*Spoilers* December 2013 Popsugar Must Have Box

[Mrs Massey]

here is a link with the specs for that http://mixtstudio.com/products/decembered-gifting-set/

Thank you! I feel like I'm the only one looking forward to the wrapping paper. I mean, I know its not a $150 product but I love seeing lots of different and cool patterns under the tree. This will definitely get used.

 

[xoxcel6]

@Spiritwind10 Wow. Calling people trolls is a little insulting and over the top...don't ya think?  Look, I like this box but there have been boxes that I haven't been too happy but I do find that once I actually have the box in front of me, I can appreciate it much more than I did by just looking at spoilers.  We are all entitled to our opinion...whether it be positive or negative and I'm a little offended that you (and your boyfriend) refer to people that disagree with you as trolls.  Soooo...I guess that make me a troll now too?

 

[MKSB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Spiritwind10 /img/forum/go_quote.gif


I do understand that some might not like it and I understand why! I am also very new to this, this is my second box, so I don't agree it is because they are new. Everyone also has to understand that Popsugar probably is given most of these items by the manufacturers to keep costs down and this is their way of advertising! We also pay and that also covers some of the costs. If they don't like the box then they should go to the manufactures they want product from and encourage them to give some to Popsugar to put in their boxes which I am totally sure Popsugar always is doing as that is what they do, they and we depend on the manufacturers to provide product for the boxes. I don't think some subscribers understand this or they wouldn't complain. If this gets be in trouble with them OK. It is just not cool to always complain about everything that you get when most of these manufactorers are giving it free or at very little cost. Don't complain to the hand that feeds you, That is why it is getting harder and harder for companies like Popsugar to curate boxes as they can't make everyone happy all the time and no one understands how they really work. Just think why in the world does it costs so little compared to what it is costing you???? Where is the money coming to send you these products at 3-4 times the costs??
PS my husband said not to send this as it might attract the Trolls out there! Just wait and see!
I think the problem with this train of thought is that when you get right down to it, we are paying customers. If we are unhappy with the product we are purchasing, we are well within our rights to complain about it. I realize that they buy in bulk and do a lot of things through product placement, but it's not my job as the consumer to go direct to a manufacturer and ask them to give PopSugar a discount. PS has plenty of people on staff for that, and that staff is paid with the money I pay PopSugar for my subscription. If their customers are unhappy then they need to do better, point blank. The consequence of them NOT doing better is that their customers go elsewhere, like #FFF or Quarterly.co. Reading your response I am not actually sure that you, yourself, are all that familiar with the way these companies work.

This response isn't meant to be troll-y but you're essentially criticizing people for expressing disinterest (or interest) in a product, which is the whole basis of the consumer market in the United States.

 

[Spiritwind10]

@Spiritwind10  Wow. Calling people trolls is a little insulting and over the top...don't ya think?  Look, I like this box but there have been boxes that I haven't been too happy but I do find that once I actually have the box in front of me, I can appreciate it much more than I did by just looking at spoilers.  We are all entitled to our opinion...whether it be positive or negative and I'm a little offended that you (and your boyfriend) refer to people that disagree with you as trolls.  Soooo...I guess that make me a troll now too?

I don't think you even read what I wrote. For one he is my Husband of 37 years not my boyfriend and I didn't even know what a troll was until he told me a few minutes ago a you know some thing at the shoe fits. . . . . . .

 

[stephstrong]

@Spiritwind10  Wow. Calling people trolls is a little insulting and over the top...don't ya think?  Look, I like this box but there have been boxes that I haven't been too happy but I do find that once I actually have the box in front of me, I can appreciate it much more than I did by just looking at spoilers.  We are all entitled to our opinion...whether it be positive or negative and I'm a little offended that you (and your boyfriend) refer to people that disagree with you as trolls.  Soooo...I guess that make me a troll now too?

Agreed! Copied from the PS site: The monthly box targets women ages 18-40 and features full-size products and premium items including tried-and-true classics, celebrity favorites, and brands consumers have yet to discover. THIS is why people get upset, they aren't being spoiled or whatever they want what they were promised, I don't think that many of they items sent in PS boxes lately have fit into the categories listed above, perhaps maybe the "full-sized" category but that is the least emphasized in the box desc so I would assume it would be a very small part of the boxes.

 

[xoxcel6]

@Spiritwind10 That wasn't a very nice thing to say.   Boyfriend/husband...that wasn't my point and how long you have been married is irrelevant.    My point is that name calling is inappropriate and just plain wrong.  I wish you the best and have a great night! 

