To think subscription boxes are a swizz?

[ketchupontoast21]

Loads of my friends seem to be signing up for subscription boxes like Birch Box lately where you basically get a box containing five mystery products a month for a fee of about £10. Apparently it ranges from make up, to skincare, hair products, creams and bath gels. You don't know what you're going to get so it's all a surprise.

On one hand I like the idea of a little treat each month and the chance to try new products. But I can't help but think it could be a giant waste of money if you end up with products you don't like or ones that are very cheap (a soap or bog standard shampoo for example). What are people's thoughts? Are they worth the money?

I've had Glossybox and Love Lula but I get too many things I don't really want.

Latest in Beauty is better because you know what's in the box before you get it, so you can make an informed decision. There may be a couple of things I don't want but I know if the overall value is worth it or not. Ditto beauty advent calendars.

I also had a coffee subscription for a while but actually I prefer Lidl Gold coffee!

I briefly subscribed to Birchbox and promptly cancelled. I ordered towards the end of the month and they clearly scraped the barrel for what to put in my box!

They’re not actually subscription boxes but the ones where you can see all the items you’re getting first can be excellent value for money. I’ve had brilliant beauty products in one off Latest in Beauty and Estée Lauder companies boxes, but I could look at the contents and check I’d use them first.

I got graze for healthy snacks for my kids and in each box there was one thing they liked and about three that they didn't regardless, and the bombay mix/siracha nutty one that no one liked kept coming round so frequently I think they had trouble shifting it!

I think they're a swizz and can I also say that swizz is a great word.

I'd go for Abel and Cole but I know I'd just watch it rot :D

probstimeforanewname Nisa Columbian is better than a lot of much much posher coffees! I'll have to give that Lidl one a try...

I subscribed to gardeners box for a year and loved it. The packaging was minimal and there was a great variety of seeds each month - things I wouldn’t think to sow myself. I thought it was reasonable too. I didn’t renew it as I didn’t get round to planting everything but I would definitely subscribe again in a year or two.

I used to get a period one, I think it was called Pink Parcel, the price wasn’t too bad and it saved me from having to rush to the shops to buy sanitary towels, I always used to run out and forget. I stopped it when I got pregnant then I switched to reusables. We do get the Smol washing pods one because it’s really cheap and again you don’t have to remember to buy them, they just arrive when you need them.

My children get Kiwi Crates from their grandparents. On the one hand, it's cool that they get a science-based thing to make (with DH...) every month, on the other our house is filling up with wonkily-made sciencey things that cause ructions when they have to be thrown out.

I used to get Graze boxes till I realised it was a total pain to have to remember to rate the snacks, and I could buy nicer snacks in larger amounts for less money from the supermarket.

I'd go for Abel and Cole but I know I'd just watch it rot :D

I used to use a local fruit & veg box scheme and gave up when I had a marrow 6 weeks running.

The thing is it’s seasonal veg. And even though it’s organic, your local supermarket/farm shop will still tend to charge less for seasonal stuff. I would far rather choose.

Book The BakedIn stuff comes in the normal post and fits in a letter box.
(I hang onto clothes for years, don't wash clothes/towels every day, don't redecorate every 2 years, don't buy a new phone every 2 years. Compared with those things I don't think a subscription box is too bad).

Does anyone know of any good (cheap) ones for kids 8+? My ds would go mad for a parcel in the post every month!
Go for a magazine/comic subscription from your local newsagent: My DC loved their monthly magazines, and we picked ones with free gifts so still bits to open.

OP - this thread might interest you. MN did a product test on some subscription boxes last year - this is the feedback thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_product_tests/3205957-Read-Mumsnetters-feedback-on-Pink-Parcel-and-bettybox

I've now got sidebar adverts for Simply Cook and Cosy Killer, which is a Murder Mystery one that is 'only' £25 per month.

Total waste of money in my opinion. Plus yet another way of generating mountains of rubbish - cardboard, plastic, etc., - and filling up your home with clutter.

Yes, absolutely. It’s also rather depressing that consumerism has reached the stage where people will buy without even knowing what they’re buying, just for the sake of buying something.

I get Birchbox. As you can say what type of skin, hair etc you have, I have found that I have tried everything I have brought. Mine arrived yesterday, ds14 opened it before me, to see what he could steal! He likes the shower gels and skin products for problem skin- I have threatened to tell his friends! Honestly after a year I still like it. But each to their own!

We got my daughter Glossy box as a present, for about 18 months. She looked forward to it and loved opening it (and I liked watching despite not having a clue about half the things), but I was helping her clear out her room recently and realised shes used very very little.

Ive taken any shower/body lotion type stuff, her sister has taken a few bits, but the majority went on Freecycle. Such a waste of money. Shes pale and fair, but was sent dark fake tan, and orangey lipsticks etc.

Some of the ones I’ve seen just seem to be bulked out by Options hot chocolate.

Birchbox is awful.

I have Glossybox now, and it's generally brilliant. Today I got rose gold eyelash curlers, an eyeliner, a fabulous Huda lip gloss, a body wash (meh) and an eye mask for puffy eyes.

It's alway worth more than the price, and I've had some amazing products through it. I regift the stuff I don't want to my 13yo niece!

I have some of the Glossy Box boxes which I use for storage

I've had a couple of the Blurt boxes too. But rather than on subscription I've bought them as one-off purchases once I've seen the contents for that months box.

I've also had a fair few of the 'TILI' (tried it loved it) boxes from QVC. Again, you get to see what the contents are before you purchase, so I've only bought those where I know I will use the majority of the contents and that, to me, they represent value for money/convenience.

Single Swag is brilliant. I check the prices of the products and I’m getting about £190 for £36 a month.
I cancelled Birch Box because I keep getting mascaras and red lipsticks. Considering one has to complete a ‘beauty profile ‘ at the start ,a lot of what they sent me was unsuitable for my sensitive skin.

I get a crochet one which is mainly filled with things from small businesses.

And a bi-monthly Harry Potter loot crate. Between me and the DC there's never been anything we didn't want.

Latest in Beauty is the best ive tried..even had mini white co. Candles to choose once!

I just buy stuff I want

It’s a novel concept.

Surprised it's taken so long to tumble to this conclusion!

If I had £20 or whatever a month to spend on products (which I do...) I buy what I love and know works for me.

I'd not waste it on a selection of stuff that may well go in the bin.

I'm subscribed to two birchbox and glossybox I find birch box a bit hit or miss some months but the contents is werth the money that is spent but he best one is glossybox 5 full size products for 10 is a really good deal plus I've found loads of new products I now use on a regular basis if I get to many products I just take a break for a while there's no commitment and you can cancel at anytime