New Birchbox Subscription Option + Coupon!

I emailed customer service with 2 questions about this. I just got a quick response (which I thought was helpful)!

ME: “I have a few questions about the new subscription options available starting in March. First, can you confirm the cost to upgrade? Initially it said $4, then I clicked on the “Extra features explained” link, and then back to the original page and the price went up to $7 extra!!! How can I lock in the original $4 offer? Second, how many points will you get if you chose the “Swap for Points” offer? Do you only get $10? Or do you get $14/$17 ?”

BIRCHBOX: “Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for reaching out. I’m so sorry for the confusion!

The prices you’re seeing aren’t finalized—we’re providing these details so you can help us determine the our next steps. The reason you’re seeing different prices is because we’re testing out different options and features to help us move forward. When this officially launches, all customers will be offered the same price.

By opting into this program now, you’re letting us know that you’re interested — from there, we’ll make sure you’re first to know when the details are finalized and the subscription is open for signups. Choosing to opt in today is not committing you to any program or price point. I’ve made a note of this to our Tech Team because I completely understand your confusion here and apologize for any lack of clarity!

Regarding Points, you’ll receive Points in the value of your monthly payment. So, if you’re paying $14/month, you’d receive 140 Points in place of your box.

I hope this helps clarify, and please don’t hesitate to reply if you have any further questions from here.”

MY OPINION … I think I’d be willing to upgrade (esp if it’s only $4) just to be able to “swap for points” and buy full size products in the shop. My sub was a gift so at least I can use the $10 a month my sister spent and actually get stuff I USE!! I actually have discovered some awesome products from sampling that I buy from the shop.

I think this is a really cool woman owned start-up that I have enjoyed for the past 4 years!! (until recently unfortunately) So I hope they do well and don’t go under!!

Did anyone else get an email that said “You opted out of this” when you didn’t opt out?! I filled out the survey with a bunch of “other” responses and “I Did not opt out!!” So weird.. I’m wondering if they told EVERYONE they opted out since they were price testing?

No one really nows for sure whats going to happen yet so maybe lets not freak out until there is a valid reason too! The price rise could be for better full size products. We don’t know anything yet.

Unlike many commenters, I am extremely happy with my birchbox subscription. For the last several months I have been getting almost 8items on average. (This is including foil sample packets, but since they are extra products that doesn’t bother me at all.) However, I am in agreement with most that I just don’t understand where the value is in this “upgrade.” If I am reading correctly, it basically just seems like an extra $8 to pick a “theme” for your box? I very seldom feel the need to swap, but if i did I could just do that here on MSA, and as far as ACE status, I’ve never had it since I don’t really spend any money in the shop unless a limited edition box catches my eye, so I am unsure of all of the perks, but for an extra $96 a year i doubt they are that enticing. What does worry me though, is that the quality of the standard box is going to go down so that they can try to entice subscribers to upgrade, I hope not, but I am worried.

WTF, I’ve added to my boxes and purchased items in hopes that my boxes might improve. NOPE…this month I added on an item but didn’t like any of the 3 choices nor the curated box. I let them pick and they sent me two of the three terrible sample choices and an item that they sent me two months ago. I emailed and they’re sending me my box free next month. Also, I have the $18 upgrade and I purchase items. I’ll do the upgrade pay the difference on this list box and I’m out. The point system works out to 10% on overpriced shop. They need a refresher in economics 101.

I am a fairly new BB subscriber (and an “ACE” too, BTW), just finishing up my first year, and NOT planning to renew. I wasn’t around in the “good old days” that I’ve read about here, but maaaaaan, I wish I had been! Sounds like BB was AMAZING!

Personally, I think BB is on a fast downward spiral and I think one of their first mistakes was downgrading the product while keeping the same $10 price point, rather than maintaining the original product quality and upping the price a little. Isn’t that Good Business 101??? Never TAKE AWAY what the consumer has come to rely on; if changes need made to keep a business solvent, then increase the price as necessary.

IMHO, people understand the need for occasional price increases. What we don’t like or understand is continuous, progressive decreases in quality… are we not supposed to notice???!

And honestly, with all due respect to the handful of people who are upgrading their BB subscription in response to this ridiculous (IMHO) new “option”… I just do not see the appeal, and frankly, it irritates me that Birchbox seems to think that we should!

Wow…at first when I saw they had an upgrade option I was going to be all in. When I first started getting BB in 2014 about a month in they offered me an upgrade. It was $20 extra but in addition to the 5 samples, I got 2 full sized makeup and/or nail polishes. That was awesome and totally worth it. At the time, I wasn’t too into skin care samples, so this made it for me! Once they discontinued that option, I cancelled BB.

