The appeal of a subscription box is obvious: A little gift delivered to your door each month.
Better yet, the specifics of the contents are a surprise.
Sort of like a birthday present.
Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder
But like any commercial gimmick, monthly subscription boxes have their pros and their cons.
Thats nice, but sometimes the introductory price has nowhere to go but up.
Some subscription boxes are worth the financial obligations, and everything is a self-calculation.
Reviews are easy to come by online and company sites should have specifics about their products.
Know your own needs and finances to make a smart decision.
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1.
The Reviews Are Good
When it comes to buying anything online, its smart to read the reviews.
We know, we know, theres always that one disgruntled customer who brings the whole thing down.
The simplest way to get reviews of a subscription box service before you sign up is to search online.
Reviewedoffers detailed explainers with full products listed.
They also give you a sense of what benefits come with the monthly box.
For example, subscription boxes like FabFitFun allow you to access a shop ofdiscounted products.
Its worth remembering that the subscription price might get you more than just the items in your months box.
The Products Are Full-size
This is a big dilemma when it comes to the subscription box model.
The small sample size product is common in subscription boxes for makeup and other beauty products.
You may be okay with the sample sizes, but you should know that in advance.
Did you know?
Thisround-up of beauty boxeswith full-size products even spells it out.
The Value Is Good for You
Know what you are spending money on before you buy a subscription online.
Is the subscription box filling a need for you or is it just for fun?
The question doesnt come down to the product it comes down to the value for you, the consumer.
Many subscription boxes offer items you might easily get elsewhere, like baby food or razors.
What youre paying for is convenience.
But for those who want curated boxes, youre paying for an experience and a highly trained eye.
Think twice about subscriptions that are difficult to cancel or make it hard to exchange products.
Escalating monthly charges are another red flag.
Read the fine print.
The Cancellation Process Is a Hassle
Lets say you start with a three-month subscription.
Your new box the first box arrives and you like it, but you dont love it.
Now you have to start the complicated process of trying to figure out how to cancel.
If that process feels insurmountable, thats a red flag.
The best way to figure this out is, again, through reading reviews.
The Products Are Difficult to Exchange
Clothing subscription boxes are among the hardest to negotiate exchanges with.
Subscription services likeDia & Co. andItalic Boldoffer free returns.
confirm you check the subscription boxs return policy before signing on.
It should be eye-opening for anyone considering signing on to a subscription service.
I honestly found that the items were not the best, Ouellette said.
Quality-wise, they were a real hit or miss.
It started to get very repetitive.
Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Smithsonian Magazine and the Tampa Bay Times.
