Wednesday 24 July 2013

LuvMyBox and Boink Box

So what happened with me and Boink Box, Do you want the short version or the long version.... The long version great!!

We start our story off back in December 2012,

I heard about this new thing call beauty boxes and signed myself up for Glossy Box (RIP), then as I explored other options I saw that you can get boxes for ahem.. the Bedroom, If you know what I mean!
I was introduced to Spicy Subscriptions,

Get monthly romantic surprises to your door, with Free and Discreet shipping. Spicy Subscriptions is the best and most convenient way to spice up your love life.
You'll receive a curated collection of Romance, Intimacy & Beauty products hand-picked from our Spice Shop. The Spice Box contains Romantic Gifts and an assortment of Intimate Items, Massage Oils, Sexy Lingerie, Romantic Fragrances and more!
Get the Premium Spice Box: $24.95/month
Get the Deluxe Spice Box: $34.95/month 


It was good but I was not super-duper-over-the-moon about the company and buying from the USA. Less than 2 days later I heard about Luvmybox a Canadian company based out of Vancouver which was owned by the same people as a popular dating website POF. I thought Damn, they have all of their past boxes online for people to look at so they don't hide behind anything, they are Canadian so free shipping really is free(!) and the boxes look super awesome and classy- not slezzy.
Ok so I am locked in with Spicy for 4 months (It was the cheapest deal) (Jan to April), In april I will not renew my subscription and switch to Luvmybox. Ok Done!

In March I was telling my best girlfriend "B" about these boxes and recommended that she subscribe to Luvmybox as it was more what she was looking for. She signed up and received the April box right on time and loved it!

So after the 4 months with Spicy were up (See my February Box Review here!)  I decided that my box wasn't that worth it ( I had the Deluxe) and with stars in my eyes I headed over to Luvmybox with a spring in my step and clicking my heels the whole way.

On April 30th Luvmybox posted on FB  
"Liquid Lady Love? What's that all about? Better Sex with Dr Teesha tells you more in our blog..."
On May 3rd I recived the following email, 


Luvmybox

LUVMYBOX | SUBSCRIBE | HOW IT WORKS | ABOUT
 
Dear Friends,
 
Luvmybox is excited to become part of the Boink Boutique family.

What this means for you:

  • You can still get a box in the mail.
  • You have more options on when you get a box
  • More cool stuff to come...

Want to sign up?
Save 20% on any of the Boink Boxes with discount code: welcomeluvmybox20

Check out all of their boxes:
http://info.boinkboutique.com/boinkbox/

While we transition to their systems we are here to help.
Please email Love@BoinkBoutique.com for customer support or if you need anything please email Chris Boink Boutique’s Founder and CEO directly at Chris@BoinkBoutique.com

Great things to come!
Kim and Chris
You are receiving this email because a friend thought you'd be interested in Luvmybox. Please add info@luvmybox to your safe email list to ensure you receive our email notifications. If you would prefer not to receive emails from Luvmybox in the future, you can unsubscribe at any time. Copyright © 2012 Luvmybox. All rights reserved.
Say what?!?!

On May 4th Luvmybox posted on FB
"We wanted to let all of our followers in on an exciting secret!!! Luvmybox and BoinkBoutique have merged, offering you a wider selection of box choices! Check out all the fun and sassiness here http://info.boinkboutique.com/boinkbox/"

Again say what!?! 

Ok so Luvmybox is no more and has merged with BoinkBoutique.... No options to cancel, nothing about what happens to our PAID for boxes, no more information period. 

As mentioned in my Beauty Boxes Going Bust post  I was holding out on judgment until I knew for sure what is going on. I had really high hopes for this one as it was Canadian and from Vancouver. I will keep you lovely's updated! I hope that the box is in fact on its way and we aren't being duped.
May 13th Chris sends us an email saying 

Hi ,

My name is Chris  and I wanted to reach out to you.

If you don't know yet we recently acquired LuvMyBox.

We are writing to let you know that your May box is being assembled and will be shipping soon. Expect an email with a shipping number soon.

We are running a little behind as taking we needed to get more inventory to serve all of the new customers.  All of us here at Boink Boutique really appreciate your patience. Since we are running behind we are going to be including some extra goodies in your box this month. 

