Memebox Items - Price Gauging

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I recently noticed something happening quite frequently. Other than Memebox drastically overestimating the value of many of their items, and selling them for FAR too much in their own shop, other sites seem to be doing a similar thing. I keep noticing that items featured in Memebox's that I've purchased on Korean skincare sites in recent months (most less than 3 months ago) have suddenly gone up in price (often drastically) and it seems to be shortly after the items are released in a Memebox. It seemed like a coincidence at first of course, but I keep noticing it more and more.

For those that think I'm just being paranoid, the D-Toc Lemon peeling product from the detox box I purchased before finding Memebox (and shortly before the box was available it seems) was just under $10, and now I see it on lots of sites (including TesterKorea which used to have competitive pricing for the product) in the $30 range. The Skinaz lip tattoo I saw shortly before I found Memebox a month ago for around $5 and now it's selling everywhere for $20. And there's LOTS of similar situations where items I recently purchased for $5-$10 are selling at drastic markups ever since they were included in recent Memebox's. 

Is Memebox really that popular? 

 
You're not the only one that has noticed. i see loads of products really overpriced, and they jack up their original price so that it seems like a good deal when you get them for say 50% of on sale. I rarely buy from their shop cause the prices are just insane, and the shipping ontop makes it just too much. 

 
Their prices are ridiculous. However, everybody keeps buying shop stuff. So it won't change.

Their are plenty of other places to get the stuff for cheaper.

 
Honestly, I think it depends on the particular item you're looking at. I've seen some items with way better prices elsewhere, and some - like with the Missha products that are in the US sale right now - where the prices are better than average, for the most part. As with any store, it pays to do your research when shopping and to compare prices.

 
I've noticed this, too. If an item appears in a Memebox, a lot of times other sites increase their prices.

When I looked a few months ago, I was also seeing the Skinaz lip product for 6-7$ each, but now I can't find it under $20. :/

 
I've noticed this, too. If an item appears in a Memebox, a lot of times other sites increase their prices.

When I looked a few months ago, I was also seeing the Skinaz lip product for 6-7$ each, but now I can't find it under $20. :/
Yeah, the Memebox prices I was used to being rather unreasonable, but I was shocked to find that other sites would raise their prices so drastically! If you are looking for the Skinaz lip product, I saw one seller just lowered it to 9.99 (with free S/H) on ebay, and if you do place orders through Memebox when they have their sales they keep offering it at $9 every now and then. But it's impossible now to find it on the Korean skincare sites at a reasonable price, sadly. 

Guess I'll have to wait a fair bit before trying to track down items I missed out on in previous Memebox's! 

I even had one item in my cart on one site for the next time I placed a purchase (I forget the name of the brand, but it was a facial moisturizer recently included in a Memebox) and it was priced at just under $9, and it just gave me an error last night when I went and added some other items to place an order, and it's currently $38! And it wasn't an item on sale! 

 
Honestly, I think it depends on the particular item you're looking at. I've seen some items with way better prices elsewhere, and some - like with the Missha products that are in the US sale right now - where the prices are better than average, for the most part. As with any store, it pays to do your research when shopping and to compare prices.
As far as the more well known brands, it's usually easy to find better prices elsewhere, but I admit that some of the items that are hard or impossible to buy elsewhere, it can be a reasonable price during their half off sales. I was thrilled to see the PureSmile 5 pack assortments (Muddy Girl, Gelee, etc.) on sale for $3 (from a price of $6, which isn't that bad shockingly enough), especially since the only other place I had seen them was YesStyle, and they charge $4.95 for a SINGLE (which I knew was drastically overpriced). And I have bought other unique products during half off sales, especially since I wanted to spend the $70 to get free shipping. I just feel bad for people that are new to Memebox and assume they're getting a good deal in the shop when they want to buy items they missed out on from recent boxes. 

 
Yeah, the Memebox prices I was used to being rather unreasonable, but I was shocked to find that other sites would raise their prices so drastically! If you are looking for the Skinaz lip product, I saw one seller just lowered it to 9.99 (with free S/H) on ebay, and if you do place orders through Memebox when they have their sales they keep offering it at $9 every now and then. But it's impossible now to find it on the Korean skincare sites at a reasonable price, sadly. 

