Glymm - February 2013 - Epic fail!

I am not sure if you are aware of all the drama surrounding this sub lately, but I had decided to cancel my membership with Glymm in January due to the quality of the products being sent, changes to the terms of service without notice, 2 price increases in a 6 month period, some subscribers have been told by VISA while they were doing chargebacks that the company is bankrupt  and a SLEW of other things and this was supposed to be my second to last bag with Glymm as by the time I finally connected with their customer service, after sending two emails, I had already been charged for March as well since they charge a month ahead though they changed their shipping to the very end of the month from the beginning so you actually get charged twice before receiving the first bag :( Today being the 8th of March I have not even seen a tracking notice for the February bag, so I decided to contact both their customer care by email AND their FB as it seems posting on their facebook generates a faster response. 

This was my facebook post keep in mind I was very careful to avoid the term "You" and instead use "Glymm" so that it would not seem like a personal attack on their Facebook Staff but my frustration with the company as a whole

I am still waiting for my February bag, I have not even received a shipping notification yet, THIS is exactly what I talked about with customer service when I cancelled, as I was worried that since I cancelled my sub, Glymm would "conveniently" FORGET to send me the bags that I have already PAID FOR, I was assured by Glymm Customer Service that I would received a February and March bag since I have paid for them, your customer service is a complete joke, and I really hope you guys don't wonder why you cannot keep subscribers? I have also sent an email to your CS team, but it looks likes like I will have to do a charge back with my credit card company since you guys have decided not to provide me with the service I have paid for almost three months ago now"

They responded to me on FB within a half an hour

Melissa Mayer - Your box has been shipped, please private message us or email member services if you have not received it. We send all members bag that have been paid for no one is ever forgotten. We kindly ask that you speak to us in a respectful tone as member services does everything possible to help all members.  Thank you.


to which I posted 

Glymm I am pretty sure that my posts clearly states that I have not received it along with the fact that I have already emailed customer service, so would you like me to email it again? I am confused about the tone that you refer to? I was simply stating my feelings as to how "Respectfully" I have been treated? I have paid for a service that Glymm has not provided to me how is that "Respectful" in the least? The terms of service that I signed up for have been repeatedly been violated by Glymm, which is why I cancelled as there is a total and complete lack of respect for us as subscribers. So if you think I should apologize for being slightly upset about being lied to (if my package has been shipped where is my shipping notice? or a tracking number?) and paying for items in January that according to the terms of service should have been mailed in early February until Glymm changed it at the last minute, and that now in March I still have not received ? Or the fact that I have paid for in Glymm's words 

"Glymm works to ensure that samples are luxury and deluxe sized, meaning that they offer multiple uses so that you can really see the benefits of the product over a longer period of time. Also, each sample is hand-picked in accordance to your beauty profile. So eliminate the randomness of in-store samples and try the products you really would buy to actively improve your beauty regime!" 

and what I have actually received have been dried up tiny products that I cannot use. Then I respectfully refuse

Can you tell I am slightly pissed ? this months bag is I know from spoilers: repeat samples, a gross brown eye shadow and a UV GEL polish for professional use only (and you need to have a UV light for setting it) so its not the product that I care about, its the point of the thing, they have a terrible business model, horrible customer service, they lie to their subscribers, sell products they do not have in stock which causes MONTHS of Shipping delays for Store Orders until people ask for their money back and are they are just down right sneaky..............

THEN it turns out my bag was delivered today while I am at work, so I feel a little chagrined about my rant, but not too much since everything I said was true, I paid for February's Bag  on January 1 expecting it to arrive at the beginning of February as per my terms of service implied, when the day came and went that they were supposed to have all bags mailed out they quietly posted to their facebook that their shipping dates would now be the last day of the month, which for people who do not check facebook everyday or don not even have a facebook that was useless, as I didn't even see it and I am on facebook for hours a day!  so I was charged January 1 for the Feb Glymm Bag, February 1 for the March Glymm Bag AND if I had not have cancelled I would have been charged again March 1 for the April and all while not having received a thing from them. 

I am glad that this months bag which should arrive in April will be my last and final experience with this company. 

