr. acted about it, I thought it was some rare fluke thing. I get my supplements from gnc. I'm not sure the brand, but they come in 1000, 2000, and 5000. I'm taking the 5000 because mines so low, but I should get it tested again to see if its helped.
I have low Vitamin D as well, but am not taking a supplement for it at the moment (took one all through pregnancy though). My doctor told me that about 3/4 of the population in the Midwest is Vitamin D deficient in the winter b/c of the lack of sunlight. She thought that most people should be taking supplements.

 

[gemstone]

Quote: Originally Posted by sarasbeautyblog /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  The reason I put the monetary value up is to give you a sense for how small the samples really are. To me the value is important. It's a good indication that I'm getting what I pay for. And, I get what you and @TippyAG are saying about the experience being part of the value, but, as a college student with limited income (most of which goes to tuition and books), the value of the box sort of outweighs that. I don't think that $10 a month or $99 a year for the experience of getting a present in the mail is worth it. I want the contents to be useful and usable so that I can tell if I want to purchase it in the future. I guess I'm saying that I don't order Birchbox for the fun (though that is a bonus, no doubt); I order because I want to get good size samples to test out. Know what I mean? 

I might email but I haven't decided yet. I don't want to be flagged as a frequent complainer. I looked at the BirchboxOPs Twitter and they reach out to pretty much anyone who complains or is remotely dissatisfied.

Oh and @TippyAG, the Miracle Skin thing is a highlighting sort of thing. They say to use it on your whole face if you want but the shimmer is pretty chunky and it's silver. Even diluted with lotion, I think it is going to be way too much for me.
The miracle skin transformer this month is definitely a highlighter- they talked about it in the sneak peak video.  Almost all brands that make a liquid highlighter tell you that you could also put it all over your face but I have found that this almost never works well.  I would definitely try it just on your cheekbones instead.

 

[thinkpink7l7]

I

Did anyone get a OPi sheer tint polish in any color other than Magenta (reddish tint) ? It seems I'm getting a bottle in all 3 of my boxes this month. Not sure I will even use one let alone 3... If I get all the same, if anyone doesn't get any and is interested let me know.. Otherwise it will collect dust in my drawer lol.

I got it in the purple and the pink. Would love to have the blue as well!

 

[MrsMeow]

I had box 51, with the poor packaging and beauty oil spilled all over.  I emailed BB last night, and this morning I received the following reply:

~~Thank you for being in touch. I'm sorry about the issue with your Birchbox! I have passed this feedback along to our warehouse. I have requested a replacement February box be shipped to you. Please note that your replacement may contain different products than the items displayed in your Box Preview. It may take up to 10 business days for your replacement box to arrive; please note you will not receive tracking information for your replacement box. We will of course be in touch with appropriate compensation if we are unable to ship you another box. If you do not hear from us within 48 hours, rest assured that your Birchbox replacement is on its way!

I'm pretty happy with that response.  I generally love BB and their customer service!

 

[ChristinaC]

I'm usually not one to complain, but really Birchbox with the Smashbox "Palette" sample?  REALLY?  That's something I might find in a magazine, not something I would consider a sample.  A sample would have been at least one small pan of one of the colors and THEN MAYBE that card, but just a card with maybe a finger swipe worth of each color?  How am I supposed to sample that when all of the product ends up on the applicator?  Not that I was expecting to receive the actual palette, but this? Blah.  

Also, what's with the packaging?  I've already received one box with a shattered glass container, now in this box I got the glass vial of hair oil, and a glass bottle of nail polish. Just picking the box up I heard clinking, and I thought for sure something would be broken, but thankfully it wasn't.  But seriously, the hair oil vial is thin, like champagne glass thin.  I'm thinking a lot of people are in for an oily glassy surprise when they open their boxes, especially since the nail polish is thick hard glass, and there is nothing keeping the two from colliding. 

Overall, I'm feeling pretty meh about the whole thing, though I did enjoy the mascara. 

This is my box:

 

[MissJexie]

I agree on the issue with the packaging lately. I know they're getting more and more subscribers, so they can't tissue paper/bow up everything like they used to a long time ago. When I resubbed, I understood why they had the less personal little cardboard packages with the "B" logo on them. It made sense. I loved when Birchbox used to wrap a few samples up in paper because it left a few of the samples as a surprise as you were opening it. October was the last time I got one of the little blue/teal cardboard boxes, and since then it seems like everything is just tossed in the box with absolutely no care or thought.

As I said, I understand they have a lot of boxes to get out, but the little cardboard boxes should not be too hard to fill and place in the box. If they had put the Beauty Protector Oil in one of those little boxes, it would not have arrived in most boxes, shattered in a million pieces.

 

[gemstone]

Quote: Originally Posted by MissJexie /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  I agree on the issue with the packaging lately. I know they're getting more and more subscribers, so they can't tissue paper/bow up everything like they used to a long time ago. When I resubbed, I understood why they had the less personal little cardboard packages with the "B" logo on them. It made sense. I loved when Birchbox used to wrap a few samples up in paper because it left a few of the samples as a surprise as you were opening it. October was the last time I got one of the little blue/teal cardboard boxes, and since then it seems like everything is just tossed in the box with absolutely no care or thought.

As I said, I understand they have a lot of boxes to get out, but the little cardboard boxes should not be too hard to fill and place in the box. If they had put the Beauty Protector Oil in one of those little boxes, it would not have arrived in most boxes, shattered in a million pieces.

I saw on instagram where someone got a box where the hair oil was shattered but the breath mint/pop rock things were in the pillow pack. (ya know- the one thing that can not break) was in the pillow pack.  ridiculous.

 

[sldb]

I have low Vitamin D as well, but am not taking a supplement for it at the moment (took one all through pregnancy though). My doctor told me that about 3/4 of the population in the Midwest is Vitamin D deficient in the winter b/c of the lack of sunlight. She thought that most people should be taking supplements.

I nursed both of my children (both December babies). Their pediatrician recommended a vitamin D supplement for both of them. Breast milk doesn't contain a lot of vitamin D and them both being winter babies and all. I had no idea low Vitamin D levels were such a problem with the adult population though!

 

[kawaiimeows]

Quote: Originally Posted by gemstone /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I saw on instagram where someone got a box where the hair oil was shattered but the breath mint/pop rock things were in the pillow pack. (ya know- the one thing that can not break) was in the pillow pack.  ridiculous.
So many people are getting broken hair oils this month, like an obscene amount, including my friends. They definitely dropped the ball on packaging this month.

 

[MissJexie]

Quote: Originally Posted by gemstone /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I saw on instagram where someone got a box where the hair oil was shattered but the breath mint/pop rock things were in the pillow pack. (ya know- the one thing that can not break) was in the pillow pack.  ridiculous.
WOW. See that's even worse. Including the pillow pack but putting something that isn't even breakable in it. Stay classy BB. lol