French Box Subscription Review – November 2014

Just received an email from French Box. The message says they are working to get a new shipment of mirrors and there was a confirmation button to click if I wanted one. So of course I pushed the button. Next page says it should ship within the next three weeks. So we will see.

I had received the magnet and the cell phone charm (really?) and hadn’t contacted them to complain, so I was pleased to get the message.

Like everyone else, I am hoping December will be very nice.

I started doing subscription boxes this summer, and after an initial period of subscribing to too many (and some mystery boxes, too! until that lousy Bare Minerals fiasco… ugh… Did I mention I got a horrible rash, which may be coincidental, of course, but I never want to use that stuff again) I just want to do a few now.

I’d be perfectly happy forever if this box consistently had: one luxury makeup item (my Sothy’s cream eyeshadow is the nicest beauty item I have received in a subscription), one food item, one bath/body/skincare item, and some sort of surprise. Getting promo freebies from some show makes me not want to ever see that show!

This box was just ok for me until I saw the little foil packet. I absolutely loved my last boxes. But if they continue to put in those tiny samples, I’m out.

That was very unfortunate for French Box. I wish they did the same box for everybody with mirror and notesbook. (Variations are not always good, be careful Ouiplease!!!) I liked all my 3 boxes and will continue with French Box

Yep, first two boxes were good, but this one — meh. I’m beginning to trim back boxes one by one. I think this one gets one more month try… I think most of us have so many small beauty and skin samples that Im noticing a trend of everyone scaling back and looking for something different…

My first month with French Box; like most of you, not thrilled at all. Super glad I didn’t pay the full $24 for it! I did get the booklet, but no mirror, and the bracelet is ridiculous… I love how in the description it’s “on trend.” Maybe with my junior high school students, but not me. Trying to decide whether or not to cancel or not.

I hope TFB is able to resolve this to everyone’s satisfaction. It’s good to see a sub box being proactive and realizing that a segment of their customer base is dissatisfied. Also, they choose not to post on this thread which allows everyone to express their feelings without feeling uncomfortable. Instead they took it to Facebook to let people know.

I hope it all works out for everyone and they bounce back with a great box next month. I think there is still a lot of potential in this sub. And please no foils unless it is a bonus item.

Must say that I’m a little underwhelmed. I got the same box except that instead of the mirror I got a bracelet from the same brand as September’s box (crowns instead of Eiffel tower.) Cute but going on the swap site along with the notebook and hoping to trade for the mirror. And drinking the coffee now — just put it in my coffee maker even though, yes, it’s finely ground espresso style, and it worked fine.

Just thought so much more could be done with Paris as a theme but I’ll definitely give this sub another month.

First, I really liked the concept of this box. However, they fell short this month. The elastic in my notebook broke and the clasp on my mirror doesn’t close. I see a lot of people had problems also, did you reply to their email or post on FaceBook? Please respond and let me know. BTW: I also had to write Glosst today also. I haven’t received that box also. SMH!!!!!!

I’m relatively new to the subscription box phenomenon, but I’ve jumped in with full enthusiasm. Over the last three months, I’ve signed up for 35 subscriptions and for the price The French Box is one of the best. This month’s may not be my favorite, but I still liked it and I thought it was well curated. I’m happy to continue with French Box, Little Lace Box (BEST BOX EVER), MSA (although Quarterly has been a bit disappointing) and Birchbox. I’ve sampled quite a few Fancy Boxes and they have been awful~ a large box filled with junk haphazardly thrown together, in my opinion. Fancy’s sight is actually quite interesting and fun to peruse, but what has been delivered in their boxes is the definition of disappointment. French Box is by far a better box than anything you can get from Fancy. It’s less expensive, the presentation is outstanding, and it feels like you’re receiving a gift in the mail. I can understand how it might be tempting to compare a box to the one you have received before and find it lacking in terms of preference. However, when I compare The French Box to other comparable boxes I have received, I must say that the French Box is a stand out. I will happily continue to subscribe, knowing that sometimes I’ll favor some months over others.

Liz or anyone, can you find an ingredient list for the mask? I have scoured the web and can read French but even on their site it only lists hp dna enzymes. I have tons of allergies and before opening the seal I’d like to know what’s in it!

FrenchBox just posted this on their facebook page:

“Some of our subscribers who received one of the configurations of the November FrenchBox were disappointed. The pocket mirror and the Lido notebook were very appreciated.
It looks like we got it wrong on this configuration of the box… We heard your comments and we are working on a solution for those of you who did not receive the mirror and the notebook. We will email you soon, stay tuned.”