December Beauty Boxes

So its the middle of the month and I am expecting many pretty things in the mail but have yet to receive anything and the wait is killing me!!! I am expecting:

IPSY - This is my first bag from Ipsy and the reviews of last months bag AND the information on this months bag was amazing so I am really sad that it has not arrived yet, even though I got my shipping notification on Monday the bag has not yet been received by Canada Post for delivery :(

TOPBOX -  I received my shipping notification yesterday with an expected delivery date of December 19th, I usually always receive my Topbox a day earlier than expected, but being the Christmas Season I do not have high hopes!, this one was shipped out late due to a sample not being received on time, the 1 posted spoiler on FB does not really give me high hopes for this one as everyone says that these are all items that have been previously received  but since there are at least 56 variations of Topbox this month I am crossing my fingers mine will be decent

GLYMM - No Shipping notification yet, but I usually receive notification around the 14- 17th each month so crossing my fingers!! Normally Glymm does a hint thing on their FB for one of the products in the bag, but so far this has not happened this month, this one should be a complete surprise  (If I manage not to look at spoilers on FB once the packages get shipped, which we know will never happen)

GLOSSYBOX - This one doesn't even get shipped until the end of the month so not too concerned though it would be nice if they had gotten their act together so we could have it pre-Christmas.

LUXBOX - I signed up for this one by the deadline for the Winter Box and was charged and then the payment was mysteriously reversed and when I logged in I was told I had no active subscription, but word on the Beauty Box FB pages is that the guy who runs it is a bit shady.  Though the spoilers I have seen seem to indicate the winter box being an "O.K" box I am not too sad that I won't be receiving this.

BEAUTY BOX 5 - I signed up for this one solely based on a brush..........yep, you heard me.......a brush, I figure if its crap or the rest of the box isn't worth it I can always cancel in the new year LOL - no idea when I should be receiving it because I only ordered it yesterday.

and last but definitely not least

GOLDEN TOTE - I have been waiting very patiently for this one,  I assume because its shipped from California and has to go through customs is what is causing the delay, but I tell ya hoping it has arrived makes my walk home from work go much faster! I was super hoping that my November Tote (Very late order, my bad) would have arrived by today as I have been dreaming of some of the items in the tote and would have been great to wear today for the Realtor's Luncheon, I am very excited about my December totes as well (ya two of them ! one large tote and the accessory tote as well LOL) these ones where posted this week so I m crossing my fingers that they arrive prior to Christmas or at least New Years as the dress I chose as one of my pieces would be great for holiday parties, though I note that they change the other option which was a cardigan that I didn't much care for to another lace dress (This one with long sleeves and absolutely to die for) which made me run to their page and try and order another one :) Thankfully for my credit card they are sold out

So to Canada Post please bring me pretty things in the mail soon!

Subscription Boxes

Have you heard of or tried Subscription Boxes? I recently over the summer fell in love with both the IDEA and the actual service of curated items being delivered to my door. In Canada we have access to several strictly Canadian sub services along with a few from other countries (Shipping can kill the savings though)

Liz over a subscription addiction has a great list of American ones that you can check out here (Some offer shipping to Canada)

http://www.mysubscriptionaddiction.com

I also found out about a few from

http://www.subscriptionboxes.com , this site also offers user reviews to help you make your choice a little easier

My first sub choice was Topbox because of all the rave reviews, but this was back in January and I had to go on the 8 month long waiting list. (my opinion is down below as I am now off the waitlist)
http://topbox.ca/

My First Sub was Glossybox, (was $15 now its $21 a month)

http://www.glossybox.ca/referal?CI=MTMxMzQ=

I ordered GB in June and received my first box in July, now my opinion of Glossybox has been sort of hit and miss, some boxes have been amazing and others less so. Glossybox's website promises "5 deluxe beauty samples delivered each month." but some months we have received drugstore items such as Venus Razors (don't get me wrong I love them :) ) or other items that have come in P&G sample packs, basically stuff I could pick up at SDM for cheap. There has been a general uproar on Facebook in the last few months due to the fact GB raised there price (which was already the highest at $15.00 a month) to $21.00 and their reasoning for doing so being the "Making a North American Standard Pricing (GB USA has always been $21) and so they can continue to improve and provide us with great products" So I am sticking it out for a few months to see if there is an improvement or at least less of a variance with the types of products and samples, I have not been taking pictures of the boxes or doing reviews, but I will starting November. 

