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FanMail Subscription Box Review – June 2015

Haley Faye
ByHaley FayeJun 28, 2015 | 25 comments

FanMail Subscription Box Review - June 2015 - BOX

FanMail Box is a brand new geeky subscription box! This one caught OUR eye because it is founded by two women who saw a need in the geek subscription box category. From the About Us page: “I’d subscribed to other geek subscription boxes and found them lacking. Some of my favorite TV shows and movies, whose audiences generally consist of women, were excluded. I wanted a box that included items like jewelry, tote bags, and nail decals, as well as action figures and comics. I wanted to create a box for women like me!”

The June box is their first box!

This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

FanMail Subscription Box Review - June 2015 - all items

The Subscription Box: FanMail Box

The Cost: $21.99 plus shipping

The Products: FanMail boxes each have a guaranteed retail value of $50, and include a variety of memorabilia and collectibles, some old, some new, some handmade, some fanmade. Among the items you may find are exclusive comics and t-shirts, jewelry, stationery, books, autographs, photos and much more. And each month, you’ll get a handy pop culture newsletter that will tell you what movies are coming out, what’s up for streaming and binging, and what conventions or events are out there that you may want to attend.

Ships to: US + International

FanMail Subscription Box Review - June 2015 - info 1

Every box comes with an info card detailing the items inside, as well as the theme for this month. It’s a small detail, but I love that they included pictures on the info card – it makes identifying each item easier, especially for items referencing geek content you may not be familiar with.

Just a small note: they had previously announced June’s theme as “Fantasy.” I’m not sure why they have it as “Legends & Lore” now, since they’re not really that different and everything in this box would still fall under “fantasy.”

FanMail Subscription Box Review - June 2015 - info 2

One thing unique to this box that I found really interesting is that the flipside of the info card has a “popculture newsletter” letting you know about interesting movies, TV shows, conventions, books, comics, and video games that are coming out soon. I found it funny (and awesome) that they included everything from Terminator to the new season of Face Off to the Magic Mike sequel!

FanMail Subscription Box Review - June 2015 - items 1

“Ledgend Of Zelda” Hyrulian Crest Necklace – value: $12?

I love this necklace! The Ledgend of Zelda is one of my husband’s and my all-time favorites. I’m happy that it’s silver (my personal preference), too. I couldn’t find this exact necklace online, but there are a crazy amount of different Zelda necklaces on websites like Etsy and such.

“The Hobbit” Thranduil Brooch – value: $8

This brooch is super cool, but I wish they had included a more iconic Lord of the Rings item. This would be a great detail for a cosplay or something, though.

FanMail Subscription Box Review - June 2015 - items 2

“How to Train Your Dragon” Toothless T-Shirt

I think this is a very cute shirt, however, I’m really, really confused as to why it is a men’s shirt. I think their FAQ page technically calls is a “unisex” shirt, which unfortunately often still just mean “men’s.” Supposedly it’s supposed to have a slimmer fit than typical men’s shirts but not the same kind of “slim fit” that women’s shirts generally have. It’s nice that they’re trying to be conscious and inclusive of larger sizes/different body types and shapes, but hopefully as soon as they get the resources, they’ll expand into allowing shirt preference options.

One of (if not the) key interest factors for susbcribers is that this is a geek box curated by “lady geeks” and for “lady geeks” (and there are enough other geeky boxes to get men’s t-shirts from every month out there, am I right?). I was even more surprised when I saw that this shirt was created by FanMail themselves for this box.

(Note: While looking around at some other reviews, one or two have said that FanMail is now offering larger sizes (up to 4x) and an option to select specifically women’s t-shirts, but I can’t find anything official on their website to back this up [maybe it was in an email to subscribers?]. I was hoping to fact-check by going through the process of subscribing to see if they let me choose, but subscriptions for June are closed and July subscriptions aren’t open just yet. July subscriptions open on July 2nd.)

FanMail Subscription Box Review - June 2015 - items 3

“Once Upon a Time” and “The Hobbit” Buttons – value: $3?

“Harry Potter” Sorcerer’s Stone soap – 4 oz, value: $7.99

This soap is really cool-looking, and it smells great. It’s pretty large, too. I have a friend with a Harry Potter-themed bathroom, and she will love this.

FanMail Subscription Box Review - June 2015 - items 4

Harry Potter Nail Decals – value: $6

These are cute nail decals! I can definitely see using these for an accent nail.

Harry Potter Hogwarts Button – value: $1?

Game of Thrones Purple Wedding Invitation

The Game of Thrones wedding invitation is an interesting idea! I don’t watch Game of Thrones, but I know what the Purple Wedding is. Even if I were a fan, though, I’m not sure if this would have too much value to me – it’s not something I feel makes a good display piece or anything. Cute idea, though!

The Verdict: All in all, I’m really excited about FanMail! I love the concept and the lady bosses! Some of these items were hard to value, but I can easily see how everything would probably add up to at least $50 retail, like they promise. I’m really looking forward to future boxes to see how they improve and listen to feedback.

July FanMail subscriptions open on 7/2, and the theme is “Out of This World”! Will you be signing up?

Haley Faye
Haley Faye
Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.

