Read Mumsnetters’ feedback on Pink Parcel and bettybox

[JustineBMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the Mumsnetters who have been testing monthly subscription boxes Pink Parcel and/or bettybox with their daughters.

Here’s what Pink Parcel and bettybox have to say:

Pink Parcel: “Pink Parcel is the UK’s No1 period subscription box that unites periods and pampering to make your time of the month fuss-free and fabulous. Delivered to your door monthly on a day of your choosing each box contains over £40 of tampons, pads and beauty products including a mix of cult beauty brands, herbal teas and artisan chocolates. You can select your choice of tampons, pads or a mix of both from all your trusted brands. This convenient box ensures you’ll never run out of products again.”

bettybox: “bettybox is the perfect pick me up for girls. As well as all their trusted tampons and/or pads, they can expect sweet treats, make-up, stationery and more all from brands specially selected for teens. Choose from your favourite tampon and pad brands and receive your monthly box with treats worth up to £30 delivered for free directly to your door. You’ll never have to worry about running out of pads again!”

Testers, please give your feedback by answering the following questions, as well as completing the survey we’ll be sending you via email shortly.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?
2. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?
3. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?
4. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?
5. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

All testers who give the required feedback will be entered into a prize draw where one tester will win a £300 voucher.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

1.what did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month .
I think its a really good idea but our boxes didnt fit through the letterbox and its a bit of a trek to the post office .

1. Do you feel pink parcel/betty box is good value for money ?

I do think it is , as if im caught short and have to go to the local shop i often end up buying magazines , chocolate and other things i dont really need . This way would probably save me a few of those trips.

1. What one thing would you change about the boxes

Probably the size so it fitted through the letterbox .

1. Would you recommend to a friend /family member ?

I would recommend it as me and my daughter both liked our treats and it did cheer us up to get nice post .

1. Did you find you had too little/too much or just enough pads and tampons ? How did you like the mix

My daughter found it fine and had enough products to last while on her period, i had to buy another packet of night time pads for myself , also i dont use liners so they were not needed for myself .

1. I thought it was very good - I've been caught out more times than I can count, frantically searching in old handbags for tampons bought many months previously. This takes out a lot of the annoyance. I'm an Old Gimmer so remember when we had to find an open pharmacy...now of course they are available everywhere. I am also rural so I can't imagine women in the cities would ever have this issue.
2. If you like beauty/skin products, then yes. If you kid want pads and tampons, definitely not. There are other subscription boxes out there that are just about beauty of that is what you like. I would buy those, rather than this one.
3. Too many pads.
4. Yes I would - but only if they were extremely rural or they had trouble buying them from a supermarket. I know some people with anxiety/autism etc. might find it hard so I would think these would be a godsend! My daughter has both of these so I think it would be brilliant for her.
5. Too many pads. Plenty of tampons.

All round, I really enjoyed this product test. It was lovely to receive surprises in the post - that were useful!!! Plus it helped open up conversation between my daughter and myself about the pain that is periods!!

Just a note, my DD has received the muddled up bettybox and the latest one, but I have not received a pink parcel at all. I have emailed about this,

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

Great idea, but not really necessary for us as local supermarket is 5 min walk away, but I get that not everyone is as urban as we are, and if you lived in the middle of nowhere and get caught short, then having these delivered each month could be good. I didn't like the size of the box though, as it would not fit through our standard letterbox, and could be a pain if you don't have a safe storage place or a porch.

2. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

Bettybox can be good value if the contents suit your daughter. My dd liked the contents of the first one a lot better than the second one, and this would be an issue spending £12 a month on a subscription. An option to 'opt out' from a month that doesn't suit you would be good.

3. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

Too much packaging - the main box and then three other boxes in it - could be thought out better

4. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

Maybe for a younger child than my dd

5. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

Too many pads really for my DD but good to try different types

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

Im not too bothered about buying them myself,but my daughter thought it was great receiving them in post!