 

[stephstrong]

@Spiritwind10  That wasn't a very nice thing to say.   Boyfriend/husband...that wasn't my point and how long you have been married is irrelevant.    My point is that name calling is inappropriate and just plain wrong.  I wish you the best and have a great night! 

The only thing I would call you @xoxcel6 is foxy /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> hahaha I hope that's an ok name to call you!!

 

[plumplant]

It's pretty unfair to criticize people for being dissatisfied with he box. No one is telling people who are happy with the box that thwy have bad taste so I don't see how it is fair to tell those who have a negative opinion that they are "spoiled" or insinuate that they don't understand how popsugar works. I've been a subscriber for a long time and the boxes have definitely deteriorated in quality of curation & value over the past 3 months. Considering they raised the price during those 3 months but the product is actually not as good as it previously was is frustrating. Especially frustrating since this is/was my favorite box to receive every month. For the record, PS pursues companies they WANT to include in their boxes for the most part. They don't just say "okay companies, who wants to give us free stuff to throw in a box this month!!!"

 

[amdoerr]

Quote: Originally Posted by xoxcel6 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  @Spiritwind10 Wow. Calling people trolls is a little insulting and over the top...don't ya think?  Look, I like this box but there have been boxes that I haven't been too happy but I do find that once I actually have the box in front of me, I can appreciate it much more than I did by just looking at spoilers.  We are all entitled to our opinion...whether it be positive or negative and I'm a little offended that you (and your boyfriend) refer to people that disagree with you as trolls.  Soooo...I guess that make me a troll now too?
I don't think she said troll to be offensive or insulting, and I know it wasn't directed at me, but I don't think it's offensive in the slightest. 

 

[MKSB]

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

It's pretty unfair to criticize people for being dissatisfied with he box. No one is telling people who are happy with the box that thwy have bad taste so I don't see how it is fair to tell those who have a negative opinion that they are "spoiled" or insinuate that they don't understand how popsugar works.

I've been a subscriber for a long time and the boxes have definitely deteriorated in quality of curation & value over the past 3 months. Considering they raised the price during those 3 months but the product is actually not as good as it previously was is frustrating. Especially frustrating since this is/was my favorite box to receive every month.

For the record, PS pursues companies they WANT to include in their boxes for the most part. They don't just say "okay companies, who wants to give us free stuff to throw in a box this month!!!"
It's interesting that you've been a subscriber for a while and you've noticed a decline in quality. I've only been getting boxes since September and I am very disappointed with them in comparison to the reviews of past boxes I've seen on the various blogs. This discussion is actually making me think I should write a letter to FabFitFun and implore them to go monthly. I've already written to PopSugar several times to express my dissatisfaction and my complaints have always fallen upon deaf ears. If anyone out there reading this is from another lifestyle box subscription service waiting to go live, please know that I am ready and waiting to jump ship. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Spiritwind10]

I think the problem with this train of thought is that when you get right down to it, we are paying customers. If we are unhappy with the product we are purchasing, we are well within our rights to complain about it. I realize that they buy in bulk and do a lot of things through product placement, but it's not my job as the consumer to go direct to a manufacturer and ask them to give PopSugar a discount. PS has plenty of people on staff for that, and that staff is paid with the money I pay PopSugar for my subscription. If their customers are unhappy then they need to do better, point blank. The consequence of them NOT doing better is that their customers go elsewhere, like #FFF or Quarterly.co. Reading your response I am not actually sure that you, yourself, are all that familiar with the way these companies work. This response isn't meant to be troll-y but you're essentially criticizing people for expressing disinterest (or interest) in a product, which is the whole basis of the consumer market in the United States.

Anytime someone is constantly negative on everything they get and never ever happy with anything they can be troll-ey. And there are many on this site that that is all they do. And I can prove it, if you want me too. I do understand the consumer market and how they work, believe me if anyone knows I do, obviously a lot more than you do and they can go to other companies if they like. But I also am a PAYING customer and it is very disheartening to get on here and before they even receive a product they are throwing it under the bus. I know if I were Popsugar or any other company quarterly, FFF I wold really be sick to death of all the constant grumbling and never happy comments the trolls put out there!!!!!!! Believe me they are never happy. Just follow one from beginning to end someday and you will see what I mean.

 

[xoxcel6]

@stephstrong Thank you!  /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />  I have no idea how to reply to a specific message on here like you all do.  May I am a troll after all!  lol 

 

[nicepenguins]

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


Agreed!

Copied from the PS site:
The monthly box targets women ages 18-40 and features full-size products and premium items including tried-and-true classics, celebrity favorites, and brands consumers have yet to discover.

