Birchbox September 2013

[kawaiimeows]

Quote: Originally Posted by Playedinloops /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Same. I've already used up 2 of my samples this month, tried one, and was waiting for the weekend to try the remaining too. By giving up trading and trying to get everything I wanted, I enjoy bb much more, and discover great products, instead of hoarding make up samples only.

I have to say, trading is expensive! The only time I ended up trading was one month when Ipsy had Zoya because I already had the shade I received. But when I added up the cost of packaging and mailing for one item it was roughly $5! Half a birchbox right there hahah. I could see doing it for coveted items but otherwise the cost-benefit really isn't worth it (for me).

 

[BagLady]

On the topic of BB value Hoarding (and I mean this as NO disrespect to MUT) but before I came on MUT, I had no idea of the different box variations that BB sent out and pretty much enjoyed most of my boxes. Once I started to see all the different available options on here, I started to get box envy and not enjoy my boxes as much. Obviously it's human nature to compare and on occasion envy especially since we are all paying the same amount but lately i have tried really hard to focus on using what I can from my BB.

It's also nice that we have the trade thread here because I have been able to try lots of other items from BB thanks to swaps.

Again no disrespect to MUT because i love it here, i just think seeing what other people get sometimes makes it harder to enjoy what you have..
AH such is life right??

 

[deactivateduser232015]

Quote: Originally Posted by kawaiimeows /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I feel the same way. Once I stopped value hoarding I found that I use my samples more and like them for what they are, a box of samples.

Also a good point! I'm just not interested in hair products and perfume though. I said value is relative because I was pretty pleased with my $18 box last month, and I still dislike the $45 box. Like I said, I'd much rather get something lower valued or less heavy and I want... but they sent me things I actively don't want. : I don't even really look at the other boxes now.

 

[kawaiiwoofs]

Quote: Originally Posted by kawaiimeows /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I have to say, trading is expensive! The only time I ended up trading was one month when Ipsy had Zoya because I already had the shade I received. But when I added up the cost of packaging and mailing for one item it was roughly $5! Half a birchbox right there hahah. I could see doing it for coveted items but otherwise the cost-benefit really isn't worth it (for me).
Lol I looove trading but it definitely gets expensive especially since I dont have a printer and I end up using my school's mail service (think like, the "post office" counters inside grocery stores). 

Quote: Originally Posted by BagLady /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  On the topic of BB value Hoarding (and I mean this as NO disrespect to MUT) but before I came on MUT, I had no idea of the different box variations that BB sent out and pretty much enjoyed most of my boxes. Once I started to see all the different available options on here, I started to get box envy and not enjoy my boxes as much. Obviously it's human nature to compare and on occasion envy especially since we are all paying the same amount but lately i have tried really hard to focus on using what I can from my BB.

It's also nice that we have the trade thread here because I have been able to try lots of other items from BB thanks to swaps.

Again no disrespect to MUT because i love it here, i just think seeing what other people get sometimes makes it harder to enjoy what you have..
AH such is life right??

I agree! My biggest group to compare my boxes to were my older sister and her best friend before coming to MUT. (My sister eventually dropped BB.) But my sister's best friend is SO free of box envy and pretty much is unaware of all the other possible box combos that she is excited each month and tries EVERY item. I remember her being particularly jazzed about this one box a month or so back that everyone called a "punishment box". She also rarely peeks at the box contents. Lol oh to be so free and in love with birchbox!

 

[Playedinloops]

Quote: Originally Posted by kawaiimeows /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I have to say, trading is expensive! The only time I ended up trading was one month when Ipsy had Zoya because I already had the shade I received. But when I added up the cost of packaging and mailing for one item it was roughly $5! Half a birchbox right there hahah. I could see doing it for coveted items but otherwise the cost-benefit really isn't worth it (for me).

It most certainly is! That was the main reason I stopped trading. It just didn't seem worth it!

 

[MissTrix]

Quote: Originally Posted by Playedinloops /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Quote: Originally Posted by kawaiimeows /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
This isn't meant to sound snarky (you know how internet tones can be taken, sigh hahah) but what kind of answer were you hoping for? It is canned to some extent but I'm also trying to play out in my mind what else a CS representative could say to make it "right" and I'm drawing blanks. I guess to me it's a somewhat sufficient answer because it addresses the unfortunate realities of these sub programs. That $20 sample would have made any one box unequal to another. I don't see that as a fault because it's just a sample, but if people harp on the "value" aspect too much then we could end up missing out on a lot of different/new/interesting/whatever products.