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

I think for me i would not pay the price as i only pay a few pound a month for tampons but i might consider it for my daughter as she enjoyed her treats in her box.

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

like other people i feel the packaging needs to fit through the letterbox!

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

i wouldnt recommend for adult women,but for young girls i would as a treat!

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

i didnt have enough pads so i think options on how many pads and tampons were needed for peoples individual flow etc would be useful.

What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

I think it's an interesting idea and I must admit DD and I were looking forward to receiving this through the post. Unfortunately, because we were out when each box (including someone else's we received by mistake) was sent to us, and they couldn't fit through the letterbox, I had to go to the depo three times to pick up the boxes. This would be a real pain if I was having to do this every month.

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

Not really. DD and I both suffer from heavy periods so need maxi towels for at least two days and nights and these were not in the box. I have to buy very thick maxi towels for two days of my cycle which only cost 90p for 10. The treats were nice to receive though and DD particularly enjoyed the teen skin creams that came in her Betty Box and the truffles in my Pink Parcel were yummy.

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

The size of the boxes so they can fit through the letterbox but I have to also mention that it would be nice to have the option of maxi night towels. The "night" ones supplied in the boxes would never have worked for either of us - in fact I tried one on my heaviest day and it was full after an hour so definitely would not have worked all night for me.

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

I think it's a nice idea for a teenage girl just starting her periods. it would be quite exciting to receive and the treats were really good. I also think it's a great idea for people who might find it hard to get to the supermarket/chemist regularly. Additionally, I did like the fact that the pads were organic and biodegradable as we are a family who is concerned about the environment, so this is good. On the negative side, we received a box which actually had someone else's name on it before my daughter eventually got the correct box, so I'm assuming that my daughter's box originally went to someone else, which is not good from a data protection point of view.

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

We do not use tampons, but there certainly weren't enough pads for me of the right type. Same for my daughter really. We needed something for heavier periods, but what we received would probably work well for people with lighter flows.

As an aside though, I'd like to thank the companies for giving us the chance to trial this. it was nice to open up the boxes and see the treats inside which very good and not expected. My daughter was really excited and pleased with hers. Thank you.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

Not great. We had to collect from post office which is a nightmare to get to as it didn't fit through box. Crushed packaging too.

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

Not really. The one for my daughter didn't have enough pads to last a whole period.

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

Make them smaller.

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

No I don't think so.

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

Not enough pads.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

I was quite excited when the boxes arrived through the letter box.

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

No. I wouldn't want to spend £30 a mth on things I didn't need or would necessarily like.

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

Not to have so much plastic & non biodegradable wrapping. I hate the plastic tampon applicators .

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

I think maybe nice for a one off to girls who had just started their periods.

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

Didn't seem to be enough. I didn't use the tampons (will probably put them in the box at work). Found the panty liners wrapping seemed to stick to the liner. Thank you for choosing my daughter & I. It was fun to open, DD's was more fun than mine. She was most amused at the blemish remover & the very bright lip stick. I liked the little cotton bags to carry tampons/pads.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

I require so few these days, with the menopause looming, it’s quite unnecessary for me. The treats were exciting though!

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

Not for the sanpro, but for the whole package of surprise plus treats plus delivery, it’s not too bad

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

The excessive packaging and plastic applicator tampons

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

Possibly for a younger demographic. Great for the early teens.

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

Way too many for us, it will last me months!

We loved taking part in this product test, DD1 is not at all girly, but loved the sweet treats and skincare bits. DD2 is now quite keen to start her periodsabd get a Betty box, so I may be ordering in future!

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

It was convenient- but I normally just add them to my supermarket delivery so no more convenient than that.

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

It’s not bad- lovely for a treat

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

Nothing

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

Yes

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

It was about right.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

The concept is great but the fact it doesn't fir through the letterbox is a pain. I can walk to a shop to but these items in 4 minutes. However the walk to the sorting office takes 20 minutes.