THIS is why people get upset, they aren't being spoiled or whatever they want what they were promised, I don't think that many of they items sent in PS boxes lately have fit into the categories listed above, perhaps maybe the "full-sized" category but that is the least emphasized in the box desc so I would assume it would be a very small part of the boxes.
This is a really good point, the language on the actual PS website implies something different than the consumer expectations. It seems like they need to communicate who they are a bit better or change the products to suit this description more.

I am generally someone who likes PS (you can see me all excited in my previous posts and giving a little love to the drugstores) but I do respect that others may disagree and that how the company represents itself might have something to do with that. I do believe that the company is sincere in trying to curate a fun box each month with a little luxury in it (I really do not think they were trying to be cheap by adding Ghirardelli as a bonus--I think many people think of it as a fun stocking stuffer item and it is an SF local item). Anyway, hugs to all, maybe the pamphlet description from the box will tie everything together with a neat little theme. 

 

[plumplant]

A troll is someone who comes onto a forum to stir up ****. Or spam boards. Or quote everything someone says no matter what and respond with "lol ok" or a *facepalm* meme. Someone who is dissatisfied with something they paid for is not a troll.

 

[MKSB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Spiritwind10 /img/forum/go_quote.gif


Anytime someone is constantly negative on everything they get and never ever happy with anything they can be troll-ey. And there are many on this site that that is all they do. And I can prove it, if you want me too. I do understand the consumer market and how they work, believe me if anyone knows I do, obviously a lot more than you do and they can go to other companies if they like. But I also am a PAYING customer and it is very disheartening to get on here and before they even receive a product they are throwing it under the bus. I know if I were Popsugar or any other company quarterly, FFF I wold really be sick to death of all the constant grumbling and never happy comments the trolls put out there!!!!!!! Believe me they are never happy. Just follow one from beginning to end someday and you will see what I mean.
Why do you assume 1. that I haven't followed a thread from beginning to end and 2. that you know more than I do about the consumer market? Nothing you have said reflects a knowledge of anything except what goes on in these forums. And frankly, if you are disheartened by the comments here, you don't have to be here. People are not always going to like the same things as you do and perhaps you would be happier not reading the spoiler threads.

 

[plumplant]

Why do you assume 1. that I haven't followed a thread from beginning to end and 2. that you know more than I do about the consumer market? Nothing you have said reflects a knowledge of anything except what goes on in these forums. And frankly, if you are disheartened by the comments here, you don't have to be here. People are not always going to like the same things as you do and perhaps you would be happier not reading the spoiler threads.

This. Definitely. For example, someone earlier itt responded to either me or was just responding to people who aren't excited about this box in general that it was only a $40 box and at least it wasn't the $250 Neiman Marcus box that everyone hated that we had gotten, but I DID get the Neiman's box and I LOVED it. I LOVED the rose gold curb chain necklace they gave out in July or August or whenever it was that everyone hated. People are always going to have opinions all over the spectrum. I for one subscribe because I expect "premium full sized products" and a lot of the stuff PS has included over the past few months has not fit this bill. I just want the old pop sugar back!!

 

[yousoldtheworld]

Re: negativity...I TRY to keep a positive mindset about the boxes I receive. Partially because this is the "fun" part of my budget and I want to keep it fun, and partially because I really can usually find something to like about most things I receive. Occasionally, I fail and just get a full on case of the "BLAH" about a box. I do complain a bit when that happens but I try not to focus too much on it.

But personally, I am generally not bothered by others expressing disappointment. I think it's interesting to discuss different viewpoints.

The ONLY time I'm bothered is when the complaint comes off as an insult to those who feel differently. For example, "I don't like this at all" or "This is not for me" or even "I think this is ugly" is fine. "Who would wear/use this? Absolutely disgusting. No one over the age of 13 who is not a clown hooker would like this" is not and I do get why people get upset about that.

 

[xoxcel6]

@plumplant I do know what a troll is and I don't think its ever ok to resort to name calling.  That in itself would be the definition of a troll.  I agree with you about the quality of the boxes in recent months.  I too feel that the have declined somewhat and after the price increase, it is a little annoying.  Even still...I do love Popsugar.

 

[nectarbean]

Spirit doesn't fully understand what a troll is... Anyway, PSMH doesn't receive free items from vendors. They purchase in bulk, usually surplus stock. I pay a monthly fee for a box that was self-described to introduce me to new brands. The quality of the boxes has declined. There's no debating that. Plastic cups and popcorn just doesn't cut it.

 

[plumplant]

[@]xoxcel6[/@] I wasn't saying you didn't know! I was just responding to Spiritwind saying that a troll is someone who is negative about what they receive all the time.... Because that's def not what a troll is! Anyways yeah, I will keep my PS sub because I have a terrible case of the don't-want-to-miss-outs. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />