PopSugar Must Have September 2014 *May Contain Spoilers*

[rebeccamarietta]

When you use the Nike gift card, where do you put in the free shipping code? I tried putting it in the promo box, but nothing happened, it looks like it's still charging me for shipping. Any advice?

 

[biancardi]

When you use the Nike gift card, where do you put in the free shipping code? I tried putting it in the promo box, but nothing happened, it looks like it's still charging me for shipping. Any advice?

you have to register and be logged in to use it.

 

[rebeccamarietta]

Thanks!! Off to shop

 

[rebeccamarietta]

I got a pair of shorts on clearance and paid nothing! Awesome!

 

[yousoldtheworld]

Okay, I got my box a few days ago...and I'm happy with it!

The scarf is cute and feels so silky and soft. I like the color...and most of my scarves are brighter patterns or prints, so it's good to branch out with a more "neutral" one!

Earbuds - I got the blue and they are cute...however, they feel and sound kinda cheap. Then again, I'm one of "those people" who will spend 80-100 on headphones. But, these arent' terrible, and they're good enough to go in my work bag. 

Pencils - cute, probably won't use...but maybe at school!

Notecards - super cute!

Hairspray - smells nice.

Chocolate - YUM.

AND. The brownie. I saw everyone complain about it, and I absolutely HATE the thinkthin brownie crunch bars, and I think the Hail Merry Macaroons are absolutely disgusting...but I was surprised to like the brownie. Maybe I"m crazy, but I thought it tasted good, and it didn't have that gross chalky texture that many of the raw chocolatey things I've tried have.

 

[gingerneko]

I don't think it's "cheating" in the slightest, quite frankly.  As someone mentioned before, Popsugar could VERY easily make it impossible for a current/past subscriber to use a coupon.  It's a ridiculously easy thing to do.

Trust me, Popsugar knows and they don't care.  If they did, they'd do something about it.  They could stop releasing codes, for one.  But they don't.  They like to have subscribers.  

Perhaps they like telling their shareholders how many new subs they get every month. It could be as simple as that.

As other women pointed out, the business model is set up this way for a reason. Think about it -- if the brands are willing to give away GWPs from stores like Ulta and Sephora, and you can bet your ass the stores don't pay for those free samples/deluxe/GWP items, why wouldn't they want to spend money to reach a targeted audience that specifically wants products like theirs? It's a win-win for both PS and the suppliers. 

Also, as others have said -- if the company was dead set on making people pay full price, they wouldn't give out discounts and incentives. I think they probably had a dropoff in subscriptions when they raised the price, tbh. Can you imagine how upset people would be if, say, BirchBox went up to $12.50 a month? 

The idea that the $10 isn't that much is a fallacy. I use the coupons I get in the mail from many brands, or share them. I use coupons and phone apps for digital discounts. Using coupons provided by the manufacturer is doing what they intended you to do with them. Moreover, that theoretical $10 might end up going toward buying another product from one of the companies in that month's box. The box suppliers are looking to build brand recognition, and with luxury items, this is one of the best ways to do it. If a company objects, they'll change policy -- much like BB did recently with the policy about gift card purchases with bonus points.

 

[skyflower]

If a company objects, they'll change policy -- much like BB did recently with the policy about gift card purchases with bonus points.

They did recently change their terms of service. We'll see in the next cycle or 2 how it affects coupon codes. And if it does affect them I guess it means they objected?

I'm an annual subber so I have little stake in this. Except I appreciate coupons to buy gift subs (with coupons and spoilers) for future holiday gifts.

 

[numbersmom]

Does anyone know if Sept sold out? Their site is down for maintenance.

 

[normajean2008]

Does anyone know if Sept sold out? Their site is down for maintenance.

It wasn't as of 2am this morning.  They said on their Facebook page October boxes wont be up to buy until late September.  Which is a lot later than normal...maybe they're having to iron out kinks in their new system before they put boxes up?  

 

[Kristine Walker]

 I've been amazed at just how much I have loved the August and Sept. boxes, such an improvement from when I had cancelled last year. Here's hoping for a spectacular October box.

 

[Jenn10]

I have had my September box for almost a week,and I actually really like it.

I have not tried the earbuds yet, they are still in the package, they are like everyone else's, cobalt blue. They will be useful when I get tired of plain white apple earbuds I have around. 

I like the scarf-- mine is raisin too, but look more brownish depending on lights, but I wouldn't pay more than $30 on it. Will be useful in later October.

I just used nike promo to buy a shirt and a pair of socks for bf, my treat to him and paid $16 out of pocket. 

Pencils and postcards-- Haven't used them, but I welcome these types of items anytime.

Hairspray-- Don't use it myself, but will gift to a friend later.

Chocolate- I prefer dark chocolate, so bf is working on them.