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

Yes I do. The PinkParcel is something I would subscribe to for DD x 2 if they sort out the package size.

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

The size of the boxes and also the random single teabags - I love tea but these were bizarre flavours and there was 1.

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

For people who are home all the time to receive deliveries I would recommend them. I was surprised how excited the girls got about the contents and there was some horse trading also when DD1's actual box turned up ( I gave the incorrect first box to DD2 as we thought DD1's actual box was on its way). They swopped contents between the two of them.

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

Not enough of the green wrapped pads which both girls really liked ( I wonder what they are?? Anyone know) Everything else was a good amount and they both liked the little cotton bag and are using in their rucksacks currently.

It was a bit of a mess but overall the joy when DD1 got her ordered box was great. It was on the first day of the school holidays and she has two weeks ahead of her of GCSE revision so a nice bonus.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

It felt strange. The postman rang the bell and I had to sign for it.

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

Not really, the products could be bought cheaper. If you have the money to afford this you probably would use higher end products.

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

They writing on the outside packaging that says something like “I might be a little sensitive” is patronising.

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

I would.

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

For me I found it too much. Dd thought it was about right.

I wasn’t impressed with the whole data protection mess up.

Thanks for the chance for the two of us to try these products.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

It’s a great idea. I’m disabled and would be interested in this type of subscription but it was really annoying that it didn’t fit through the letterbox.

1. Do you think they were good value for money?

Yes I do. I really liked the extra products that I wouldn’t have purchased separately in the pink box (although my daughter took them too!) she was pleased with her box but I think it was aimed at someone just starting their period so has given some items to her 10 year old sister.

1. What if anything would you change about the boxes?

Definitely the size to make it fit through the letter box.

1. Would you recommend to a friend? Yes we would as a one off special present but probably not as a subscription

1. Did you find you had to little, to much or just enough tampons/ pads? I didn’t think the pink parcel had enough as my periods have become heavier over the years but my daughter had enough in the Betty box to last her and it had the correct balance as luckily hers only lasts 3 days. If it lasted longer though there wouldn’t have been enough.

My daughter loved the facial oil so much in the pink box that we would buy it again. However the mix up with names and not fitting though the letter boxes really puts me off. I wouldn’t rely on it incase it didn’t turn up again.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

Good idea but had to organise quantities

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

They are quite expensive but the products are worth a lot shame there is no way of ruling things out.

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

The size so it fits through the door better and a way of customising the boxes I was allergic to some of the items in mine.

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

It's a good idea but I'm not too sure about the practically except as a treat so no.

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

It was about right.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

Dd and I both liked the idea. More that we'd get some nice treats alongside the menstrual products. I don't know any girls or women who are embarrassed about buying these from a shop, so that side of the sales pitch was a bit off-putting.

I expected the boxes to fit through my letterbox, but like everyone else found, they didn't.

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

Unfortunately not. It felt like a good chunk of the money goes on the packaging rather than the products. The food and drink samples, in particular were a bit weird, random and small. Like something you'd pick up as a freebie at the supermarket or a trade fayre.
Cosmetic products were pretty good, but the lurid pink and red lipsticks dd and I received were not really our (or anyone's?) shades.
Some products in the Bettybox were a bit young for 16 yr old dd. I think she would have preferred the Pink Parcel.

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

More palatable food and drink products, like proper chocolate! It would also be good to be able to specify dietary restrictions and have an ingredients list on products for those with allergies.

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

I would discuss the merits and drawbacks, but probably not recommend. I would, however, consider signing dd up for say a 3 month period when she starts uni so she gets a treat and her menstrual products delivered while she settles into uni.

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

Dd received a suitable quantity, but they were scented (both times) which I either did not request, or missed the option to select unscented. She took great offense to this and she knows that scented products are not healthy.