So disappointed, what a let down after the awesome Oct. box. Like the coffee and the mask, but got the Eiffel bracelet in screaming ugly yellow, cheesy magnet and chintzy cellphone charm for my “Lido” gift. Would have much preferred notebook and mirror (I did not get Sept. box).
The foil packet and perfume sample-UGH. Am considering cancelling Dec. could really use that $$ for Xmas instead of another disappointing box. Not a good sign that they are repeating items in the 3rd month IMHO.

wow – one box that has actually gotten BETTER! I got the introductory $14 box and the stuff had TONS of sugar in it – this box looks like something I’d actually want!

I got the same box as Liz with the exception of the compact/mirror which is the same as the one LizM received. I, too, was underwhelmed by the box. I don’t drink coffee (and most of my friends who do use KCups). I was hoping for perfume from Guerlain or possibly a skin care product but definitely not a foundation. I wish boxes would not send out skin-tone specific items as they never are for the pale, pale people like me. I was saddened to see that there was no ‘extra’ that was not on the card–kept looking through the box for one! I really like the notebook, though. I took the last one on my recent vacation (which actually included a day in Provence!) and it was quite useful. Although I loved the cover of that one, I like the design of this one more.

After checking out the entire box, I felt like I had jinxed myself by switching from a monthly to a yearly subscription. I feel like others mentioned that so much more could have been done with ‘Paris’.

Two months in a row now we have received a perfume sample, I hope that’s all for the perfume for a while and I hope never to see a foil packet or a skin-tone specific item in this box again.

That being said, I still was excited to receive the box and will be excited next month as well. I haven’t decided what I am going to do with the actual boxes, but I am saving all of them for ‘something’. What are all of you doing with the gorgeous boxes?

I am still in love with the packaging of the box and the details down to the hand-tied ribbon. I absolutely love the face mask and can’t wait to try it. I wish I had received the notebook, I was one of the people who received the charm and magnet, and was not happy to see a cheapie freebie advertising magnet in my box. The first two boxes were so amazing that I’m going to stick it out, but yes was hoping for a bit more this month.

I got the notebook but it’s purple and green with a can-can girl and says “Allez Lido.”
My compact has the Eiffel tower, Sacre Coeur, a car, hearts and says “Ohla-la,” “Paris,” and “Love.” it’s cute!
I love coffee, so that’s a plus, but I also think it was a bit disappointing.

This mask is fabulous. I was disappointed in this box as compared to the previous boxes, until I used this mask. One use, and I am addicted. I don’t know if I will look any better, but my face feels wonderful!

Foil packets Rule!!!!

I was really looking forward to another Sothys surprise. I love that line, but I guess my foil pack and I will need to bond instead.

Good thing I have that booklet so I can journal all this.

Hello! I also received my French box today and was so excited! My problem with the box besides what has already been mentioned is that I didn’t recieve the mirror. I believe that everyone was suppose to receive one. I went to the website and just can not find a “contact us” button or anything of the sort. Can anyone help me out? Thanks!!!

I have the exact same items as Liz. But my mirror has a different design. The card says an item from Lido, and I am sure not everybody got the notebook. As for the Eiffel Tower bracelet, it might be for those who did not get the sept box.

I didn’t get a notebook at all, I got a weird cell phone charm, and small square magnet that just says LIDO on it. Both of these items felt like cheap advertising give aways and not a “box worthy” item. I was also disappointed in the foil and perfume samples. I don’t use perfume so I don’t really like to receive them at all, but these two things I thought were also like extras and not items you would list on the card. I was glad the mask was full size, and look forward to trying it, and as I do not drink coffee, it is the only thing in the box I will use. It was really underwhelming, and I am disappointed in this month. I would have been fine getting the coffee as I can regift it, but the cellphone charm/magnet advertising junk, and the foil sample/perfume sample made it seem cheap in comparison to previous boxes.

Liz, I just wanted to let you know that the official Walmart Beauty Box site says that their winter box will be shipping the week of November 25th in case you haven’t seen it. I really enjoyed the last one and hope that this one will be just as good!

I received a little keychain thing (which was super cute!) and the Eiffel tower bracelet instead of the notebook and mirror. Was everyone supposed to receive the mirror? Pretty happy since I paid only $14 for this box!

My book has a turquoise cover and the compact has a Paris street scene w/ the Eiffel tower in the background. Super cute.
This box may not have quite the WOW factor as the first few but I still said to myself that one thing that is great about this box is receiving stuff I haven’t previously. No other box has sent a pretty compact mirror OR coffee.

Hi, I’ve received my box today too, kinda dissappinted, I Did Not received the Lido notebook, neither the mirrow, just the foundation samples, a postcard, the mask, coffe, a cabaret magnet (?) and a golden cell phone pendant (5$?)…is my first French Box, could someone tell me if I can contact them asking for the missed products ? Thanks