Birchbox February 2015 (Spoilers)

[Noel Snow]

I don't understand how they can run out of stock in the first place. They know how many subscribers they have. And many people who opt out still end up with one or even two PYS items anyway. I did not get an email for my second sub. I was actually thinking of leaving it up to chance to avoid taking something that someone really wanted since i already got to pick on my Aces. 

 

[nikkiaust17]

So all sample choices went out of stock about an hour ago, with the eye make up remover being the last sample available. Hope all of us here managed to pick our samples!?!

Now there's numerous complaints being posted on Birchbox's FB page that they should not send out the e-mail anymore if everything is out stock. 

I kind of understand where people are coming from and I would definitely be annoyed as well, but Birchbox is offering the option to choose your sample as a little extra and is trying to promote people to reach Ace status so that they get first dibs on sample choice. I don't think that's unfair. Plus, as soon as we noticed yesterday that our e-mails were taking a while we took constructive steps to contact Birchbox about it rather than leave it to chance, so I don't get why all the complaining to be honest. I do feel bad for people that missed out though. 

i always get mine between 11 am and 12 pm and im not an ace member, so its not birchbox's fault if they cant get to the computer, they know when they come, the same time every month lol but they only way i see someone frustrated is if they didnt get an email until 3 or 4pm 

 

[Jasujo]

Ugh, I waited until noon for the e-mail, then took a nap. Apparently, I got the email 30 minutes later and when I got back to the computer, all the samples were sold out. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />  I also don't understand how they can sell out. They know how many e-mails they are sending out. There should at least be that many samples. You know there are more than people pick from because people who don't pick get a random one in their box, so what's the deal? >.<

 

[SaraP]

I could be way out of touch here, but I think pys emails should go out to the people who have been with bb longest. I just signed up in July and I would feel like that was fair...they must know that info because they send out promos for reaching 12, 24, 32 month anniversary's. 

*edited because I meant to say: sent out in waves from oldest to newest customers...not just the old timers, I wanna pick too!

 

[tamberella]

Ugh, I waited until noon for the e-mail, then took a nap. Apparently, I got the email 30 minutes later and when I got back to the computer, all the samples were sold out. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />  I also don't understand how they can sell out. They know how many e-mails they are sending out. There should at least be that many samples. You know there are more than people pick from because people who don't pick get a random one in their box, so what's the deal? >.<

I don't get it either, several times I even ended up with 2 of the choices in my box and I read all the time on here about people who didn't pick a sample getting boxes with them in it.  It doesn't make sense to me, but I can see a need to keep some reserve to accommodate mishaps/lost boxes etc.

 

[graquarius]

I don't get it either, several times I even ended up with 2 of the choices in my box and I read all the time on here about people who didn't pick a sample getting boxes with them in it.  It doesn't make sense to me, but I can see a need to keep some reserve to accommodate mishaps/lost boxes etc.

I think it's because of the box variations in each box. People may end up with sample choices if there's no alternative box to ensure they don't receive duplicates?  :blink:

 

[Noel Snow]

I think it's market research. They want to know what gets sold out the first. Then they send a wave to people who weren't interested to see if the green eggs and ham approach works. 

 

[tacehtpuekam]

I think it's because of the box variations in each box. People may end up with sample choices if there's no alternative box to ensure they don't receive duplicates?  :blink:

Yep! Definitely that. I'm sure they have the box variations planned out well before the sample choice e-mails go out. 

 

[Jay.Aitch.Gee]

I think it's market research. They want to know what gets sold out the first. Then they send a wave to people who weren't interested to see if the green eggs and ham approach works. 

You know, I bet this is totally it. Birchbox PR - the videos, the magazine, the social media accounts, and the kind of "friendly zomg lol bff" language used in all of these make it seem like the company is a bunch of gal pals hanging' out a la Babysitters Club and sharing samples...we can almost forget about the dark corporate side of things....

Yeah, but I still love beauty product samples, so I'm down with being a market research guinea pig  :blush:

 

[tamberella]

You know, I bet this is totally it. Birchbox PR - the videos, the magazine, the social media accounts, and the kind of "friendly zomg lol bff" language used in all of these make it seem like the company is a bunch of gal pals hanging' out a la Babysitters Club and sharing samples...we can almost forget about the dark corporate side of things....

Yeah, but I still love beauty product samples, so I'm down with being a market research guinea pig  :blush:

Bring on the water tube and wheelie thing and just keep sending us those samples birchbox.

 

[Kimsuebob]

I got the curated box on my main account. It'll be my first time getting a curated box, but there's 4/5 things in that box I want. To me, that's really, really good.

I also made a second account, so I should be getting a "welcome box" sometime in the next few days (Anyone know what's coming in that this time around or is it ALWAYS the same? I remember in the welcome box for my main account, I got the Whish cream, Acure, some perfume, and something else (I don't remember what.)) But after that you get a late box that's left to chance, which is what I wanted. I just hope I don't get that sea salt spray. I'm up to my eyeballs in hair products and sprays don't really do anything for my hair, unless it's dry shampoo.

I was under the impression that the "Welcome Box" was only for gift subscriptions. I signed up for a new subscription today because this month was the first time I chose a curated box and I still want the surprise factor this month. It said my box would ship by Feb 10 so I figured it would be just a regular monthly box just not based on my profile yet. Is that not the case?