I didn't receive enough tampons, so this kind of defeats the purpose of the box. Maybe a few more questions about length and heaviness of periods needs to be asked on the subscription form.

In short, I like the idea of a subscription box, but would probably try a few different ones out before signing up for more than 3 months.

Apologies for the late feedback, just got back from a few days away.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

Convenient, but as I do a weekly shop it’s not hard for me to pick up mine and dd’s supplies there. DD was very excited about the box (she ended up with 2 due to the addressing error) and really loved going through the contents.

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

DD looked up the value of the individual items and they were worth much more than the price of the box. However there were several things that we wouldn’t use or need (not so bothered about the edible stuff) so I’d have to take that into account.

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

The boxes didn’t fit through my letter box so I had to schlep to the delivery office to pick my parcel up.

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

It’s a nice idea. I’d probably recommend the Bettybox to teens as it’s fun. DD loved the products and treats in hers (and stole my lipstick!) Maybe not Pink Parcel as I’m old enough to not have to make a big deal of my period, although I was impressed with the number and quality of items. I like that it’s a different set of treats each time.

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

The mix of tampons and pads was ok but I wouldn’t use the tiny pant liners at all. I liked the little cloth bags.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

Not impressed as it was a complete pain having to go out my way to collect both box's from the post office.

2. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

I think it is overpriced for a few pads, and some samples, maybe they could improve on what is included or give the user a choice.

3. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

I would make sure they did fit through a standard letter box.

4. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

No I would be to unsure of whether they would actually receive their box when needed.

5. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

Not enough pads for either my daughter or me, panty liners were awful, so would just be binned.

I found this to be a very disappointing product test. The mix up with names and data protection. and then they said 48 hr delivery for new box's. not true. Total mess.

Sorry for the late feedback!

1. It's a really good idea, both DD & I we're really pleased with our boxes. A great concept.

1. I think they are good value for money based on the products that came with them. I am certainly contemplating getting one for DD.

1. I thought the layout of the box was good, and the little bags were an excellent idea.

However, I would suggest cutting down the packaging and size of the box if at all possible, as it didn't fit in our letterbox and we had a lot of recycling waste from them.

1. Yes.

1. It was the right amount for us both.

Thanks again for letting us test them Betty Box, Pink Parcel and MN, was a fun thing to do :)

1. I have no issues or embarrassment of buying sanitary protection so don’t really need it posting. It’s the “package” of nice stuff that is more appealing.
2. I wouldn’t necessarily subscribe on a monthly basis, but I think it is good value as a once in a while treat
3. it would be great if it did actually fit through the letterbox
4. I would possibly recommend. The treats in the pink parcel were really lovely. I think it was most beneficial to my dd. A nice personal treat for a crappy time that she has been struggling with. 5). I had way to many pads & not enough tampons. Can you tweak that when you order?

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

It's useful and saves having to remember to pick some up each month.

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

I think it's pretty expensive for what it is. Then again I don't really buy beauty products. My dd has talked me into getting her the betty box though so can't be that overpriced.

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

Make them for through the letter box as mine was dumped on the floor by my front door.

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

I don't tend to recommend things but if it came up in conversation then I might.

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

Just enough for me but dd uses alot at the moment as she's very conscious about them so she ran out and had to use ones we already have. She also couldn't see the point of panty liners.

Bettybox

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

I thought it was great idea but it’s a lot more than I’d usually spend every month. 2.Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money? I think it’s a bit expensive

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

I make them so they fitted through the letterbox

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

Yes I would recommend

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

I thought there was a good amount of pads and it was good we had a choice of which ones .

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

It took the hassle out of remembering to buy them and make sure DD and I had a stash ready.

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

I wouldn’t spend that amount of money on pads or tampons so for the extras, which there is no guarantee I or she will like it seems a bit of an extravagance.