If you have questions please let us know.

Best!
Chris
Boink Boutique

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Website
Copyright © 2013 Boink Box, All rights reserved.
You are a customer of Boink Box

Our mailing address is:
Boink Box
1130 First St suite 201
Napa, CA 94559
 Ok fair enough, I get it they have a lot more people on than normal, and Kudo's to them for giving us an update.

End of May rolls around and we haven't heard anything about our boxes we (my self and about 2 or 3 others) have been posting on the FB page about when our boxes are going to come. ( I cant tell you exactly when as the comment section of the FB page has since been deleated, my guess is due to yours truly raising a fuss, but acording to Luvmybox it was around May 21st and 24th). No responses back. 

So June 10th  I sent this email to Boink
Hi,
I am a transfer from the Luvmybox and I was just wondering a) when our may box will arrive and if I can get a tracking number for it. and b) when our June box will be shipped.
Also I bought the 3 month plan with my first box in May and the last being in July, will I be automatically charged for another months or will I be able to pick a new box from the boink boutique?
Thank you

Never heard back, 

Sent the same email again on June 11th to both Luvmybox and Boink.

Surprise, Surprise, No response.

On June 5th this was posted to the LMB facebook wall
It's June 5th there is still no May box and the payment for June's box has been taken weeks ago. How much longer of a wait or do I have to cancel my entire subscription?
So they have already taken out another ~$35, when we haven't even gotten the first box yet!


At this point we have been posting to the wall asking why no one is returning our emails, and Boink on June 17th had this to say,

Happy Monday Boinkers! We reply to every email we receive. Please check your spam/promotion folder to make sure they don't end up in there! Have a great day! 

To which we all screamed Oh No you don't!
Disagree. You haven't responded to my emails yet! I still haven't received my may box. Subscription cancelled. That's for sure

Yes. But it's just your courteous "thanks we got email email"

The next email I received was on June 19th
 
Greetings,
 
We thought you'd like to know that we shipped your items, 
and that this completes your order. 
Thanks for shopping with us, and we hope to see you again soon.
 
Your order was shipped via Purolator Ground, 
and is estimated to arrive June 24, 2013 - June 26, 2013.
 
The following items were included in this shipment:
 
1 x BoinkBox (Boink)
 

(Please allow 24-48 hours for tracking number to be 
recognized on the carrier website.)
 
Thank you for your purchase.
 

Thank Freaking God! The box is now almost TWO MONTHS LATE!

On June 20th this was posted to the LMB FB page
Why did you merge with BoinkBoutique! Thoroughly disappointed!
On June 24th I posted this to the LMB FB page. 
I am so upset and disappointed with my May box, Why did you have to merge with an awful American company that doesn't return any emails. So sad to see a good Canadian company leave. It goes without saying that I cancelled my subscription


On Facebook here is the FULL PM conversation is what was sent between myself and Boink, 
  • Conversation started 19 June
  • M

    Hey Boink I am a transfer from the Luvmybox and I was just wondering: I bought the 3 month plan with my first box in May and the last being in July, will I be automatically charged for another months or will I be able to pick a new box from the boink boutique? Thanks ~Marie J
  • 20 June
  • Boink Boutique

    Hi Marie! You will automatically be charged again with luvmybox unless you go into your account and cancel your subscription. You can always sign up for our subscription boink box if you sign up after July 15th you won't go a month without a box! Hope I answered all your questions!
  • M

    Ok sounds great! Thanks
  • 20 June
  • Boink Boutique

    No problem! If you have any questions about our boxes feel free to ask. The equivalent to Luvmybox would be the monthly box @ $50. Yet our quarterly box is really popular because it includes a luxury toy!
 On June 21st I sent this email to Chris who is Boink Boutique’s Founder and CEO
Hi Chris,

I just want you to be aware of what is going on with Boink and I.