Also, I haven't spent much time in bb threads lately, but we used to have this discussion every month. Value is relative. Sure, the $20 sample is worth more money wise, but if its a product someone won't use, they may be jealous of someone else's $2 sample. Idk this is one of the reasons I do stay out of these threads, I enjoy my box so much more when I'm looking at how much I LIKE the products, not how much other people like them.


The way I look at it, the monetary value of my Birchbox is $10 because that is what I pay for it. As long as the contents equal out to $10, I'm cool. If 2 or 3 out of 5 samples are something I can use then I am happy. I do participate in trading because there are some products that I just cannot or will not use so I would rather they go to someone that will find them useful. Plus, trading is fun and something to do while I wait for the next round of sub deliveries. 

There is always a box or 2 that I might have preferred but I don't dwell on it. I have been with Birchbox for 1 year now, and in that time I have only been disappointed once. I have ended up loving at least one product in every box (even the disappointing one) and I have found so many brands and products I never would have found otherwise. That, to me, is the true value. 

 

[kawaiimeows]

Quote: Originally Posted by BagLady /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  On the topic of BB value Hoarding (and I mean this as NO disrespect to MUT) but before I came on MUT, I had no idea of the different box variations that BB sent out and pretty much enjoyed most of my boxes. Once I started to see all the different available options on here, I started to get box envy and not enjoy my boxes as much. Obviously it's human nature to compare and on occasion envy especially since we are all paying the same amount but lately i have tried really hard to focus on using what I can from my BB.

It's also nice that we have the trade thread here because I have been able to try lots of other items from BB thanks to swaps.

Again no disrespect to MUT because i love it here, i just think seeing what other people get sometimes makes it harder to enjoy what you have..
AH such is life right??

Envy is human nature. I always get it when I see other boxes, but then I get some perspective when I think about what I actually signed up for. Such is life, indeed.

 

[kawaiimeows]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kyuu /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Also a good point! I'm just not interested in hair products and perfume though. I said value is relative because I was pretty pleased with my $18 box last month, and I still dislike the $45 box. Like I said, I'd much rather get something lower valued or less heavy and I want... but they sent me things I actively don't want. : I don't even really look at the other boxes now.

I've found the same about the boxes I had with more accessible products (yesto, simple eye roller, etc.), for some reason I've been responding to them better. This month is ok but that beauty protector shampoo & conditioner is expensive! I couldn't see myself paying full price for those or the ruffian polishes.

 

[deactivateduser232015]

Quote: Originally Posted by Playedinloops /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
It most certainly is! That was the main reason I stopped trading. It just didn't seem worth it!

Oh, I usually manage to get something $2-3 shipped. :< but I use paypal shipping so maybe that's why!

 

[BagLady]

Oh, I usually manage to get something $2-3 shipped. :< but I use paypal shipping so maybe that's why!

I love PayPal shipping. I typically can ship for less than $3 unless I'm shipping heavier items which is rare. And I also re-use the envelopes, bubble wrap etc whenever possible.

 

[gemstone]

The way I look at it, the monetary value of my Birchbox is $10 because that is what I pay for it. As long as the contents equal out to $10, I'm cool. If 2 or 3 out of 5 samples are something I can use then I am happy. I do participate in trading because there are some products that I just cannot or will not use so I would rather they go to someone that will find them useful. Plus, trading is fun and something to do while I wait for the next round of sub deliveries. :icon_chee There is always a box or 2 that I might have preferred but I don't dwell on it. I have been with Birchbox for 1 year now, and in that time I have only been disappointed once. I have ended up loving at least one product in every box (even the disappointing one) and I have found so many brands and products I never would have found otherwise. That, to me, is the true value.  :smilehappyyes:

This! I never have box envy, because I know that there is nothing I can do, and that a lot of months a box I loved other people thought were "punishment" boxes. I also rarely trade anything, and I always try everything. I don't mind not liking certain products, it has kept me from purchasing products I thought I'd love (hello, dr jart detox bb cream!) and ended up not liking. I was also skeptical of perfume, mostly due to MUT, and ended up loving several of the ones I've received. If it weren't for birchbox, I never would have even started wearing perfume.

