Entertaining for the Holidays? Svbscription Women's Winter Box

Entertaining is the theme of the Svbscription's women's Q4 box. Svbscription is a high-end luxury quarterly subscription at $589/box with contents over $700. This is the ideal theme for the holidays - the time where we all entertain - or need something to give to the host or hostess to thank them for inviting us.  Svbscription said there are only a few boxes available before the the Q4 subscription sell out.  Are you getting one?

Tim Ferris $5000 ultimate box is now available for order!

Today I received notification from Quarterly that the most expensive subscription box known to date - at $5000, is now available. Before, they had a pre-RSVP page where you can put down your name and they will notify you once it is available for order.  The box is limited to the first 1000 subscribers.  I discussed the possibilities of what can be on this mega box previously here.

Are you going to get one? The box will be shipped before December 12th, 2014 once ordered.

Tim Ferris's regular Quarterly box is priced at $100 - and in the Mega Box they promise that this is 50X the fun (it needs to be, since it is 50X the price).  Among some industry insiders, it is rumored to include some VIP, one of a kind experience with a someone special. 

Check out some of Tim's old boxes - and with Tim you always know you are going to get the latest trend in everything - such as the cricket protein bars in his June 2014 package. 

BiziBubble October subscription Review

BiziBubble is a time of the month subscription service.  When I first heard about subscriptions of this nature 2 years ago, I thought it was so smartest.   This is because there are very few things that everyone female before a certain age needs in life - other than food and shelter - this is it!  This is the one box you will not get "junk" or unwanted items (at least for the main items) - so perfect!

I hear a lot of complains about the "value" of these boxes i.e. you don't get what you paid for at retail price.  However, I generally see a lot of "value" in boxes that make me more comfortable during that time of the month.  Plus when I lived in NYC, it was extremely annoying to run around the corner to get the necessary supplies because each box is never that small and if I have to carry all my purchases home, it simply was not convenient.  However, now that I moved to the land of car culture, it doesn't bother me much.  It is interesting to find out if the time of the month subscriptions retain more customers in certain geographic areas.

On to the review.  It is a $14.99/month subscription, shipping included.  A regular box of pads or tampons has an average cost range from $4.29 - $9.60 for a 18-24 count.  In this box, you get 25 feminine hygiene products across the major brands in any mix of your own. To start the subscription, you go online and specify how many of each item you want.  To get a mix in the store, generally you need to buy 2-3 different boxes at a total average price of $15-$20.  However, this store purchases may last more than 1 month.   So you decide, what is more valuable to you?

This comes in a nice reusable storage container. This is very nice to receive in the first box.  I do have to question - if you keep subscribing to the service, do you get one every month?  If I keep my subscription for a year - what will I do with 12 of these?

Nice compartments to keep the items neat in the box, and very nice touch with the bow around the bundles.

A card describes the bonus item, or what I call the fun part of this subscription.  The bonus can range from chocolates, to beauty products and more. This month I received a KOPA HAIKU room spray. It is inspired by the scents Hawaii and made to transform any room to the islands of Hawaii.  Since the room spray is the one item that is new to me I immediately went for it to take a closer look.

and lets not forget about the main goodies.

SquareHue - November = Prague

In a few days, SquareHue, a monthly nail polish subscription for $19.99/month for 3 nail colors, will ship out their November subscription. November is inspired by Prague.

I wonder if it will be filled with inspiration from Czech designer Jakub Polanka.

It is still available to order here.

Missing Item in Popsugar Must Have

My October POPSUGAR MUST HAVE, a life style monthly subscription box at $39.99/month, was missing the butter LONDON WINK eye pencil.  I wrote Popsugar, and they responded the next day with a message that they are experimenting unusually high traffic and will be delayed in providing a real response.  I sure hope it is not because other people are missing items in their box as well.  I will use this post as a tally and provide updates on POPSUGAR's customer service.

   

POPSUGAR Must Have October 2014 Review

My POPSUGAR MUST HAVE October box came late - at the last week of October versus the beginning or middle of the month.  By this time I already know all the items of the box from spoilers on the internet.  Regardless, I was excited to get it because I had stop "anticipating" it, and it was a surprise.

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE is a lifestyle subscription box at $39.99/month including shipping.

Now time to dig in after reading the card of what October box include (the card is above the tissue paper that covers the box when you first open the box).  

I am always amazed how the items stay in place in these POPSUGAR boxes.  Do they also pick items base on size and how it fits inside the box? 

I am so glad that my Dean & Deluca Pumpkin Spice Maltballs came in tack versus completely melted like some other subscribers. See melted ones here from another subscribers.  I wonder if you call POPSUGAR and mention the melting issue that they would do anything to fix the situation.  

Can't have too many pairs of socks! I always love socks with cute patterns on them.  There is nothing like wearing a pair of socks at home during the fall to cozy up to.  I can see myself putting these on when I cuddle to a good book already.  (Now...if I only have a fire place).

I don't generally use soap - I am more of a body wash type of person.  I did hear really great things about this soap.  This will probably live in my hostess present box until the next time I attend a party.

I love love love love love this candle!!!!! They smell so good and being able to change the message is so fun! My chalk broke in 2 pieces, however, nothing I can't live with.

Items like this "Nailed Kit" is the reason why when the box come so late in the month it is disappointing.  I only have a few days to try them all out before Halloween is over and I have to stash these away somewhere before next year.  Chances are, by next year, I would have long forgotten about about them, which means these will never see the light of day. 

I love how versatile the ISAAC JACOBS photo frame is.  These clear frame can adopt to any environment.  It is one size fit all. Love it! 

