Beyond the Blurb | Tips and Tricks on Buying Book Boxes

I’ve talked about book box companies and subscriptions before. As I type out this post, I’m in a subscription ban since I’ve run out of room. But I’ve never discussed the dangers of dealing with certain book box companies.

More and more, I see customers either getting ripped off of a product or entirely losing a purchase. We don’t truly have a guide to help us out, now do we? Well, I hope to change that. So for my next discussion post, I’ll be giving you tips and tricks on buying book boxes and the ones you should either go for or look out for.

Please note that not everyone has had the same experience as you, and that goes for me. As a disclaimer, this discussion post is of my own opinion, which may not match yours. It’s not intended to offend, but to offer support.

Get Recommendations from Other Buyers

Always, always look for recommendations. When I first started buying book boxes, I didn’t care about them. Let’s just say I’ve learned from my mistakes. Recommendations have saved me from a bad buy, and I cannot stress this enough: you need them in order to make an informed decision on purchasing boxes. Boxes aren’t cheap, especially for international buyers like myself. I may be from Canada, but international shipping is atrocious. So I don’t want to waste my money on a box I’ll be disappointed in.

So who are my favourite companies? Well, here they are ones I would recommend:

• Owlcrate
• Fairyloot
• Illumicrate
• Unicorn Crate
• Lit Joy Crate

And here are the companies I wouldn’t recommend:

• Shelflove Crate
• Faecrate and Baecrate

Why is that though? Experience and recommendations I received from other buyers. The recommended companies have been consistent, punctual, and reliable. You know you’ll receive your box on time, and the items in it will be of quality, not quantity. When you’re putting in $30 to $100+ a box, you want to know if it is worth your money, time, and effort. Recommendations help you decide those factors and give you an advantage others may not look for.

 

Join a Subscription Box Group on Facebook

I joined these groups for the snark. But I also joined them to connect with fellow readers and book lovers. I always stay up to date on the latest book box scandal. I know who to look out for and who to support. And yes, you’ll see spoilers, so I’d suggest not looking for them when a member posts photos.

 

Look at the Company’s Social Media Platforms

If you see a lot of customers complaining, not praising, the company on its social media profiles, then that’s a red flag. Listen to the complaints and the praises of customers. Those are vital in understanding the company and the inner workings of it.

 

Even if the Box is Consistently Late, Don’t Assume It’s a Bad One

Some companies run late. And that’s okay. These companies are small businesses with a limited number of employees. Some don’t have employees, just one or two people at the helm. So yes, boxes will be late. But that lateness doesn’t affect the quality of the box though. Wick and Fable (or Fabled Merch) is an excellent example. Even if it isn’t a book box company, it’s a book candle one with items worth the wait. So I’ll always recommend it.

 

Trust Your Gut and Save Your Money

If you aren’t sure about a company, either don’t buy it (which is obvious at this point) or simply purchase a gift box. A gift box is a one-time purchase so you can see if you’re interested in purchasing a subscription later on. This way, you aren’t tied down to one for the next three months.

 

Use PayPal to Protect Your Funds

If you’re still not sure, always remember that PayPal can help you in difficult situations when a company doesn’t follow through with your order. Especially when an item shows up damaged, you have the right to make a complaint through its Purchase Protection program. You have up to sixty days to report a claim. If PayPal sides with you, you get all or most of your money back.

Have you been burned by book box companies? What are the ones you recommend and what are the ones you don’t? Let’s chat!