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The SurpriseMe Box Review + Coupon – September 2016

Anna Reilly
ByAnna ReillySep 25, 2016 | 49 comments

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The SurpriseMe Box is a monthly subscription box featuring full-size versions of exclusive fashion, beauty, and lifestyle items. They describe themselves as a “Unique Concept Store by Subscription”.

This subscription was dreamed up by two friends who realized that the true value of a gift was the intention behind it. They curate items from “niche” brands from around the world, with the aim of helping you surprise someone you care about with something meaningful and fun. Items in their boxes are also available individually on their site shop.

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This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

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The Subscription Box: The SurpriseMe Box

The Cost: $40 per box + shipping (which is free in the US). MyBookBox also offers monthly, 3-month, and 6-month subscription plans.

The Products: Exclusive and limited edition fashion, beauty, home and gift items.

Ships to: US (free) and beyond (shipping rates apply)

Like this box? Check out more women’s subscription boxes in our Women's Subscription Box Directory and make sure to add The SurpriseMe Box to your subscription list or wishlist!

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The SurpriseMe Box comes with a little postcard with a note from the team on the back.

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Perpetual Calendar - Value?

This box also included a “perpetual calendar” in a cool gray color. This calendar is just simple cardstock paper, with a page for each month of the year. Each month also features an inspiring quote, like “Throw kindness around like confetti”. It’s a cute datebook for keeping simple notes and reminders, plus it’s just the right size for tucking into your purse.

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Gold Ring Dish - Value?

According to The SurpriseMe Box’s web shop, this little bowl, which is the perfect size for rings, earrings, or pins, is made in the USA with real birch wood and non-toxic paints. It’s so simple and classy that it’s hard not to like (it’ll make a great addition to my vanity). But if minimalist home decor isn’t your style, you could easily gift it. How cute would it be paired with something to stow inside?

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Tote Bag with Holly Nichols Illustration - Value?

Fashion illustrator Holly Nichols contributed the sketch on this 100% cotton tote bag. It’s a cute design for a fashion lover, and who doesn’t love adding to their collection of fun tote bags?

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The Little Paper Bag - Value approximately $5.50 USD

As it states on its front, this is a double-layered, natural, organic paper bag. It’s longer than it is wide (it’s just begging to hold a long French baguette), and is apparently reusable. Most reusable bags you see are fabric or plastic, so it’s neat that this one is paper. Of course, you have to be careful what you put in it—something wet, or something that could get condensation on it (like a big bottle of seltzer) will weaken the paper faster. But it’d be great for dry goods or even carrying your lunch to work.

Verdict: This SurpriseMe Box was filled with practical picks. I like that the items included were made of quality materials, too. I’m not sure the value of the box really meets the $40 price point—I think in this case, you’re paying more for the curation service. If you like discovering unique, glamorous finds, but don’t have the time to go looking for them yourself, this is just the box for you.

What do you think of this month’s SurpriseMe Box?

Anna Reilly
Anna Reilly
Anna loves collecting little treasures, be they pop-culture finds, handmade mementos, or new potions to put in her makeup bag. Beauty boxes got her interested in the subscription world, but now she's swooning for all things kawaii!

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49 comments

Sharon Wallace

The only thing they got right is the name: SurpriseMe Box! “Surprise”, you got nothing for your $40.00‼️ ? ?

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Britt?

OMG! LOLOLOLOLOL!!!! I now present you with the TROPH? for “comment of the week..” LMAO! Don’t forget to thank those who made this possible for you.? xo.?

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Sharon Wallace

I went back up thru the pictures thinking I had missed something! Value not more than $5.00 total!

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Lin

*If you like discovering unique, glamorous finds, but don’t have the time to go looking for them yourself, this is just the box for you.*

Really? What’s unique? What’s glamorous? Could you please point out the curation you mentioned? I must have missed it.