Only a couple of months ago, I decided to give them another chance. I am more into skincare than I used to be, and I also remembered that I had discovered a couple of things I really loved through BB. For 10 bucks, I said why not? I have since been pretty happy, although now completely wow’d, but I’m keeping it. That said, no way will I pay more to have more choices. That should be free.

I would also like to see them reinstate an easy way to review products for points. I think every sub needs to do this, actually. It keeps your customer engaged and possibly shopping your site, or in the case of Glossybox, keeping their sub. It also gives both the sub service and the beauty companies feedback on what we like and dislike about their products.

And I really do miss the full size makeup upgrade from BB 🙁

I subbed to Birchbox for 5 years. I canceled in January. It used to be such a good box in the beginning. One of my biggest complaints was not all boxes were created equal. It was frustrating seeing some people getting a beauty blender in their box and you get another small eye liner or mascara. Then the samples became super small. Before I’d spend $18 on Birchbox, I’d spend $21 on Boxycharm(which I do) with 5 full sized products.

I’m not surprised to see this as I took a survey a few months back asking me how likely I’d be to pay more for these options. The answer then was ‘not at all’ and it is still ‘not at all.’ That said, if they added a sixth sample *and* offered these options, maybe? But for the same amount, no way.

I am so confused. When I click that link I have nothing. So are they saying you can stay at $10 a month OR upgrade for $18 and get better perks?

Ughh mine says $16 dollar option to upgrade. I was already considering cancelling with BB…this is ridiculous.

My upgrade price wasn’t showing yesterday, so I just checked again today… it’s $14!!!!! That’s crazy! I’m definitely cancelling my other account with them now too. Just canceled 1 account with them this morning, 1 more to go! Yes.. I have 2 subs with them on 2 different email accounts. What a stupid idea.. this is my least favorite sub!

This ACE is canceling!!!

Ridiculous. I bought the Black Friday deal with Popsugar and get all full-sized items for 19.99 a box. Bye, Birchbox ☹️️ Too many other choices out there.

Birchbox already claims that your box is customized for you, yet now they want to charge more money to actually do it?

My prediction is that Birchbox won’t last they year.

I agree… BB used to be great. I always talked it up. I used to get large or full size items. They would send beauty items like beauty blender or underarmour headband. Sometimes chocolate! They would send nice coupon codes all the time. Good birthday codes and anniversary codes.

The codes went away, samples got smaller, brands got less prestigious, and for me the last straw was the points system changing.

I think they really needed to use the reviews to start partly customizing boxes. That would have made them better. But I think they don’t really care about the box, they care about selling full priced full sized items. The problem is…. a lot of box subscribers are deal divas. They don’t want to buy full price.

The way the box was in its glory days probably isn’t cost effective. I get it. So I decided to part ways.

Aren’t those “perks” what we’ve been supposed to be getting all along? It’s like they’re just demonstrating that they don’t bother to read their own survey results and just toss in whatever they want. I was a subscriber in the good ole days but there is seriously nothing they can do to get me back at this point. Now I’m just disgusted by their money grabbing schemes.

I let my BB sub lapse last month and I haven’t missed it.

I’m really interested in seeing what happens with this new program, while they figure out the bugs.

Honestly, if BB just sent out bigger samples and stopped repeating products, they would be doing much better. It’s not that complicated.

Sephora’s Play is doing it great for $10/month.

I am not a current subscriber to Birchbox and my monthly amount would be $16.00.

Sounds like the only two concrete benefits they can offer are both Services I know I pay has been testing with some since November at no additional charge.

Every time I read that their CEO is Vassar and Harvard educated I can’t help but laugh. I have a much less prestigious education (and cheaper) and can make bad business decisions too!!!!

…yeaaahhhh… I’m just waiting to get my tracking information for February’s box, then I’m quitting.

I don’t have ACE status anymore, and being an ACE seems to be where the real value is (and I don’t plan on spending money to re-reach ACE status, I earned it back in the day when you could review all of your samples for points, slow and steady and cheap). None of these perks are enticing enough to make me want to stay, I’d need more full size products or a higher amount of samples for that.

I’ve been with BB for six months. This is the first time I’m seeing this new set up. I’m a person that has made a nice amount of “Shop” purchases with BB. I wonder why I wasn’t offered either the $14 or $16 Priced plan. I understand that most likely the pricing is based on geographical location. But that really bothers me! I won’t sign up for any program for $18 without better incentives including “some” full sized products. This has truly upset me. I’m hanging on a wire right now with BB.

I remember the days I preached Birchbox to everyone…. Now this sub is a hot mess. I remember PSMH went into a dark place at some point. I hope BB gets their act together. I will definitely give them another chance if they improve.

Goodbye Birchbox.

Really, did they possibly think this was gonna go over well with what few customers they have left?

I am one of those who can upgrade and it is an additional $4.00 per month. I am probably canceling after this month as the past few months have not really offered me anything I really can use.