Memebox: Korean Beauty Box Service

[BlackMagwitch]

If I was a VP at Memebox right now, I'd be concerned at the apathy of my customers after this announcement. Sure we're bummed out, but the boxes are not exactly flying off the shelves. I think the response to this kind of announcement would have been a lot different back in September, for instance. I think that says everything about the demise of Memebox.

A profit-driven company wants to grow and expand globally. With technology allowing us to minimize the delineation between national boundaries, no ambitious company is going to be satisfied within the boundaries of one or two countries. So this customer response should be highly alarming to them.

I am bewildered that any company would continue to beat the shit out of it's (very solid) customer base until people feel just ridiculous for sticking around. Is it as simple as choosing one wrong executive? ( hi Karl Loo) I would LOVE to know the real story behind all these shenanigans, because I am seriously horror-struck that a promising company could be so badly beaten into the ground for no apparent reason. Companies are killing themselves to find this kind of loyal customer base.

Fkn sad as hell.

 

[BlackMagwitch]

@@biancardi,

i understand shipping is easy to the US, like what @@Alidolly, indicated and I think that is why they don't want to continue with int'l because cost is too high with the current model.

I don't understand in which aspect the cost is too high. Products are sourced in Korea, curated and packaged in Korea, shipped to customers around the world who pay the shipping charges.

What costs am I missing? :/

 

[blinded]

@@Lorna ljblog, that's the same attitude I'm taking to this. I'm bummed that I can't buy any more boxes and I'll miss the excitement of waiting to see what is coming, but it's all good. It was a fun few months. I got lots of great deals, learned about new stuff and discovered my deep love of snail. Memebox is a business and not my friend, so if they don't want to take my money then I'll give it to someone else. 

 

[Alex Z.]

There are less than 40 Valentines for you boxes and less than 65 Valentines for me. Yes, I am addicted to memebox and I bought the Valentine's gift for you! I think I will buy also the seeds and flowers. I am going to miss memebox /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[theori3]

I don't understand in which aspect the cost is too high. Products are sourced in Korea, curated and packaged in Korea, shipped to customers around the world who pay the shipping charges.

What costs am I missing? :/

I think issues with lost packages in general, customs fees in certain countries (that some customers try to get memebox to pay), and the problems with communication between the California office (which seems to be what actually runs Memebox Global) and the warehouse in Korea may be contributing to the losses for Memebox. I think that's why they want to try shipping only from the US warehouse now (though there have been plenty of issues with shipping from there too).

ETA: Also, I don't think Memebox is seeing much of the apathy--a lot of the comments on their social media profiles are more angry than apathetic.

 

[biancardi]

I think issues with lost packages in general, customs fees in certain countries (that some customers try to get memebox to pay), and the problems with communication between the California office (which seems to be what actually runs Memebox Global) and the warehouse in Korea may be contributing to the losses for Memebox. I think that's why they want to try shipping only from the US warehouse now (though there have been plenty of issues with shipping from there too).

ETA: Also, I don't think Memebox is seeing much of the apathy--a lot of the comments on their social media profiles are more angry than apathetic.

  I do think that the custom fees thing was probably the biggest issue, if some customers were trying to get Memebox to pay for it. 

I also think that they will have issues with the USA warehouse - I have orders that I have received that still state pending shipment.  They have major issues not to mention a horrid selection of items.

 

[Saffyra]

I agree.  It's got to be the customs.  I mentioned something to Lauren about Canada and she was basically like "their rules are unbelievable."

You know because it's so close.  But I discovered with my forays into Canadian shipping, holy crap, I don't even know how Canadians deal with those shipping prices!! UnREAL.

 

[theori3]

  I do think that the custom fees thing was probably the biggest issue, if some customers were trying to get Memebox to pay for it. 

I also think that they will have issues with the USA warehouse - I have orders that I have received that still state pending shipment.  They have major issues not to mention a horrid selection of items.

I once received less than half of an order, and had other orders get "missed" for weeks until I emailed to ask when they would be shipped. I also still have pending orders that were shipped and received long ago.