I am overall happy with August and September-- I will order October box if/when there is a promo code I can use. Hope it will be heavily fall themed.

 

[pbpink]

Perhaps they like telling their shareholders how many new subs they get every month. It could be as simple as that.

As other women pointed out, the business model is set up this way for a reason. Think about it -- if the brands are willing to give away GWPs from stores like Ulta and Sephora, and you can bet your ass the stores don't pay for those free samples/deluxe/GWP items, why wouldn't they want to spend money to reach a targeted audience that specifically wants products like theirs? It's a win-win for both PS and the suppliers.

Also, as others have said -- if the company was dead set on making people pay full price, they wouldn't give out discounts and incentives. I think they probably had a dropoff in subscriptions when they raised the price, tbh. Can you imagine how upset people would be if, say, BirchBox went up to $12.50 a month?

The idea that the $10 isn't that much is a fallacy. I use the coupons I get in the mail from many brands, or share them. I use coupons and phone apps for digital discounts. Using coupons provided by the manufacturer is doing what they intended you to do with them. Moreover, that theoretical $10 might end up going toward buying another product from one of the companies in that month's box. The box suppliers are looking to build brand recognition, and with luxury items, this is one of the best ways to do it. If a company objects, they'll change policy -- much like BB did recently with the policy about gift card purchases with bonus points.

your post made me think of how bed, bath + beyond sends out endless coupons for 20% - most items are marked up to then get the 20% discount - I know when I bought a dyson, with the coupon it was same as best price at other stores....

I am waiting to buy OCT box, wish it would move to next month!

 

[Kristen121]

This was my first Popsugar box and I'm quite pleased with it. I love, love, love the scarf. The reason I subscribed was the scarf spoiler. I wouldn't pay $125 for it, but I would pay $30 for it, which is what I paid for the box. I'm not in love with the note cards, but I will use them to send a note when I send out a swap package. The pencils I don't care about but my my 5 year old daughter was really excited about them so I gave them to her. I use hairspray almost daily so I will use that. The chocolates are delicious. I don't need the ear buds (I already have several pairs) but I think I will give them to my brother along with an iTunes gift card for this birthday. I don't really want/need anything from Nike, but I am going to buy my hubby some new socks with the gift card since most of his socks have seen better days and should be thrown away. I plan to save the tape measure that came with the Nike gift card to put in my work bag since I can never seem to find one at work when I need one. Haven't tried the brownie yet, not sure if I want to!

 

[bluegnu]

So.. I've had my box for just over a week and I just NOW realized I'm missing the notecards! This is the first time I've ever been missing an item. Any experience with this and Popsugar? Do I just email customer service and tell them what happened?

 

[normajean2008]

So.. I've had my box for just over a week and I just NOW realized I'm missing the notecards! This is the first time I've ever been missing an item. Any experience with this and Popsugar? Do I just email customer service and tell them what happened?

Yep, just email them that they were missing and they should send you some replacements. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> 

 

[lauren2828]

Whew I missed a lot in this thread! In regards to the coupon codes, if Popsugar boxes were in such high demand they would sell out in advance and subscribers would not have the opportunity to cancel each month and resubscribe with new codes. This was the case a couple years ago when I first started subbing, I ordered in October, but the box was sold out until December! I wouldn't have canceled then and tried to resubscribe with a code for fear of missing a month or two. Now it is obvious that the demand is not there because the September box is still available at the end of the month. I believe that if a coupon code is available, then it is fair game to be used. I don't use one every month (I usually buy 3 or 6 month subs and tell my husband it is a birthday or anniversary gift), but if it is a really good box I use a code to pick up a second box to gift. Do I feel bad about using a code? No, because the boxes are not sold out and I'm sure they would rather sell another box for $30 to me instead of not selling it at all.

 

[Pixels]

I just ordered another box. Does anyone know how long it will take to ship? I ordered it about a week ago and it just says processing....

 

[Traci Ann]

It might be the Oct box now. 

 

[penny13]

It might be the Oct box now. 

It's still september from what I'm seeing - "

Your subscription will start with the September 2014 box."

 

[Moonittude]

I got my box yesterday. There was no shipping email. But I was just so happy to finally lay my hands on that scarf. It is sooooo soft and sheer, and delicate. I love it. It feels and looks very expensive. I've never paid more than $30 for a decorative scarf, but I totally get why people would pay that much for it, if they can afford it. It is way bigger than I thought. I have to fold it in half to get it to look like a scarf, which is fine. I tried making it into an "open cover up" like in the scarf video, upthread and it was dragging on the floor. I expect I will wear it a lot this fall.

Classy confession of the day: I recently figured out that I can wear a scarf over my top, and go braless in public. I'm not sure if I'm a genius for figuring this out, or an idiot for not thinking of it sooner.

I ate the brownie. It was weird. I liked it. It tasted good, but it smelled like tamari sauce?