Monthly Box Rehab

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Originally Posted by calexxia /img/forum/go_quote.gif

The thing about sample subs is that they ARE so completely addictive because of the gambling aspect and the fear of missing out on "an amazing score". It happens, but put it into a risk/profit ratio, and the pay off with some subs is WAY higher than with others.

I'll be honest; if I had unlimited funds, I'd probably be subscribed to every bloody sub out there because of the thrill of the surprise. But when I realized I was spending more time stalking spoilers than I was actually enjoying products.....that was a wake up call.
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It's interesting that  you make the analogy of gambling and the risk/profit ratio.  What is "profit" or "payoff"?  That you get high end makeup?  Or something you will incorporate into your makeup routine and eventually repurchase?  To me, most of what I get (even from the best boxes) don't seem to be "profitable" because it's not something that I can then translate back into money. I can't resell the items and get my money back.

My philosophy towards this entire business is that I'm paying for a box that has things that I will use vs. things that don't work out for me. I'm not looking at monetary value because most of the items have subjective value even when there's a prescribed monetary value attached to the product. For example, getting the Dior mascara has a retail price of $28 would be worthless to me because mascara irritates my eyes. Whereas getting a tiny amount of anti-aging cream would me the world to me because it's something I can use.

But then again,  that the cream is not it's worth the $30+ spent gambling with multiple boxes.

If you're hoping to score high end makeup products for half the cost, this is a pretty risky way to get them because for the most part, sample boxes send out a lot of other "unrelated" beauty products and occasionally a makeup item that you want/need.  I still think that after $20 of "gambling" its better to start hedging your bets and actually buying what you want and not just getting a bunch of crap samples and ending up disappointed or jealous when you hear of someone who got what you wanted.  

 
By payoff, I mean EITHER a monetary worth OR an item that becomes well-beloved. I spend WAY too much time pondering these things. It's kind of fascinating how some folks, who normally wouldn't spend $50-$75 on beauty stuff, will all of a sudden look around and go, "Uh...wow. I have $100 in subs"

For me, personally, the payoff is in the excitement factor--Look over on the Little Black Bag thread, where some of the gals have flat out stated that they get WAY more than $50 worth of fun out of the trading process. THAT would drive me absolutely bat-crazy, so I knew it wasn't something I wanted to join. But they're getting (at this point) value for their dollar. '

In all honesty, I'm personally trying a lot harder to go back to my old frugal measuring stick of "cost per wow" (If a pair of pink shoes is 10X the cost of the black shoes, would I get 10X the enjoyment out of them? If  so, then it's still potentially a frugal choice.) For me, Birchbox was the sub that had the most "bang for the buck" in terms of enjoyment. I actually reached the point where I was dreading hearing what would be in MyGlam (although now I find it interesting in a voyeuristic way, just like with all the other subs I'm not currently enrolled in). It's probably telling that my makeup costs tend to be under the "entertainment" portion of my budget, rather than Personal Care.

 
I am so glad I found this thread! It is nice to know I am not alone. I definitely have a shopping problem/addiction, but all I can do is admit it, I haven't been able to stop it yet. My one saving grace is that I'm addicted to the sub companies, so things are only 10-15 dollars a pop (or $40 in the case of shoes from shoedazzle or justfab). And I also know my limit - I am still able to pay off my credit card each month.

But having said that, I still know it's too much. I subscribe to the Canadian boxes Glymm, LuxeBox, Glossybox and Topbox (which starts in June), the U.S. boxes Beauty Box 5, Julep and QVC test tube, and am a member of Shoedazzle, Just Fab and Adore Me (for lingerie). It's a lot, I know. But I actually dive into all my samples every month and use them. And I've found so many cool new products that I end up buying the full-size version. I don't think I would have found these if I was just aimlessly browsing through Sephora. 

The lottery is definitely part of it. I love the excitement of getting the samples and the payoff box does happen. But I was just initially signed up to one box, Glymm, and then did a bit of internet research and found out there were tons of other boxes as well. I think that's how it goes. Also, I blog and I review each box on my blog. Initially, I was just going to sign up for a bunch, review them and only keep the best of the box bunch, but now I find I cannot cut any. 

In a feeble attempt to try and get this under control, I did put a book on hold at the library - "To buy or not to buy: why we overshop and how to stop". I'll pick it up tomorrow. 

 
After getting a few months of "ITGIRL"s from Julep (3 polishes), plus the extra few mystery boxes, it makes me think I have by far enough polishes now. 

I'm subscribed to 2 Birchboxes, Beauty Army (skipped this month), Beautyfix, myglam, glossybox....

Recently cancelled my BeautyBox5.

Looks like I should cancel a few more....

Maybe a birchbox, julep, and beauty army....

Three boxes a month should be enough.

