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It looks like Birchbox is making some changes to their (amazing) point system. Here’s a quick recap:
~Points will now be able to be spent in any increment. You will no longer have to wait until you earn 100 points ($10) to redeem them.
~Points earned will now expire 6-months after you have earned them.
~Only the first 5 samples will be able to be reviewed. Previously if your box had 6, 7 or even 8 samples you could review them all and earn points. ETA: It’s sounding like you will only get to review the first 5 samples you receive from July 11th on, not just the first 5 in every box, which doesn’t make me happy!
All changed take effect on July 11, 2016. What do you think of the changes? I’m not too happy about not being able to review monthly anymore ;(.
What is Birchbox?
Birchbox ($10/month) offers 4-6 (sometimes more) hand-picked beauty and lifestyle samples, delivered to your door each month. You can review the samples you receive on a monthly basis to earn points in their shop, which makes the “real” cost of the box even less.
So in a bunch of Facebook groups in in people have emailed asking about clarification on the last paragraph and Birchbox is saying after the 5 sample reviews in July, no more points period for reviews. Only points for purchases and referring people. I thought you would want to know, because a lot of people are upset about this.
I read that too and just updated. I don’t like that at all!
The way I read the email was as Kimmy mentions below.. that no more sample reviews period which is awful unless samples are going to get better.. wonder if going from brown box to pretty boxes is monetarily catching up with them. I did notice that now once you put items in your cart it tells you you’ve qualified for the free mystery gift/sample and gives you a button to ‘redeem’ so less risk of forgetting that at least.
I’m really not happy, I have two accounts one locked in at a year and I’ll be canceling the other one. I’ve been with Birchbox for four years and even when I haven’t been a huge fan of the boxes, the point system made it more then worth it. Without the point system I don’t see it being practical for me to keep my subscription.
I thought I must have been reading it wrong because SURELY they would not take away points for reviews?????????????
I feel the same way. I’m absolutely cancelling my subscription – I haven’t been happy for a while with the quality of the monthly boxes but the points kept me around. Now? I’m gone.
This feels like a bad breakup hahaha.
HAHA so true!
After earning points for July I’m done! That’s the only reason I stayed with them. Oh well I’ve been needed to cut back on boxes anyways.
Plus, if you can’t review for points, it’s going to be a lot harder to reach and maintain ACE status. I wonder if that is going away as well?
Probably because the perks have gone away for ACES as well.
I’m done after July. Baaaaad move on their part.
Interesting. New regime at birchbox. I will be canceling!
I am pretty angry about it! I sent them an email expressing my displeasure with the changes (I’m also upset at the 6 month expiration). I also tend to get a lot of samples that aren’t useful to me (even though I keep an updated profile) so I was like Kimmy, where the points kind of made up for getting bad samples. I am likely not going to renew when this year is up (after 3 years and recruitment of friends). 🙁 They got greedy, I’d say!
This is a bummer, I just cancelled my Ipsy subscription and kept Birchbox because of their points system. I may cancel just stick with the Play by Sephora box and subscribe to Popsugar now…I am sure my husband will be thrilled! LOL
What? No….no…..no. Horrible change about no points for reviews. It’s really why I stick around. I am so overloaded on stuff anyway so I won’t resub after my annual ends.
The whole thing is weird though….why even bother giving points for FIVE items and nothing else after that EVER? It’s just a $5 off coupon for one month (in a way). Not sure what the thought process was on this.
I’m not happy at all with these changes. I saved my points all year, and used them for Christmas shopping. The points system is the only reason I’ve stayed with Birchbox for this long.
I really dont understand how this change will benefit Birchbox, i would think that many people will be leaving, the points from reviews were the only thing keeping me on board. However, a couple of months ago my Annual sub ran out, and I never reinstated. I’m glad I let it go. the samples from Birchbox have not thrilled me, and even tho I have minimal perfume samples checked off, I received them what seemed more months than not, which I hated.
I’m in the process of racking up a huge vet bill today on my hedgehog ($1000-ish) so I am looking to cancel subs to lessen the grief the hubby will give me.. I have 2 BB subs and 2 Ipsy and so that is an easy $40/month to get rid of.. haven’t liked Sephora Play either so there is another $10. I’m buried in samples of things anyway even after cancelling Glossybox, Allure and Popsugar (I still have FabFitFun which I’ll keep). I think I’m addicted to getting packages in the mail most of all.. like Christmas a few times a month. But I enjoy Birchbox because I use the points mostly on Limited Edition boxes even if I’m on the fence they seem practically free because of points.. so disaPOINTing!
I have too many samples and need to save money anyhow. Guess I’ll be done with Birchbox after July. I’ll review and cash out my points on a purchase. I don’t know if they realize how many people will be leaving.
Bye Bye Birchbox. Terrible change.
Glad to know I’m not the only one that read it that way. I was certain that I was not reading that correctly. I’ll probably cancel after July too.
Wow that makes me so mad, the points are the only thing that allow me to justify my subscription when I get a bunch of samples I don’t use! Ugh I think I’m in an annual sub too… I wonder if we can cancel/get refund due to their change?
Oh my. I just looked and their Facebook page comments are blowing up with hundreds of angry customers. I think they underestimated how upset people would be over this change. I will say that I’ve often wondered how Birchbox makes money, but I figured they must sell their market research (from the sample reviews). For me, it will be harder to commit to expensive purchases because there won’t be the reviews to help me make informed purchases. I don’t know what they are thinking, but this could spell the end of their business. I don’t want to spend $100 in order to get $10 off. . .Yes, it’s still a better discount than Sephora, but at least with Sephora I can wait for a sale 2X a year (15% or 20% off). Birchbox sells things at full retail value, or sometimes even a few $ more.
I know. I am so glad I don’t manage the Birchbox facebook page.
It was good while it lasted Birchbox! #BreakingUpIsHardToDo
I’m SO glad I’m not the only one feeling like BB just broke up with me.
I’m ducking out if they are doing away with this program and I told them so. I told them Sephora PLAY is a major competitor at the same price point so if they take this program away, I have no reason to stay with Birchbox. Sephora play and Glossybox are just as good if not better, and I already have too many subscriptions, so they can go ahead and give me a reason to cancel. This is VERY disappointing.
I also sent an email asking for clarification but seems like everyone here has the scoop. My subscription is up in August and I will definitely be cancelling. Their points was the reason I kept going with them!
I will be leaving when annual subscription is up. I was wondering also about the percentage you get off when you have been with them for 3 and 6 months. Cause I have been with them 9 months and have not gotten a email about the 6 months.
Wow, this is very upsetting. I love Birchbox, but one of the main reasons I loved it was because I got to discover new products and was able to use my points ($) towards purchasing them in the shop. Now that I wont be able to acrue new points after 7/11, well i think i may cancel. I will just use the $10 each month that the box would cost me towards buying the makeup I really like and use. This is so upsetting, and I feel that they will loose a lot of business. Too bad.
They are not profitable, and the CEO stated that needs to change. Perhaps they were too generous from the beginning with the points? Plus, who needs 3,000 reviews on a product to make a buying decision?!
They have also stopped their subscription milestone discounts; 6 months, 12 months, etc.
Time to look elsewhere. The point system is what set them apart. I bought a year long sub- feels like Bait and Switch. Come December, that will be it for me.
I was so disappointed when I received that email. I even followed up with customer service to make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me….but nope…POINTS only for referring friends, full size purchases, and gifting subscriptions. No more points for product reviews. I immediately used my accumulated points, cancelled my subscription, and unsubscribed from their emails.