Finally, these cards or flyers with coupon codes on them.  I generally find them useless and throw them away.   

My box was missing the butter LONDON WINK Eye Pencil.  I am going to call Popsugar customer service and see what they say. I will update when I find out. 

Get $5 off you first box with the code REFER5. 

Svbscription December Quarterly

The next Svbscription Quarterly will ship in December.  Theme = Entertaining.   Aimed for those with fabulous apartments or homes that often entertain friends & family.  Svbscription will include items across ceramics, clothing, metal and culture in its next box.  Word on the street is that they are working with designers such as Confetti System (featured in Vogue), YOLKE, a new label from the UK, New York potter and photographer Helen Levi, Belgian fashion house Maison Martin Margiela, to name a few. 

Confetti System - hmmm - will this $140 pinata be included? 

The box is $589 per quarterly subscription with contents valued at over $700.  Below is a look at their last box, theme = Escape.  

Neiman Marcus Holiday Special with POPSUGAR now available

Neiman Marcus is teaming up with POPSUGAR again to curate a special holiday box for $250. It is promised to be filled with goodies worth up to $650.  It will be curated by Neiman Marcus Fashion Director Ken Downing and POPSUGAR Editor in Chief Lisa Sugar.   Last year the box sold out quickly and it will likely sell out again this year.

Reserve yours here.

Here is a recap of what was in last years box. Get more details at POPSUGAR's recap.

The Most Expensive Subscription Box

Tim Ferriss, a successful author, entrepreneur & angel investor, is partnering up with Quarterly Co to curate the most expensive box to date. Coming in at $5000!!!!! I wonder what he is going to put in the box? A voucher for me to redeem for a house? Or few shares of the companies he invested in? such as Facebook or StumbleUpon? Or maybe royalties to his next book? This for sure will be the box to watch out for.

You can register now to get on the waiting list to order here, it is limited to the first 1000 people who register.  I think they are putting up a splash page to see if people will actually spend that much money on a box.  Can't wait to see the box!!!!!

Zenamins - a new type of Vitamin Subscription

Zenamins is not your typical monthly box subscription (not one, or few size(s) fit all), instead, it packages your customized daily vitamins needs and it is shipped once a month.   Here is how it works:

You go in and pick your selection by: 1. Multivitamin; 2. Oils; 3. Specific Vitamins i.e. B-complex; 4. Minerals; and 5. Supplements.

3 pills a day will cost around $30, and $5 for each addition vitamin thereafter (which, depends on where you shop for your vitamins, is cheaper than getting it retail at GNC).  After completing your selection, it shows what you are getting and how much.

Finally, it comes packaged neatly in daily doses that you can easily ripe apart and take with you without ever having to spilt your weekly dosage in those pill containers.

Target Subscription Service

Target is expanding its subscription service for household products, it was previously aimed at new moms for baby goods such as diapers.  Now, it includes household goods we all need, such as razors (Dollar Shave Club), female products (Hello Flo, Le Parcel, BiziBubble, Bonjour Jolie etc) among other essentials.

All subscription will receive 5% off, and if the Target card is used shoppers will receive an additional 5% off.

I think this will be a challenge for Amazon, but also smaller subscription services including the ones mentioned above.   For the smaller companies on subscription models, it may come down to all the "bonuses" that comes in the box in addition to the main necessities in the box.   The saving and the convenience Target is providing will be hard to beat.

Quaterly Co. celebrity curated boxes on Gilt

Quaterly Co. put three curated boxes on Gilt City for $35, regularly $50-100 with free shipping. Boxes are sent every 3 months (or every quarter).  Available boxes include: the Unbox Therapy's Lewis Hilsenteger Box, the Pharrell William box and the Book Riot box.  

It seems that the Lewis Hilsenteger's Unbox Therapy is the best value because that box is generally $100.  His last box includes the following:

Pharrel Box, regularly $50, is generally filled with items produced by Pharrel, including photos, lyrics and more. This is an ideal box for Pharrel fans.  Some of the items in the past include:

Book Riot box, normally $50, on Gilt for $35, is my favorite.  I think it is so fun to have a book club that reads from the books in the boxes. Past boxes include:

Order them on Gilt here.  New users to Gilt can use code "WELCOME20" to save an additional 20% making each box only $28.

Photos all from Quarterly Co.

Fabletics 50% off + $10 off

Fabletics is a work out clothing monthly subscription co-founded by Kate Hudson.  It charges $49,95 a month and subscribers get to pick one outfit a month.  However, they do have more expensive outfits, and if you pick the more expensive outfits, you will need to pay the additional amount. You can waive any month and not pick an outfit, but you will still be charged the $49,95 that can be used later. 

I have been debating for a long time whether to subscribe or not.  I do yoga, however, I always seem to wear the same few outfits.  Finally, I decided to sign up.  After I did, that is when I realize not all first order are $25, instead only certain ones are.  It just so happened that the one I wanted was going to be $39.98, a 50% off discount from the VIP price.  The first outfit is $25 if you only pick from $49.95 outfits (50% discount).

  

Because it was more than I thought I would pay, I ended up not ordering. Not to mention I do think their advertising is confusing.   They send me a few emails to inform me that 50% off discount ends in 24 hours -  I ignored it.  Then the next day, realizing I had not placed an order, they sent me a $10 credit.  Thus making the outfit I picked $29.97. That is really cheap for a 3 piece outfit. However, it is still more than the $25 I wanted to pay so I am still on the fence. 

Below is the outfit I was going to pick.  I realize it is a good deal for $29.97, but at this point because I find the advertising confusing plus the total cost is still more than I mentally prepared myself to spend, I have not pulled the trigger.