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Lily

I d like it pointed out too. Maybe i m missing something. Maybe the surprise is this really not the box they meant to send out to subscribers and its a mistake

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Karen

I agree. I am curious how this reviewer came to the conclusion that it is great gor unique and glam gifts. I would also love to know if she would have been so positive in her review if she had actually paid 40.00 for this.

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Emily

WOW. This is truly terrible.

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Elizabeth

This seems like a pretty disappointing box…I can’t get over the fact that they included a paper bag and valued it at $5.50…*mind blown* I’m not even tempted to subscribe.

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Lily

I wonder how many people got the first box, and if they are asking for a refund. – The 5% discount is the worst ever …. who gives a 5% discount these days? – Almost unheard of.

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Jay

Any paper bag is reusable as long as it doesn’t get wet.

But of course, not every paper bag will announce to the world that the person using it is a pretentious, smug a**hole who tries to hide their crippling insecurity with meaningless yet highly public gestures of virtue, such as using a paper bag with a goddam footnote on it.

Too bad the bag isn’t larger. Then at least the poor chumps who paid $40 for this box could use it to put over their heads and hide their shame from our scornful eyes.

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Jay

Thanks everyone! Glad my sense of humor is appreciated ?

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Britt?

Ok. I spoke too soon. I gave Sharon the TROPH? for “comment of the week,” but, I had yet to scroll down. I think this week there are 2 winners. You & Sharon. But, yours has to be eligible for “Hall of Fame”. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!! Hilarious! I’m so glad I accidentally clicked on this post. Brilliant comedy gold going on in here! xo.?

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Denise

I agree this comment is the best ever.

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Lin

Best comment…..EVER!!!

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Traci

This cracked me up :p

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Beth

This was their first box they sent you.? They had to know that thousands would be checking it out in hopes for a new unique subscription box. I highly doubt many will be running to sign up for this 40 dollar box. The first box has to blow people away. And if you sign up now you can get a huge 5% off your first box which is like 2.00 off. Anyway hopefully they will do a better job the next time around…..

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Mary K

For $10, that’d be an okay box….maybe. But $40? Ridiculous. I would be so disappointed to get that box and, worse, I’d feel like a chump.

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Georgette

What is unique or glamorous about a paper bag and a tote bag? Please can we have some unbiased reviews? You don’t need to bash something but just being given a free box doesn’t call for false advertising.

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Caitlin

THANK YOU

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Meg

Amen.

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Rick

It’s a surprise alright, but not in a good way. “They describe themselves as “a monthly subscription box featuring full-size versions of exclusive fashion, beauty, and lifestyle items.” Let’s see… a cheap calendar that you can get free at the bank. Value $0. An ugly tote bag- I think everyone on here who subscribes to any boxes has a hundred tote bags. Plus, it’s just advertising. Value $0. A dish. Same things are available at Dollar Tree. Value $1. A double walled paper bag. I get the same thing when I go to the liquor store, without the stupid writing on it. Value $0. Total value $1. I can’t see anyone sticking around for this box after their first “surprise” unless they’re totally clueless.

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Katie

Omg yes!!!

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Charlie

LMAO! I just died. So true.

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Pilar

I wish some of the admins here would post more honest reviews, that box was really shameful and you know it! Sorry not sorry.

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Tasha

I agree! I don’t feel like the admins are honest at all with their reviews since they get the boxes free.

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Wifey

Amen. More honest reviews!

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Melissa

I think she was just trying to be fair, impartial, and neutral while leaving the judgement to be up to the reader of the review after being presented with the unbiased and middle of the road evidence. I don’t think the point of the reviews is to tell you how to feel about something based upon how they feel about something. So I think the way she reviewed and the wording she used was honest without being opinionated – which is preferential to me from a reviewer.