 

[MissTrix]

Quote: Originally Posted by kawaiimeows /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Quote: Originally Posted by Playedinloops /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Same. I've already used up 2 of my samples this month, tried one, and was waiting for the weekend to try the remaining too. By giving up trading and trying to get everything I wanted, I enjoy bb much more, and discover great products, instead of hoarding make up samples only.

I have to say, trading is expensive! The only time I ended up trading was one month when Ipsy had Zoya because I already had the shade I received. But when I added up the cost of packaging and mailing for one item it was roughly $5! Half a birchbox right there hahah. I could see doing it for coveted items but otherwise the cost-benefit really isn't worth it (for me).


I reuse packaging materials so swapping is pretty cheap for me and totally worth it to have samples that I can actually use instead of a drawer full of products ill suited for my needs. I have enough boxes, bubble mailers, and bubble wrap to last me a few years. 

 

 

[quene8106]

yeah i'm on the side of i rather have a box of samples that i can use, than having a box of useless samples that are worth a lot of money. thankfully i found someone to trade my hair items with but the trading adds up and it takes time for me to go into town and ship them off, especially since i work nights. if i got my punishment box a month ago, i would've been fine with it because i had a decent amount of hair. if they weren't giving out those $100 cards i would've marked my box as return to sender and got a refund to tell birchbox a message of basically "take this box back and shove it" for not caring about customers spending their hard earning cash for samples they can't use.

 

[Lolo22]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kyuu /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Oh, I usually manage to get something $2-3 shipped. :< but I use paypal shipping so maybe that's why!
Quote: Originally Posted by BagLady /img/forum/go_quote.gif


I love PayPal shipping. I typically can ship for less than $3 unless I'm shipping heavier items which is rare. And I also re-use the envelopes, bubble wrap etc whenever possible.
Yup, same here.  Anything 3 oz and under is only $1.69 and I can usually get at least 2 samples shipped for that.

 

[kawaiimeows]

Quote: Originally Posted by MissTrix /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I reuse packaging materials so swapping is pretty cheap for me and totally worth it to have samples that I can actually use instead of a drawer full of products ill suited for my needs. I have enough boxes, bubble mailers, and bubble wrap to last me a few years. 

 

I've been trying to start doing that! Especially when I know I have things to mail. Living in a studio apartment is hard though because I end up running out of room and throwing it all away bahahha.

 

[hellopengy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Heather Hicks /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Hey simplyatomic. I checked my box and found my Davines spray had spilled also. Have you seen many others saying that on here or elsewhere? I haven't been able to keep up with this thread at all now that boxes are arriving. On a whim, I searched this thread for the word "spilled" and you were the only one that popped up. Surely it can't be limited to us though, right?
This happened to me too! I emailed them but didn't make a big deal out of it (I was just happy to get the spray- it was the one item I really wanted!) so I'll let you know what they say.

 

[emvee]

I received

I received box #1. I got the Ruffian polish in Hedge Fund as well. Did anyone else have an issue with their polish being a bit thick, or dry? Mine was extremely thick; took a while to dry. I did like my benefit sugarbomb lipgloss /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />. I like the pink-ish nude color.

I received box 1 as well but it had the fox hunt. It was thick. I almost went with just 1 coat. It chipped on me today in the shower oh well.

 

[DonnaD]

Question answered.  Thanks.

 

[TracyT]

Quote: Originally Posted by kawaiimeows /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I've been trying to start doing that! Especially when I know I have things to mail. Living in a studio apartment is hard though because I end up running out of room and throwing it all away bahahha.

Maybe take an unused pillow case and stuff it with bubble wrap/packing envelopes for the interim. And maybe use the boxes as a planter holder. ?!

Temporary yet functional ?! 

 

[DonnaD]

I got mine today without having gotten a tracking email.

Ruffian in Fox Hunt

Beauty Protector shampoo and conditioner

Dr Jart bb cream

Dr Lipp nipple balm for lips

I don't know why I was so surprised the Ruffians are half sized polishes.  The size is plainly posted on the product page...I guess I'm unobservant.