After many, many emails ending on June 11th None have been returned other
than the "We have your email" email. Finally I was able to get in contact
with someone via FaceBook private message. I have a few concerns, one of
them being why is LuvMyBox still able to charge my credit card if they are
no longer a company and no longer taking new clients?
*Boink Boutique <https://www.facebook.com/BoinkBoutique>*

*Hi Marie! You will automatically be charged again with luvmybox unless you
go into your account and cancel your subscription. You can always sign up
for our subscription boink box if you sign up after July 15th you won't go
a month without a box! Hope I answered all your questions!*

My Response Back was:
 I am really quite disappointed with my box for many reasons (which I also
messaged the FB group about as well. I was told that *"The equivalent to
Luvmybox would be the monthly box @ $50. Yet our quarterly box is really
popular because it includes a luxury toy!"*

I really hope that the box I just received is not the $50 one, because what
ever it is I don't want to buy it again (It is not worth $50, I don't think
I would even pay $20 for it). I liked Luvmybox because it was a classy,
Canadian(!!) company, where everyone got the exact same thing, There was a
theme, and we got high class 'expensive' products and samples. I signed up
for the box at the end of April so that I would get my May box (I was so
excited to be able to switch from Spicy Subscriptions an American company).
Then we found out that Boink bought luvmybox, I was given no notice and no
option to cancel my current order. (I'm stuck paying for this "box" till
July!) I feel like I wasted $100. I don't know what to do, if I continue to
get the boxes I'm just going to be sad and disappointed each time they
arrive. Other than here on FB within the past day or two none of my emails
have been answered- I only got the courteous "thanks we got email" email. **

Luvmybox was a Canadian company, this box was NOT Canadian friendly! I
can't even use the $50 GC for Naked Wine as they don't ship to Canada. I
don't know what to do.....

Here is a breakdown of what I can buy the box for,

- Bondage tape ~$4.31
- Wet Lube ~$9.24
- Tenga Male Egg thing ~ $6.35
- The oral sex thing I cant see spending more than.... lets be kind and
say ~$2.50
- That means that the *unmarked, unpackage'd one speed toy has to be
worth ~26.70 just to break even.


I really don't know what to do. Please help me, I don't want to make a big
fuss but I am really unhappy and disappointed.

Thank you for your time



  • Boink Boutique

    Marie below is the email response I just sent you:
    Hi Marie,
    We just realized some of our customers have not been receiving the emails we have sent out. We are working on this technical glitch. Sorry about that! I will also copy and paste this onto Facebook message so that you receive this information.
    Sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy your box. Hopefully you will enjoy next month's box. If you would like to cancel please go into your Luv My Box account and cancel through there.
    The box that you received is for Luv my Box customers at the price point of $34.95. You are not being charged $50 and the boxes you will receive are not $50 worth of product. You would only be charged that amount if you signed up for a monthly Boink Box.
    Marie, you still have both June and July's box coming to you. Unfortunately June's box is assembled and shipping out shortly, we can refund you your last box if you wish. Hopefully you are more impressed with June's box. If not we might not be a good match for your needs.
    All the best, Christina Boink Boutique

  • M

    I still haven't received any emails, and I have checked in my spam folder as well.

  • 14:00
    Boink Boutique

    We are working on this glitch. Do you have a promotional folder that the emails could have fallen into?
    Hopefully I answered all the questions you have. Please let me know on what you decide to do for your final box.

  • M

    The minimum that I would want is a refund of Both June and July's boxes ($66.66 cnd). Even thought the June box is assembled is has not been shipped, I'm sure that it can be stopped before it is sent to me. I would also point out that if May's box had been on time I would have cancelled as soon as I got it. Even though this box is 'worth' 34.95 I wouldn't pay 34.95 for this box It was awful!! Here is a breakdown of what I can buy the box for, - Bondage tape ~$4.31 - Wet Lube ~$9.24 - Tenga Male Egg thing ~ $6.35 - The oral sex thing I cant see spending more than.... lets be very kind and say ~$2.50 - That means that the *unmarked, unpackaged * one speed 'toy' has to be worth ~12.50 just to break even!- I thought that the purpose of these boxes is that there is to be a little bit of a savings to the consumer.
    I am really upset that Luvmybox took my money, didn't give me any products and then pawned me off on to some American company that is unaware that the "extra goodies to make up for the slow delivery" that were included -I am assuming that is what the $50 GC was, are unable to be even used in Canada!
    I don't think you are aware but I do an online blog that reviews Beauty Boxes and I may end up posting an entry about my experiences here.

