Cate & Chloe Jewelry Subscription Box Review – September 2014

I’m highly irritated that they took it upon themselves to charge me for another 3 month subscription, to the tune of $108, without so much as emailing me to confirm. The accounts do NOT auto renew per their site so someone just decided to charge me again. It was a gift for my Mom. CS is usually very responsive and good but regardless at this point, it’s me who’s stuck waiting up to a week to get my card credited. They have an account settings section and my card isn’t even listed there. Nor does it show any subscriptions as current. I am super pissed right now!

I gave them a very detailed list back when I signed up discussing the types of jewelry I like / can wear (including a few examples on their site of pieces I “love” and “hate”). I had asked if this was even possible to do back then, and they encouraged it. My main request was no “statement pieces” and no gold / rose gold.

I was so disappointed when I opened my box yesterday and the first item was a HUGE statement piece necklace. I wrote to see if I could return / exchange it (because I’ve read how good they are about that) and they wrote back within a few hours with mailing instructions and said it was no problem. I also got to pick the type of replacement piece I wanted.

I’ve always had great customer service with them. I would have been upset that they didn’t listen to my original requests, but they sent this to explain why in detail:

“We love getting more specific feedback from our VIP’s to better cater their box to their style and desire. In fact, the whole point of this month’s box was to get more feedback from our clients about their preferences so thank you for writing in! We gave everyone a ‘classic’ type piece and a ‘statement’ type piece no matter what their usual parameters were. We’re looking to expand our product line to trendier, bolder pieces and wanted to see which VIP’s would be interested in that. Since you’ve chosen classic, we certainly have lots to offer you.”

Although it’s somewhat of a hassle to return an item I asked not to receive in the first place, they did their best to make it right.

I also got the chevron bracelet and different rose gold bracelet which is absolutely grogeous (I HAD to wear it today!!). Not very excited w the chevron bracelet as it is both gold plated and colored so I think I will test out their customer service to get a different piece that I’d love instead of being meh about. Also which I had gotten two different jewelry types. In regards to the value – their list prices seem ridiculous, but I do feel like each piece is worth over $20 making it a good value box!

I take issue with their claim that they send $200 worth of jewelry for $40. Really they send… $40-$50 worth for $40. So we’re not getting ripped off but there is no real ‘value’. So imo if you want 2 new pieces every month that are a surprise, and you like their stuff, this is nice. But don’t be looking for value.
(And personally I wouldn’t refer to them as “high end”…)

That said, I am happy with their CS. I got 2 CZ pendants and 2 CZ earrings in my first 2 months, and I was grumpy, so I sent back 1 of each and they replaced them with exactly what I chose from their website (Mirabelle ‘beauty’ and Harper ‘gentle’ earrings) so I’m happy about that! AND I fully intended to cancel after the Sept box but I like both of my items! (Ellie ‘light of the sun’ bracelet – which I lovelovelove – and Laurel Nature leaf necklace which I like …) So I guess I’m not cancelling 🙂

Bottom Line, in my opinion, they have some cute stuff, and you can send back anything you loathe, so if you’re trying to build your costume jewelry pieces this is fun– but don’t think you’re getting $200 worth of jewelry.

I also received the Chevron bracelet, but in black (which is better for me than the turqoise). I wouldn’t have picked it out myself, but I’m v happy with it. I also received the Elli “Light of the Sun” Bracelet which I believe others may have received in the past, because it was already listed on the swap page because, yes, I decided it wasn’t my style so I will either swap it or give it as a gift. Agree with you, would rather have a mix than two bracelets, two earrings etc in each box.

I’m questioning their customer service, as I sent an email last week asking whether the subscription service I paid for on August 4 was for the box that wasn’t sent out until early September. I also wanted to know what the return policy is, as well as how to give feedback that they say they want on my preferences. I’ve set up my profile, but now I cannot figure out how to make changes.