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Lily

To me the review seemed more positive and neutral. Yet more emphasis should have been placed on improvements the box could make and less emphasis on the positiveness. That will be the only way to get the point across. When I read the review it seemed bias to me, even though i know it was not intended to be based on some of the comments, yet the positive comments about this box over shadowed any negative comments and did not get the point across. I get apx 10 boxes a month, for the past 3 years and change boxes frequently and am always looking for the next new box, out of all the boxes I’ve seen reviews on, this is the worst value one I’ve ever seen for $40 PLUS!>> SHIPPING! — I am glad I did not subscribe and will not subscribe to this box. Many companies think that there is a lot of $’s to be made starting a subscription box and people will buy anything. Which is a fantasy / wishful thinking idea. Value is extremely important, and the number of items is to, so if someone does not like one item they might like the others. – I keep looking at this review thinking, maybe there are 3 items missing from the package.

Kathleen

I think the review is fair. She states that she doesn’t think the items are worth $40. I don’t think it’s the reviewer’s job to completely trash a box from the beginning of the review to the end. She presented all the items that were sent and gave us her honest opinion about quality and price. We all probably agree that we wouldn’t pay that much for this box, but that doesn’t mean that she shouldn’t give the items a fair review.

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Katy

I think she reviewed the actual items accurately and fairly and gave an honest opinion of the quality of them. Reviewers can only do so much with what items are sent to them and if you read her final thoughts in the verdict, Anna clearly stated that she didn’t feel the $40 value was there.

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Charlie

I agree completely. The items sucked but she gave a fair and honest review.

nelliebelle1197

If subscribers are paying for “curation” the there needs to actually be some. This really has less real value than a $10 Serendipity box and I am not sure why this new reviewer felt the need to pretend this was worth $40. Very disappointed to see a review like this.

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Traci

I can deal with curating over value……if there is curation!!! This is a sad box and it looks like the random things I throw in the cart at Walmart when I’m trapped in the checkout line.

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Mary

Oh man. And this was the Opener???!!!??? Wow. Well I won’t be getting this box ladies !!! Man. I couldn’t see the value being more than $15 or so. And that’s prob pushing it. I mean the paper bag prob has the highest value and higest ‘usefulness’. The trinket dish is cute but for $40 I could get a new Pandora charm or 4 Birchboxes or 3 BB5 or 2 Julep Mavens. 4 Ipsy months ….. in yeah I think I talked myself further out of it if that’s even possible. And I’m with you when you say you’re not trying to Ben ride or ugly because that’s not my intention either. Maybe if it’s not a ‘value’ based sub and they want to be known for curation they should focus on 1 item and 1 item only. I dont know

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Mary

2 glossybox ; 2 BoxyCharm ; 4 Sephora Play!…..Terra Bella ;2 vegan cuts ; 2 Fortune Cookie Soapboxes

Ok I’ll stop

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Britt?

??????Dying laughing. xo.?

Tamara

This is sundering I might expect from Serendipity. But without the branding. … And also more creative.

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Tamara

Sundering = something. Damn autocorrect.

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Anna

Lol. That’s all.

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DKP

Wow, this may be the least impressive or interesting box I’ve seen reviewed. I hate to be rude, but it’s basically a few cheap, throwaway items that I wouldn’t even value at $10. A booklet of scrap paper, an unnecessary ring dish (when most of us who use them already have at least one), a tote with advertising on it that will barely hold anything, and a paper bag??? Honestly, if I had paid $40 for this, they would be getting an angry email! And to say the value is in their curation gives them much more credit than they deserve. There was nothing unique or glamorous about this box. I’m curious to know if any other MSA readers would disagree with me on this.

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Torie

Agreed! I like the bowl though. Not for $40 though. That tote bag is especially depressing.

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Tessa

I agree…yawn!

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crystal

Wow, you said it all! This is not a box I would even consider subscribing to unless the items get a whole lot better. There is not a thing in the box that I would even use.

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Katy

I agree 100%

I would be very surprised to pay $40 to receive a box worth maybe a quarter of that so I guess it lives up to the surprise factor. *snickers*

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Jen G

I have to agree. I would be disappointed in this box at a quarter of the price. At $40, this feels like a deliberate rip off. I seriously wonder if something was accidentally left out of the box in error….