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

They actually fit through a letterbox. Seems an outrageous claim given that virtually nobody on the thread was able to get theirs through the letterbox. If I had to go and collect it from the sorting office I wouldn’t be impressed.

Also customisable contents in terms of what extras you get. For instance teabags are useless to me. I don’t like tea.

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

If I thought they might like that kind of thing.

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

We both seemed to have a reasonable amount although I could have done with extra as I have a very heavy flow. There should be customisable options to choose flow so you get more products.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?
Great, but I wouldn't buy either box for that reason alone.

2. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?
Yes. The products were really nice. The full size products made the price very reasonable. The mix of contents was really nice. I have used the products I had in the pink box, and felt 'treated' with them. Dd was really chuffed with the bits in her boxes too (she had two...one not addressed to her, and one correctly labelled), and was pleased with the quality of items.

3. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?
Farrrrrrrrrrr less packaging needed! All sanny products could go in one box, and the treats in another. The outer box could do with being a bit smaller too...

4. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?
Yes, I would. I think I will sign up for dd to have a monthly box. I wouldn't indulge for myself....I actually use a mooncup, and use pads as a back up for leakage, so there isn't need to receive monthly stuff...one large pack from the supermarket will see me through probably 3 or 4 periods.

5. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?
See above.

Thanks for picking us for the trail.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month? I guess it's one less thing to have to remember to buy. It was good to get the mix of types (heavy/medium/light) in one go without having to buy a box of each.

2. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money? The price is comparable to other subscription beauty boxes and the products we received were good. It's reasonable, but not fantastic value.

3. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es? I didn't like the fact that the bettybox had a tool to squeeze spots with! I'm not sure that this should be given to a child. I've told my daughter not to use it as I'm suer she wouldn't use it correctly and would end up scarring herself.

4. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member? I think Bettybox is nice for somebody who has just started their periods. My younger daughter has already requested I get her a few boxes when she starts.

5. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products? The Pinkparcel was just right for my needs, but my daughters periods are really heavy and last for 7 days. She didn't have enough.

1. What did you think about receiving your pads and tampons directly to your door each month?

I can see how it can be convenient however i always make sure i pick up enough at the supermarket and the box dosent actually fit through the letter box so if you miss the postman you have to collect the box from the post office which for me wasnt convenient.

1. Do you feel PinkParcel/bettybox is good value for money?

There were a good selection of pads tampons and the extras were of good quality, put probably not worth the subscription price. Particularly if you are not into makeup and skin treatments.

1. What one thing - if anything - would you change about the box/es?

It would be better if they fit through the letterbox. Perhaps having alternatives to makeup samples.

1. Would you recommend Pink Parcel/bettybox to a friend/family member?

Possibly the bettybox as a little pick me up for the teens but not the pink parcel

1. Did you find you had too little, too much or just enough pads and tampons and how did you find the mix of tampon and pad products?

I found both boxes had a good mix of products but not quite enough in either of the boxes.

1. I have no problem with buying sanitary products from a shop but I can understand why some women would feel the need for discretion. However, would anyone be willing to pay £12 per month for that reason when they can be delivered from Boots for example?

1. I don't think either box was particularly good value for money. There were plenty of sanitary products in each and whilst both myself and my daughter were pleased with the contents when we received the boxes, we are both only using one of the products regularly still.

Also we both spend a great deal less on sanitary products each per month than the cost of the box.

1. Make them small enough to fit through the letterbox.

1. I would recommend Betty Box for younger girls who are just starting their periods but probably for a few months only as £100+ per year on sanitary products is extortionate when there are some girls who are not able to afford them at all........

1. I think there was a good mix of sanitary products but probably too many in one box, though they will all get used.

Both myself and my daughter enjoyed receiving these boxes to test but I definitely wouldn't subscribe for myself and I think my daughter would prefer a beauty box as you can get sanitary products quite cheaply from the supermarket.
If the price was reduced I may consider subscribing for my daughter, however, the problems with data would put me off.