My Second Sub was Glymm ($12 a month)

http://www.glymm.com/share/mmayer2009

Glymm has been pretty consistent with their type of samples, I have pretty much had a use for everything I have been sent (even the baby butter hair creme, its perfect for my daughter's hair), I have no complaints except the high number of Shampoo and Conditioner samples as I m don't really feel that you can get a good sense of a product in three or four uses, I don't foresee cancelling this in the near future. Once again will start reviewing and posting pictures with the December bag.

Third Sub...TOPBOX (was $10 now its $12 a month)

Finally off the Topbox wait list, and was a bit disappointed with my first few boxes from them, as prior to this all I heard was RAVE reviews everywhere but I guess you can't win all the time and they are trying to accommodate lots of subscribers at this point, but I m looking forward to future boxes and I haven't received anything terrible or drugstore quality, so again I do not foresee cancelling this one.

Fourth Sub - Indie Giftbox -- Not a Beauty Box ($20 plus $10 shipping)

http://indiegiftbox.com/

I was put on a waiting list for this one for several months, Indie Giftbox describes itself as "We curate great items from independent artists and small businesses every month and organize them into themed boxes that you can purchase. Our goal is to help you discover new artists and companies, and to help those artists and companies grow their businesses! "

I was very happy to be able to get in on the Winter themed box for November, as Indie has a limited amount of boxes available and you have to be on the ball to order one when they become available.
I paid a little more for shipping as this is an american box, but once I received the box I was extremely happy with the contents I received: 

1. a wonderful travel size candle in a great reusable tin from (Will update with the scent when i get home)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/plainjbodyandhome

2. a really cute Christmas Ornament from 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/shopofworldlydelight

3. a Loveley Snowman Gift Tag (plus one to make yourself, my daughter loved this)

as seen here (Also a link to her Etsy Shop) http://www.etsy.com/transaction/102825503

5. Lovely Christmas Card, thats almost to cute to use ( I love note cards and it was extremely good quality)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/112429864/peace-mistletoe-holiday-card-qty-1


6. Snowflake necklace (Not exactly the same as the chain is different, but still wonderful for winter)

http://eef.storenvy.com/products/684750-proper-snow-at-last-silver-tone-snowflake-necklace

I also received coupons and gift cards from the following:

issa.ino:handmade, Wired Essentials, Megandowntherabbithole, My So Called Chaos, and Sebastian Design.

All of which would make finding a gift for that hard to shop for person easier, plus your supporting small business!

6th Subscription Box - GOLDEN TOTE ($49.00 for 2 to 3 items, or $149.00 for 5-7 items, plus $20 shipping)
http://www.goldentote.com

I have been considering this one on and off since I discovered it Via Liz's website (link to Liz's website above)
This is a little more pricey then a beauty box but its CLOTHES!! amazing clothes !!

One of the reasons's I was hesitant to try this was not only because of the higher cost, but the lack of reviews out there from actual subscribers, that of course was until Liz posted her review and I immediately went a bought the $149 dollar tote







These are the choices for I made for the 1st Item and the 2nd, the remaining items in your tote are a complete surprise, One of the main reasons I ended up ordering is the Aztec swear is absolutely gorgeous.

The Girls behind this sub are the clothing designers behind Puella, so you know the stuff is going to be quality, I ordered my November Tote today and the December one goes on sale on Monday (hehe I maybe reviewing these both at the same time)

 I don't know if this is something that I will indulge in every month at $170.00 including shipping or $70.00 for the other version, unless I can wiggle the room in my budget else where, but then again that's whats great about this sub, if you don't like the choices for 1st and 2nd you can skip the tote all together. I love the idea of adding to my closet( Which is sorely lacking) without hitting the mall and with pieces that are curated and seem to be high quality. 

(Below are the two choices that I passed on)










That's all for now folks I will be revealing and reviewing my boxes and posting pictures starting with Glossybox November Edition, followed hopefully by Golden Tote and then Topbox and Glymm then Golden Tote and Glossy HAHA what a great month for mail!!