BirchboxReviews of birchbox.com

Didn't like most samples. Maybe a new sample of a similar product when a lackluster review is given? One "re-product" per box of a different brand? Anything?

I wish there was a little more attention to my profile when sending me makeup samples. I am in my 60's and prefer classic neutral makeup. Almost every lipstick sample I have received has been a bright neon color that I would never consider wearing. It also seems I only get gold eyeshadow. Please mix up the color selections a little and send some toned down lipstick. I do like most of the skin care products I have received.

I'm generally happy with the actual boxes, and with the product selection available for purchases, and I like that I can often take advantage of free shipping and discount offers. I really dislike the website, though: It is the least user friendly of all the many I buy from. In particular, why is there a separate "bonus shop" that requires a separate transaction? Every other site I use sends bonuses or extra samples or whatever automatically. Nobody else requires customers to go hunting around for this sort of thing, making them responsible for finding their own bonuses. This is not, NOT, an incentive to buy them; it's an incentive to avoid the whole thing. And then you have to hope that you can find the right place to enter them in the check-out, another relative nightmare. I know that I have missed out on bonuses because of this sort of thing, and then when I've complained, I've gotten what I can only call snotty responses. I once got so annoyed that I gave up, and cancelled my subscription. I later went back, but on a month to month so I could get out easily if I got irritated enough again. I've come close, though still get the monthly box for now. But ordering goods from Birchbox is not a pleasant experience but a stressful one. It should not be that way.

I am very disappointed in the lack of expedience in processing my monthly Birchbox. I just received my box today, but my card was charged on the 1st-really?? There is no way it should take that ;long to process a standing monthly order. Also, I received in my box, products for course frizzy hair-I have fine thin hair-as with half of the stuff that has come in past few months; I had to give it away as it was not appropriate for me. Another complaint that I have is that every month I get an e-mail saying that I can choose a selection for my box, but when I go onto your site, on the same day the e-mail was from you-it is ALWAYS unavailable (sold out). So please, what is your point of offering me something that is never available??

At times their customers service is quick. At times its not there. Their email system sent me a 20% off coupon and when I went to apply it I couldn't use it. When I contacted them they ignored my request. The items were never purchased.

As a rule, I get home to find an offer for me to select between the two boxes available that month. Almost without fail, when I try to pick one, I find that everything is sold out. It's disappointing to find that the option that you wanted isn't available. I'd rather be surprised than to feel disappointed every month.

I think the idea of it is great, it brings a little spark of excitement to the monthly mail. My first box was fine and I loved one of the items. But after reading some reviews of their excellent customer service I was a bit disappointed with my experience re my second box: Birchbox was offering the choice of a sample box with items I love instead of the curated mystery box. I chose it before the deadline but was unable to save the choice and kept getting an error message from their website. I contacted Birchbox on the same day. Two days later I received a friendly response basically telling me 'no cigar', that now it was past the deadline so they can't help me. This response was further aggravated by the fact that though I had mentioned in the email that I do not wear mascara (as that had been one of the other choices), the representative wrote in the email that I actually WOULD be receiving a mascara (like it or not). So for next month I don't get the sample box I chose- and I find that at least one of the five items I receive will be useless to me. That's ok, makeup samples are not a huge deal in the greater scheme of life.. . it's more about the not-so-great feeling I got from the rep's response and how it reflects on my value as a customer. Will try for one more month and see.

I loved this service for a long time, but the quality has gradually decreased over the last year as the subscriber base increases. Sample size seems to have decreased and some of the brands being sent recently are not acceptable for the reputation of Birchbox. Cheap hotel toiletries are bad enough without dodgy Chinese brands popping up. The point system is great so I haven't unsubbed yet, but if I keep throwing away half my box because the quality isn't even with giving away I will eventually.