It seems that they have brought on new warehouse staff based on the craigslist ads, so maybe those were just growing pains :/

But yeah, the issues of poor selection and steeper prices in the USA shop make me worried about Memebox USA.

 

[biancardi]

It seems that they have brought on new warehouse staff based on the craigslist ads, so maybe those were just growing pains

I am sorry, but that did make me laugh!!  craigslist.  I think you are giving them higher praise than they deserve - haha

 

[theori3]

I am sorry, but that did make me laugh!!  craigslist.  I think you are giving them higher praise than they deserve - haha

Lol, I'm guessing there were listings elsewhere too, but those were the ones people found. Now I'm getting curious and looking on glassdoor and linkedin...

ETA: Job postings for a new head of business development and a creative director for their private cosmetics line were posted on January 6.

 

[Saffyra]

Lol, I'm guessing there were listings elsewhere too, but those were the ones people found. Now I'm getting curious and looking on glassdoor and linkedin...

ETA: Job postings for a new head of business development and a creative director for their private cosmetics line were posted on January 6.

Oo... Interesting.  And they definitely need a new head of business development because the way their business is currently developing is crap.

 

[biancardi]

Oo... Interesting.  And they definitely need a new head of business development because the way their business is currently developing is crap.

Yep.  They should hire Miss Jexie /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> 

 

[juless231]

I don't understand why people would complain to Memebox about wanting them to pay the customs fees. I always keep in mind when purchasing from outside of Canada that there is a chance I might get hit with some customs. I've generally been really lucky (knock on wood) to not run into it too much. Either way, you have to accept when ordering that it could happen and that the cost of that is your own responsibility.

I made a little TK order, picked up the TonyMoly banana night cream and for some reason HAD to order a face mask that had F.T. Island on the packaging. I didn't even read the description for it, lol, but ordering it did make me feel better about all of this!

 

[blinded]

I agree.  It's got to be the customs.  I mentioned something to Lauren about Canada and she was basically like "their rules are unbelievable."

You know because it's so close.  But I discovered with my forays into Canadian shipping, holy crap, I don't even know how Canadians deal with those shipping prices!! UnREAL.

Our customs rules are strict for sure. If it's not covered under NAFTA, merchandise over $20 and gifts over $60 are eligible for customs and taxes. A lot of stuff seems to slide by as long as it's shipped by Canada Post once it hits the border. UPS/Fedex are bad news for Canadians. 

And I know people are always shocked at how much it costs to ship from the US to Canada, but you know what costs more? Shipping within Canada. For the most part a package starts at $9 within your province. That's why we will still buy across the border. The shipping costs are still usually cheaper, but the exchange rate is sort of ruining that for us right now.

 

[Alex Z.]

I understand that I may pay customs for my order, but when memebox puts the wrong value on the box and as a result I have to pay a lot... then memebox is the one to cover the extra charges for their mistake! It happened to me once with a memeshop order and they reimbursed me (memepoints of course). I think that at that time other people had also the same problem.

 

[juless231]

I understand that I may pay customs for my order, but when memebox puts the wrong value on the box and as a result I have to pay a lot... then memebox is the one to cover the extra charges for their mistake! It happened to me once with a memeshop order and they reimbursed me (memepoints of course). I think that at that time other people had also the same problem.

Ah, okay, never realized that had happened. That's a totally different problem for sure that should be compensated for!

 

[UberClaire]

....what is happening on the admin thread where all the mods are leaving? They're saying the Memebox section of the site is the root of the problem? Did I miss something? This is pretty much the nicest, calmest forum I've ever been on, so color me confused.

 

[LoveSkinCare]

....what is happening on the admin thread where all the mods are leaving? They're saying the Memebox section of the site is the root of the problem? Did I miss something? This is pretty much the nicest, calmest forum I've ever been on, so color me confused.

I am thinking I missed something too. I spend most of my reading on this forum thread.

 

[blinded]

.

 

[LoveSkinCare]

Yeah, I'm confused too and nosy.

Me too,