 
Glad I am not alone. After this month I am canceling Birchbox (that is my only subscription). I have been with them since last May, my boyfriend bought me a 3 month membership. And fell in love with I mean I got a full size stila, full size laura geller, and a full size ybf eyebrow pencil for a total of $60.00 (not including the rest of the samples). So I continued with Birchbox but it has just gone downhill from there! 

I have been sticking with them for my last 20% off coupon and so I can redeem all of my points. After that I am canceling Birchbox, I may pick up QVC beauty test tube because it is $30 something dollars but you get full size items. I saw pictures from the last one and it had 2 full size items a Tarte LIpsurge and a Mally eyeshadow stick! Which already is over $30.00. 

I am done with Birchbox until I see some improvement, I think what really bothered me was this months birchbox. There was SO much HYPE about Birchbox and Gossip Girl box that it did not impress me. The TEEN VOGUE box was 1000% times better than the Gossip Girl box. 

I might try Glossybox once they are out for a few months, it seems there are quite a few glitches. 

I also tried MyGlam for one month but it was such a waste of $10.00. I did not discover a single thing that I would love to purchase.

I know that we are paying for samples and I do not expect full size products. But I am just getting samples that I do not love. I fell in love with AHAVA and Philosophy Purity which I discovered through Birchbox. But lately it has just been a let down...that justifying that I am getting points no longer cuts it. 

 
Originally Posted by ValentineLissar /img/forum/go_quote.gif

If you're hoping to score high end makeup products for half the cost, this is a pretty risky way to get them because for the most part, sample boxes send out a lot of other "unrelated" beauty products and occasionally a makeup item that you want/need.  I still think that after $20 of "gambling" its better to start hedging your bets and actually buying what you want and not just getting a bunch of crap samples and ending up disappointed or jealous when you hear of someone who got what you wanted.  
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I think we all logically know this. But that's the thing about gambling. Whether you are throwing 20 dollars into a slot machine hoping to double it, or 20 dollars into a beautybox hoping it doubles to a full size product worth more than 20 dollars, you are gambling which for some people is a rush (myself included). I don't go to casinos because I've seen how my grandparents are, and I know I've got that risk trait, too, but I definitely take it out on beauty boxes...seeing what the machine throws back at me for "just $10". 

I guess what I'm saying is, when gambling you logically would think "I've already wasted 20 dollars, I should stop now and use my money on something I want or need," but the risk taking side of the brain goes "I've invested 20 dollars, I could still win it back!" And for some, beauty boxes work the same. 

 
I have 2 Birchboxes, Beauty Army, both Test Tubes, Sample Society and now Glossybox. I did the free Julep Maven, Conscious, Love with Food and Sindulge boxes but did not like any of them enough to subscribe. We did the BB Man but the intro box was so bad I canceled right away.I opened the second BB for the GG box, and got basically everything I wanted, so I think I will keep it for one more month then cancel. Unless the Beauty Army is great for June, I will cancel. I am keeping the second BB for another month just for fun and am keeping the first BB until at least the next anniversary coupon (July, I think) then may cancel depending on Glossybox. I really like the Test Tubes and plan to keep them a while. I like Sample Society, too.

So by July I should be down to the Tubes, SS, Glossybox and one BB, or about $60/month. I have the products to use for skin care (I was spending about $800-$1000 a year on that before) so I haven't bought that in a while. Plus, I put together boxes every couple months that sell on eBay from $20-30, so I figure I am covering some of the costs, and if I can keep not purchasing the core products for my skincare routine, then I may be coming out better.

 
I have…  more than a couple of Birchboxes (I'm going to cut down in a couple of months.  I'm experimenting with profiles, but I don't think May was a good month for this since there were only nineteen box variations, and there are usually a bunch more, but I'm just going to have to wait until June to see what happens next), Sample Society, Glossybox, and Julep (I also have a huge nail polish addiction, and if Zoya had something like Julep, I would have that, too.  I actually kind of don't group Julep in with *sample* subscription boxes, though, because I'm not *trying* something and debating buying it.  I'm just flat-out getting nail polish to add to my collection, but it *is* a subscription service, so I'll list it) (I also currently have Little Black Bag, but that's not long for my world).  I ditched Conscious Box and Eco-Emi last month, though, because I just wasn't getting anything in those I even wanted to *try*.  My main reason for sticking with subscription boxes:  I get to try a bunch of different things, and there are frequently things in there I've never even *heard* of before that I discover I absolutely love.  I don't look at this as having a chance at hitting the jackpot with a high-value item, especially since I don't use mascara, for example, so the Dior Extase was nothing more than swap fodder for me (I lovelove*love* the MicrodermaMitt from April, though).  