Guess I'll have to wait a fair bit before trying to track down items I missed out on in previous Memebox's! 

I even had one item in my cart on one site for the next time I placed a purchase (I forget the name of the brand, but it was a facial moisturizer recently included in a Memebox) and it was priced at just under $9, and it just gave me an error last night when I went and added some other items to place an order, and it's currently $38! And it wasn't an item on sale! 
My favorite ampoule was originally $29 in the memeshop...now it's $45. Unfortunately it's one of those items that's nearly impossible to find. Also unfortunately I can not live without it.

 
My favorite ampoule was originally $29 in the memeshop...now it's $45. Unfortunately it's one of those items that's nearly impossible to find. Also unfortunately I can not live without it.
Is it the Centella one by any chance? 

 
I know a lot of people use Memepoints and discounts to purchase things, so I'm not sure if you manage to get a better deal, but I actually looked into that item after someone gave rave reviews about it (then seeing the great reviews on Memebox). I was a bit put off by the price though and did some looking, I found it on Ebay for $25, plus they have it on KoreaDepart for $17 (at a 45% off price) but it's temporarily out of stock. They have alerts on KoreaDepart for when an item comes back in though, if you were looking for a better deal.

After hearing one more person swear they can't live without that product, I think I'm going to have to grab a bottle myself at some point!

 
I know a lot of people use Memepoints and discounts to purchase things, so I'm not sure if you manage to get a better deal, but I actually looked into that item after someone gave rave reviews about it (then seeing the great reviews on Memebox). I was a bit put off by the price though and did some looking, I found it on Ebay for $25, plus they have it on KoreaDepart for $17 (at a 45% off price) but it's temporarily out of stock. They have alerts on KoreaDepart for when an item comes back in though, if you were looking for a better deal.

After hearing one more person swear they can't live without that product, I think I'm going to have to grab a bottle myself at some point!
I saw it on ebay as well. I will probably end up buying it from there. The shipping on KoreaDepart is OUTRAGEOUS. I originally had it in my cart there, along with the zombie pack and the shipping was $40. Needless to say, I didn't buy it. I'm really hoping that someday beautynetkorea gets it.

Anyway, I really love this stuff. It is most definitely a holy grail (first time ever using that phrase!) product for me. The bottle is really big for an ampoule/serum product. At least by my standards. I actually really like all of the products I've tried from Skin1004. I'm also obsessed with the cocoon soap they make (another holy grail product).

Anyway, I very very highly recommend it and anything else they make. It honestly is worth the $45 they charge in the memeshop (in my opinion) but I just think it's really really shady on memebox's part and I am basically refusing to give them my money right now.

 
I saw it on ebay as well. I will probably end up buying it from there. The shipping on KoreaDepart is OUTRAGEOUS. I originally had it in my cart there, along with the zombie pack and the shipping was $40. Needless to say, I didn't buy it. I'm really hoping that someday beautynetkorea gets it.

Anyway, I really love this stuff. It is most definitely a holy grail (first time ever using that phrase!) product for me. The bottle is really big for an ampoule/serum product. At least by my standards. I actually really like all of the products I've tried from Skin1004. I'm also obsessed with the cocoon soap they make (another holy grail product).

Anyway, I very very highly recommend it and anything else they make. It honestly is worth the $45 they charge in the memeshop (in my opinion) but I just think it's really really shady on memebox's part and I am basically refusing to give them my money right now.
I tend to place large orders on KoreanDepart so the shipping is fairly consistent for large orders, but for small orders they charge a fortune than refund the difference, which makes no sense to me. i didn't realize it was such a high initial charge though for shipping, that's absolutely insane. 

I'll definitely be sure to keep my eye out for it, and thank you, I'm actually glad you mentioned the ampoule, I was still a bit on the fence about it (largely in part because I couldn't find much information on it anywhere), I've definitely only seen great reviews of it though.

I didn't even know they made a cocoon soup, I recently purchased the little cocoon ball facial scrubbers though, so I can't say it surprises me. 

 

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