  • M

    And No I do not have a "promotional folder that the emails could have fallen into" I have looked in my spam, inbox and even the deleted folder NOTHING.

    On June 26th I recived this reponce from Chris

    M,


    Sorry for my delay you got stuck in a filter I have. 

    Can I call you and we chat about this? When and what is the best number?

    Chris Dumas
    Boink Boutique
    And his phone Number -If you want it just comment below and I will post it. 
    I have tried calling and there is no answer. 

    On July 8th I responded, I was kind of freaked to give him my phone number so I waited a little while
    Hi sorry for my late reply, if you would like to call me anytime is fine after 4:00 pm pacific. My phone number is XXX-XXXX. 

    Thanks!

    (Until now I have no response)
    On July 10th this was posted to the LMB FB page
    Boink Boutique says I need to contact you in regards to canceling my subscription,however the login does not work, nor have you responded to any emails or FB emails. Please cancel my subscription, do not bill me for August and please reimburse my credit card for June and July as no boxes were sent out. Terrible customer service and not what I expected when I signed up
  • 13 July

  • 12:22
    M

    When is my credit card account being credited
  • 13 July

  • Boink Boutique

    Hi  I'm working on a refund for you for both June and julys boxes. I'm assuming the account is under your name?
  • 14 July

  • M

    Yes.
  • Tuesday

  • At this point I have posted a flaming note on the Wall of the FB page saying how awful the service and the box were and that I want my refund ASAP.
    On July 23rd I received this message 
     
    Boink Boutique

    Hi Marie, Did you receive your refunds for June and July?

  • M

    No.

  • Boink Boutique

    A refund was sent today, I confirmed with the luv my box staff. It should be sent on your card. Give it a couple days and if you don't receive it then send me another message.
    Best, Christina Boink Boutique

  • M

    This is the worst subscription box I have ever gotten, and from the looks of the page before comments were disable I was not alone.

  • M

    Oh and just a note to thank you for removing me from the group. That really is wonderful.
    Not only were my comments deleated from post about the email issue but I was removed from the group and if I join am unable to reply to anything, like anything or do anything remotely interesting.
  •  
  • Then today July 24th I sent a this message.

  • M

    I am quite upset and mad, I have sent more emails to both the general email and to Chris directly. After the customer service I have received over the past 24 hrs I am now wondering where I send my may box back to to get that refunded as well. I do my want any of it in my house as I won't use any of it.

  • M

    *Don't* not do my.
  • To my surprise I am unable to Private Message them anymore (Which is the only way to get a hold of these people!!) and this is sent back immediately
    mailer-daemon@mx.facebook.com
    Mail Delivery Failure

    This message was created automatically by Facebook.
    Based on the privacy settings of the person you're trying to contact, this message could not be delivered.  Try sending them a Friend Request, wait until they accept it, and then try sending your message again.

 Again today I emailed Chris again, 

I am not happy at all, 
I still haven't received a refund. I posted how upset and hurt I was on the facebook page under one of the posts because public comments are no longer allowed, as others should know what this company is like. I was then Private messaged through facebook almost immediately saying  
"A refund was sent today, I confirmed with the luv my box staff. It should be sent on your card. Give it a couple days and if you don't receive it then send me another message.
Best, Christina Boink Boutique"
I then went back to the page to see that not only were my comments removed but I was removed from the page as well!

I really mad right now and will be making my comments and feelings known.
As far as I know my CC has not been refunded and I will be opening up a claim with Visa for the full amount.
M.
 
OK So now that that is over. Let me tell you why this box was so bad, 
Here is a visual, 
I Paid $35 for that! There was no card saying thanks for switching, No card saying anything about the products, nothing other than what you see right here. There was also nothing saying that this was from Boink!
What we have learned is that the $50 gift card to some online wine store was our "Thanks for waiting" extra goodie.... WE CANT USE IT IN CANADA!!!!
The box is cheap, sleazy and just disgusting- nothing in there is going anywhere near my lady-bits and bondage tape- are you serious?! 
 Thanks for letting me rant and Please what ever you do DO NOT subscribe to BOINK BOX!
Spicy is a much better company, any issues you have they resolve so quickly and the staff are really friendly. 
~Love and Louboutin
 XOXO