Le Parcel September 2015 TOM Box

I just subscribed to Le Parcel, and I hope to get the box in the next week.

Le Parcel is another TOM (time of the month) box that ships to you around the time of your monthly period.   It is similar to TomBoxes.com (formerly Swaag Box, which I reviewed here), with a few differences.  The most obvious one is that with this box, you can choose your own feminine hygiene products from a decent selection of brands and absorbencies.   With TomBoxes/Swaag Box, you get one unopened pack of your choice.  With Le Parcel, you get 25 items of your choosing (TB sends the smaller packs of 14-16 items, so Le Parcel gives you almost twice as many hygiene items).  Now, this means that the Le Parcel items have been removed from their outer packaging, which I know some people are uncomfortable with.  Since they still come individually wrapped, I'm ok with it, and I love that I can mix and match.  I use both pads and tampons, so having to choose one means I have to remember to update my subscription settings on a regular basis or risk having to make a store run anyway.

Le Parcel does charge shipping, which is a bummer.   Still though it's not a bad pricepoint--$15 +$5 shipping (Half price on your first box with my referral link!)    The hygiene items alone would cost $5-$8 depending on which you bought and where.

They also have different referral programs (this is a good time to mention that this blog contains referral links, which give me points or other rewards for referring people to the service.  I do not get paid for favorable reviews, all opinions expressed are my own, no children were harmed in the writing of this blog).  TomBoxes.com offers you one free box for every three referrals, and you don't have to do anything--the box is shipped to you automatically.

Another difference may have been a coincidence, but Le Parcel promises high-end chocolate in each box.  I didn't receive candy or food of any kind in my TomBoxes box.


UPDATE:   This has been the most annoying box I've ordered to date.   I originally bought the box on September  7 and was charged for it on September 10.   The same day, my account updated saying my package shipped on September 10 and would arrive by September 15.   I never received a tracking number.  September 15, I emailed because the package had not arrived.   Without any response to my email, my account updated on September 23 providing a tracking link.  The link didn't work, but if you copied and pasted the tracking number from the link into USPS.com, then it said the label was printed but not scanned again.  Five emails later, once I had finally given up, I was given a refund and a short 'there was some problems at the warehouse, sorry' email.  (That was September 30).   I love the idea of this box, but in practice I don't need the frustration. 


Update #2:   Today, October 2, my package arrived (I wasn't even expecting it at this point).   Here were the contents:

25 pads and tampons of my choosing, including brand.   ($7)

This is actually what drew me to this box to begin with--I love that I can choose which items I receive.   They carry name brand products (Always, Tampax, Kotex, Playtex)  and you can customize however you wish.  I chose a selection of absorbencies and products and estimated the value based on the per item prices on Amazon.  

Chocolates--3 Lindor Lindt truffles  ($1.50)

I enjoy Lindt truffles, though I have to admit I was a little disappointed.   My husband picks these up at the local drugstore fairly regularly, and I was hoping to receive something a little more 'exotic'.   Still though, they're good quality chocolates and just enough of a treat.  

Feral Watch--The Midas Rosegold ($80 ??)

I was really surprised to find this watch on amazon, and even more surprised to see the price.   Maybe I was expecting a lower price point because I knew how little I had paid for the box.   It's a nice watch, but doesn't fit my fat wrist :(   It will be a nice gift for someone.

The total estimated value of my box was $88.50, but that includes an $80 estimate for the watch.    I paid $12.50 for the box (1/2 price for my first box +$5 shipping) and future boxes would be $20.   I canceled the subscription--since I don't wear a lot of jewelry, this one just isn't worth the hassle for me.

TOM Box -- September 2015

So, after years (literally) of focusing on my children and neglecting myself, I've started to begin some self-care routines.   I've found that I LOVE subscription boxes.  For a low price I get to try things I may not have picked up on my own, and I've already discovered brands that I love.

TOM boxes (Time Of the Month) are a genre of subscription boxes, with tomboxes.com (formerly swaagbox) being one of the first.   Some reviews I had read said this box contained tampons or pads (your choice of type and brand), some jewelry, makeup, candy, or other pampering products.    I found a half price link on http://hellosubscription.com so I decided to try it. Their regular price is $16, shipping included.

For $8, I received:

14 Count Always Ultra Thin Overnight (I use a variety of feminine products, and just happened to be running low on these when I ordered)   $4

This goldtone Y necklace.   It's a very light piece of costume jewelry that is not to my taste.   I would guess the retail price is around $10, but again it is not something I personally would buy.

This four-foil-pack sample of eslor--two packs of 'soothing refiner & cleanser' and two of 'chorophyll lifting mask' (each packet 5 ml)    I don't really love foil packets, but these appear to be generously sized and reviews of the products on amazon and birchbox seem promising.   $10



And then there was this box of three products.  

Suds! Bath and Body Lavender Chamomile foaming bath salts (0.5 oz)  I'm excited by the bath salts.   We're a bath salts/natural products/aromatherapy loving family, and this product hits all three.   I am not a bath lover, but I will still sometimes put some salts in the tub while I shower  (and soak my feet simultaneously :D).  I'm  really pleased that this product is handmade by an etsy seller, which is not something I expected.  It was a great surprise.  $0.50

EVOLV(H) Smart Start Leave-In Conditioner (2 oz)
Evolv(h) is another brand I had never heard of, but I have been in need of a new leave in conditioner as we move into fall.  I have very long hair and while I have a bajillion strands they're pretty fine, making product choice important.  I look forward to finding out if this conditioner is strong enough to condition my hair without weighing it down.  It's paraben free, gluten free, and vegan, and it smells REALLY good.   $10

Hakari mascara in Jet, full size
For a bunch of reasons, I have recently started wearing makeup again after ten years of wearing it no more than a couple of times a year.    That means I last wore makeup regularly when I was a student/employee/theatre person in my mid twenties and I am currently trying to figure out how to apply makeup to a mid-thirties face.  It's a whole new world :D  I've found that products I loved a decade ago just don't cut it now that my face--and lifestyle--have changed.   I've tried a few other Hikari products recently and I feel like they're high quality, and this mascara is no different.   It has become my go-to mascara for day.   The color is great and really brings out my lashes without being too heavy.  I do have to be careful when I'm applying it because it tends to flake, but once it's set I'm good to go.  Hikari does not test on animals.   $15

So for the math whizzes in the audience, the total value of this box is approximately $49.   Not too bad for a box that cost $8.   I've paused my subscription until I determine how much I like the products that were sent to me--and with this shipment I'm stocked up on feminine hygiene products.  I'll probably restart the subscription in a month or two though, or try another service.   The convenience of having my feminine hygiene products delivered combined with the cool gifts make for a great value.