 

[tacehtpuekam]

I was under the impression that the "Welcome Box" was only for gift subscriptions. I signed up for a new subscription today because this month was the first time I chose a curated box and I still want the surprise factor this month. It said my box would ship by Feb 10 so I figured it would be just a regular monthly box just not based on my profile yet. Is that not the case?

You're correct! Welcome boxes are just for gift subscriptions. You should receive a regular monthly box.  /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I'm seriously debating reactivating one of my other accounts.. I just feel like it's a good month to have two boxes again!

 

[roxymama]

I think it's because of the box variations in each box. People may end up with sample choices if there's no alternative box to ensure they don't receive duplicates?  :blink:

I was super bummed to miss out on the Tocca last month, but then I got the Tocca in my box.  And it was only my first month (after my welcome box) so the duplicate thing doesn't apply to me.

In all honesty I 100% believe they limit how many get chosen via sample choice to create excitement and a feeling of really wanting what they are offering!  Urban Decay does the same thing with their initial launches via Sephora, etc.  It gives people a reason to try to reach Ace, to stalk and click on their website, and to generate the real feeling of really really wanting something.  And maybe if we don't get it, we will buy it off their site.

Stuff like that works on me even when I know what is happening.  

 

[casey anne]

You're correct! Welcome boxes are just for gift subscriptions. You should receive a regular monthly box.  /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I'm seriously debating reactivating one of my other accounts.. I just feel like it's a good month to have two boxes again!

I reactivated to score the 100 points!

 

[Kimsuebob]

You're correct! Welcome boxes are just for gift subscriptions. You should receive a regular monthly box. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I'm seriously debating reactivating one of my other accounts.. I just feel like it's a good month to have two boxes again!

This is the first month that I have been tempted to have two subscriptions. I just wish I had done it a few days ago so I would have had a chance to pick the make up remover too if they send the PYS emails to new subscribers which I'm not sure about. But I remembered to use a 100 point code so I almost have enough points to buy it in the store since it's only $15. I'll wait and see what people on here say about it first.

 

[Elena K]

I was super bummed to miss out on the Tocca last month, but then I got the Tocca in my box.  And it was only my first month (after my welcome box) so the duplicate thing doesn't apply to me.

In all honesty I 100% believe they limit how many get chosen via sample choice to create excitement and a feeling of really wanting what they are offering!  Urban Decay does the same thing with their initial launches via Sephora, etc.  It gives people a reason to try to reach Ace, to stalk and click on their website, and to generate the real feeling of really really wanting something.  And maybe if we don't get it, we will buy it off their site.

Stuff like that works on me even when I know what is happening.  

I'm leaning towards this too. I really don't think they actually run out of samples.

With that said, I think the reason they send out emails in waives is to prevent everyone trying to select a sample at the same time and crushing the site, as it happened first couple of times they did PYS.

 

[Audra Lenore]

I rec'd a welcome box just this month (aka January); supposedly there are three categories of welcome boxes - classic, trendy, & customer favorites - and the gift-giver chooses which category of box you will get, though individual boxes w/in each category still may vary. At least that's what they were doing in December/ for gift subs purchased for/ around the holidays; I saw a short YouTube video on it that had a sample in boxing of both a men's & women's classic version of the welcome box. The box I received a few weeks ago did indicate that it was a Classic welcome box" on the card - not sure if my brother picked that one for me or it was sent randomly - & for what it's worth the box I rec'd was 100% different than the example if a woman's classic box in the video.

In my "Classic Welcome Box" I rec'd:

Whish shaving cream (grapefruit acai I think)

Catherine Malandrino perfume sample

Navy eyeliner (same one in Feb RTR box)

TheBalm Stainiac lip/cheek stain

Number 4 Super Comb Prime & Protect (hair leave-in conditioning/ detangling/ protectant spray)

Not the best box I've ever rec'd but certainly not bad. Personally I was happy to have everything but the perfume (I'm super picky in that realm). I ended up not enjoying the stain but was still glad to be able to try it. The other three items I actually really ended up liking.

My mom also rec'd a classic welcome box via a gift sub purchased at the same time/ by the same person & her box was identical to mine.

Hope this helps!

I would be happy with getting that welcome box just for the staniac and eyeliner. 

You guys don't understand how much I need another staniac so I don't have to keep switching it from being in my makeup bag to my purse everyday I wear it. I got the Whish in my main accounts welcome box, and it wasn't my favorite thing, but I did notice that my legs were less ashy and dried out, so I wouldn't mind getting it again. I got that perfume in my mains welcome box too, hated it. Gave it away. But I'm also picky about perfumes. I don't really wear anything outside of Aqualina's Pink Sugar and Bath and Body Works Pink Velvet. I like Number 4, but I don't do leave in conditioners. They make my hair super greasy-icky. So all in all, if I got that box, I wouldn't be upset, haha.

Thanks for the info. 

 

[H_D]

arrg I so wish we could see the box configurations this month.

 

[Kelli]

Both of my accounts got 'Welcome' boxes and neither was a gift. I remember when I added my second a bunch of others and I were wondering if we'd get them or a regular and we all got Welcome ones, even though CS had specifically told one person that they wouldn't...so it is possible to get a welcome box even without a gift sub /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[RenoFab]

Got the eye make up remover on one sub ( I actually wanted this and all samples were available when I picked) and the Rent the Runway box on my second sub. Yay! Do any of you know if all boxes will have the Rent The Runway $30 credit or just the specially curated boxes??