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25 comments

heat7918

I ordered the September “CW” box (Supernatural! Gilmore Girls! Buffy!!) when the spoilers came out Sept 1st. There was a delay so I’ve been impatiently waiting… and today I got my shipping notice! I can’t wait – this HAS to be good. 🙂

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Loba

August is open. I got in!!!! 🙂

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Loba

Argh!!! I missed it again. 🙁

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Heather

They just opened up again for July, said they have a few left so you can order now!

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Loba

Well I have been checking website throughout the day and kept on getting a message that they would open options for July box today and now the last time I checked they were sold out… I also signed up for their newsletter so I could be notified when they would open options for July boxes. I never received an e-mail. I don’t know what else to do… I like the option of subscribing to the quirkier boxes but man, why do I have to chase you so hard?!?

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Stacy

I missed the June AND the July sign-up! Having to work during the day sucks sometimes. I love the Zelda necklace and the Harry Potter stuff.

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Anna

I really wanted to try this box but I missed the deadline for June. I think Im definately going to get the July one. I really hope there is Firefly stuff. This one is really cute.

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Gamyeon

The brooch and t-shirt really appealed to me. I’d completely forgotten about this box, but I’m very excited about it. I’ll try to subscribe if I have a chance and if shipping to Canada isn’t too costy.

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Carrie

I wish my box would hurry up and get to me. For some unexplained reason the post office sent it from New Hampshire to Indiana to Kentucky. Now if only it will make it to Ohio!

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Wendy

I loved this box and I decided it would be the one geek box I’m going to keep subscribing to. I’m even more happy that I was able to Edit my subscription last night and choose a women’s cut t-shirt (it was interesting the way you have to choose- it had an option for the initial box with unisex t-shirt, which I had to change to a recurring subscription with the women’s cut as an option – when I selected that I was able to chose my size). I loved the great cinnamon smell of the soap, the HP nail decals, the buttons, just everything…Those ladies should be super proud to have put together such a great first box!

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lily

This is one box I’m going to sub to. The first box looked great. I’m upset I missed it. I like all the items in it.

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Lauren

Sorry this is a bit off topic but I’d love see a couple pictures of your friends Harry Potter themed bathroom, if she wants to share; I was thinking of doing something similar myself.

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Wanderlustlover

Seconding the shirt change announcement. I can even send you a copy of the email, if you’d like to toss it up so the lovely ladies who read all your updates can see the big leaps they are making even by the first box?

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Loretta

I was able to change my t-shirt size by logging in and going to my account page. My subscription info was on the left along with an “Edit” button. From there I chose the kind of subscription I wanted and then a list of choices for t-shirt sizes was presented to me.

I am very impressed with this first box by them. I was one of the ones who asked for larger sizes. Not only were they able to come through on the very first box but they remembered that I had asked and I got the size I wanted!

While I’m not a big jewelry fan I still thought the box was excellent. The jewelry they offered is unique and I can see a fan of either Zelda or LotR being happy with them. I’m definitely going to continue on with them.

I guess it’s not clear to me if I have to ask for the next box or if I’m automatically enrolled to get it. It says my sub is month to month so I’m thinking its all set to go.

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Ann

It was pretty easy to change my shirt on their website. I think that you are automatically signed up for each month unless you cancel or skip the month.

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mere

i love this! will def consider this sub in the future.
i think the purple wedding invite idea is adorable. i have lots of concert tickets and other knick knacks i’ve wanted to assemble on a bulletin board for a while and this/something like this would be a cute addition.
inspires me to maybe craft some similar stuff… once i get around to actually getting a bulletin board lol
what i really wish boxes like these would do is offer a tank top option. i can’t wear tshirts due to the heat where i live and find them really uncomfortable.
i have all these cute nerdy tshirts i can’t wear! i’ve tried modding them into tanks but i can never get it right!
men sizing or female plus sized tanktops for nerds please.

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Tamara

Omg, yes! Tank tops!! That would be so awesome!

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Kate

Do you know if this box is still available for purchase?

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Ann

The June one is sold 🙁 They will start taking orders on July 2 for the next box.

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Tamara

Oh, and I agree about a more iconic LotR item. I showed it to my bf, who is a massive maaaaaaassive Tolkein geek, and he didn’t recognize it.

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Tamara

I thought this was a pretty darn good first box. I won’t say great, but it did show a lot of creativity. The purple wedding invitation was a really really cute idea! I agree that I wouldn’t display it exactly, but it made me smile.

The dragon T-shirt is completely frigging adorable. What a great design!! Alas, Iook awful in t-shirts, so mine is up for swap.

I’m looking forward to seeing more female-oriented properties. Like Buffy!!! (Or any Whedon-y things, really.) Or Xena. Or almost any female comic characters.

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Emily

I’ve been looking forward to seeing a review of this box. I like the things in it, but don’t feel I can commit at this price point, sadly.

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Ann S

I’m not completely sure on this box yet. I wanted a cute geeky box but as an older 20s woman, I don’t really have much use for buttons or brooches.

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Lura

It was in a subscriber email that they mentioned the bigger sizes/ ladies cut t-shirts. They’re not available yet, but they said they would send out another email letting people know how to change their subscriptions. The only thing I’m left wondering is if they are going to offer the “ladies cut” up to 4x or if that’s just for the unisex. The email didn’t make it very clear. Either way I’m totally on board with this box! ^_^

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Haley

Lura, thanks so much for that confirmation! Since I didn’t find anything on their website about it I wondered if it was in an email to subscribers, which we wouldn’t have received since they sent this to us for review. Looking forward to the ladies’ cut! =]

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