But.  It's still worth the money for me because I'm not going out and spending a bunch of money on things to try (I need to start skipping Julep more, though.  Their colors are leaving something to be desired, although there are occasional awesome boxes).  For me, hitting the jackpot with Birchbox means finding a new facial cleanser that I like more than the one I've been using for years or an awesome tea that will be amazing iced.  These things are all about discovery to me.  Getting a nail polish I was on the fence about buying and being able to cross it off my shopping consideration list is just an occasional added bonus.  It's also really nice to get a sample of something I've been wanting to try and finding out that I do *not* like it.  One less thing on my most-coveted list!

As far as taking your money and buying full-sized versions of products you love, I *could* do that, but I know my purchasing and usage habits:  I would try those products four or five times and then got bored with them, banishing them to the Island of Unused Beauty Products, even if I love them .  I would end up spending at least three times as much money on things I barely used.  I moved a few years ago, and I tossed out easily $500 (probably more) worth of stuff I had tried and tossed aside,  If I'm just getting sample sizes, I use them a few times, and then they're empty!  I can just toss the package and move on to the next one!  If I realize I desperately wish I had more after the sample is gone, *then* I can buy a full-sized version.  And no returns to mess with if it turns out that I really, *really* hate something.  And no full-sized version cluttering up my already jam-packed apartment.  This is actually the main reason I'm not bothering with Beauty Tube or other services that are mostly full-sized products:  I don't want all that *stuff* in my apartment.  

 
Sounds to me like you've got a great reason FOR having so many subs--if you get easily bored, then, yes, having lots of small things to try and discard makes PERFECT sense to me (and if that came across snarky, it's not intended that way!)

 
I completely agree with what you're saying. I actually love getting samples because these samples end up lasting for several weeks and then I can throw them out. I don't have to worry about having to commit to a product for monthes and monthes because I hate having to throw away expired full size products or things that I haven't used but purchased.

I just think that some people are going a little overboard with the sample hoarding if they never actually get around to trying them.  Then it's just a waste and a headache to get things you don't want and you're spending a ridiculous amount of money each month. For example, with 5 boxes your getting at least 20-25 samples each month. Are you realistically going to be able to try them out before getting the next 20-25 samples from the next month?    At that point, your just collecting samples and not trying them out.  Products that you would have tried if you had fewer samples to use get pushed aside and only the "big" items seem to stand out (or the lack of "big" items seem to suck the fun out of this). That's why I don't understand why people feel the need to get so many boxes when they just could be spending it on something they really want or are interested in.

 
I'm pretty convinced that sample companies purposely use the gambling aspect to their advantage. We talked about this in some 100 level psych course--the most effective reinforcement schedule is one that is variable, moreso than when it is continual.  In other words, when the behavior (buying a box) pays off (you get something really good) isn't predictable.  This is why slot machines often draw compulsive gamblers, because the pay off schedule is so variable but with certain ratios kept in tact.  Casinos exploit the psychology of reinforcement, and I think the way they mix the boxes probably do too.  If they don't they should (from a business standpoint),

 
I'm pretty convinced that sample companies purposely use the gambling aspect to their advantage. We talked about this in some 100 level psych course--the most effective reinforcement schedule is one that is variable, moreso than when it is continual.  In other words, when the behavior (buying a box) pays off (you get something really good) isn't predictable.  This is why slot machines often draw compulsive gamblers, because the pay off schedule is so variable but with certain ratios kept in tact.  Casinos exploit the psychology of reinforcement, and I think the way they mix the boxes probably do too.  If they don't they should (from a business standpoint),
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They absolutely do. I'd be lying if I said the reason I stuck it out with myglam wasn't because there was always a chance they could have another bag like that first one. Just like if I'm playing a slot machine, there is always a chance I'll get that lucky row that will let me push the button on the wheel of fortune thing on top and win 100 dollars.
 
I've really enjoyed reading these comments ladies! I think my sample purchasing is a lot like meaganola - I have the same purchasing and usage habits, and samples are much for fun and convenient to try. But like ValentineLissar mentioned, there is definitely the temptation to go overboard - currently I'm using my samples each month (minus one or two perhaps). But the vast majority I'm using - though if there's a time when it's just sample hoarding, that's not good either. But I wonder if just because I'm using the samples each month means I still should have so many box subscriptions - is that just a way to justify it all?

I picked up the "To buy or not to buy: why we overshop and how to stop" book at the library yesterday and read a bit of it; it is actually quite good but makes me feel very sad and guilty. Still, that's saying that something is wrong and needs to be fixed; otherwise, if I read a book about overshopping and did not feel anxious, sad or guilty it would probably mean I didn't have a problem!

 
I see the gambling aspect a little more in subs where everyone does not get the same products (like BirchBox).

I signed up for subs because I just don't have much time to shop (work full time, three active kids, husband, etc) so I see the subs as a way to try out some new to me products from the convenience of my home.

So addictive though! I would have 6 subs if I didn't limit myself :)

I don't think I would ever do an annual sub either. I like being able to cancel or skip if the products just aren't for me.

 

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