WANTABLE: May 2013 [ jewelry box ]

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !! 
to my truly fantastic papa who doesn't always get the recognition he deserves, i love you so much! right as i finish typing this sentence, you bring me some breakfast. i know i am supposed to be the one making you breakfast today but we all know i am not much of a cook. at least you won't have to suffer any ill effects from my cooking before we take you out for a feast tonight! :)

oh & congrats to my little sister!

- - - - -

on May 20th, i decided to finally put my order in for my first 'free' Wantable box. i had signed up with them back in March when they had the promo for one free subscription box as they made their way into Canada. the conditions was that i pay for the full price including taxes, duty and handling and then afterwards they'd credit me the price of the box (US$36). this promo was extremely popular and Wantable had to later adjust this for a free second box instead.

if you didn't know this, Wantable is different from other beauty subscription services in that they offer a makeup box and a jewelry box. i love my makeup but i felt the urge to be more daring and to take the risk. i bit the bullet and proceeded to complete the jewelry quiz.

PRICING
the Jewelry box is $36 a month if you subscribe monthly (with the option to skip - sweet!) or $40 if you'd just like to make a one-time purchase. shipping is $5, tax $1.80 and duty is $3.21 which comes to a total of $46.01 for a subscription box. this is definitely the most expensive box i have subscribed to. i already knew that this is not going to be a monthly thing for me. for this soft launch, i paid $10.01.
each box contains 3-5 'boutique jewelry' pieces.

PERSONALIZATION

since jewelry really depends on personal taste, Wantable takes you through a few questions so they can better understand what you love, like and dislike. you are open to receive anything you select 'love' or 'like' for. the company would not send you anything you 'dislike'. it helps that there are pictures in case you are not exactly sure what they mean by 'moderate' or something.

so before i show you what i got in my May Wantable box, i will let you in on my answers:

1) Personal style:
classic -- love                                         glam -- like                                              rock & roll -- like
boho -- like                                               quirky -- like                                            seasonal -- like

                                           

2) Type of materials:        
silver tone -- like                                  gold tone -- like                                    multi tone -- love
wood -- dislike                                       acrylic -- dislike                                     beads -- like
leatherette -- love

3) Type of accessories:
earrings -- love                                     bracelets -- love                                  necklaces -- love
rings -- love                                            watches -- like
---
BRACELETS
4) Type: 
charm -- like                                            bangle -- like                                           stretch -- like
clasp -- love                                            cuff -- like                                                 snap -- love
hinged -- like                                           adjustable -- like 

5) Scale: 
minimal -- love                                     moderate -- love                                  maximum -- like

EARRINGS
6) Type: 
studs -- love                                           drops -- like                                             hoops -- like

7) Scale:
minimal -- like                                       moderate -- love                                 maximum -- love

NECKLACES
8) Length:
mini (12"-14") -- dislike                      midi (16"-20") -- love                           maxi (22" and beyond) -- like

9) Scale:
minimal -- love                                     moderate -- love                                  maximum -- like

RINGS
10) Type: 
stretch -- dislike                                   adjustable -- like                                   hinged -- like
sized -- love

11) Scale:
minimal -- love                                      moderate -- like                                   maximum -- dislike

12) Size:
5     - 6 -    7    8    9

WATCHES
13) Scale:
minimum -- dislike                                moderate -- dislike                              maximum -- love
- - -
14) Icons:
skulls -- dislike                                       inspirational text -- love                  Christian -- dislike
Jewish -- dislike                                    Buddhist -- dislike                                 Muslim -- dislike
evil eye -- dislike                                  military -- like 

** there has been a few changes to the quiz for June - firstly, it is now the "Jewelry and Accessories box" in that they have added sunglasses, headbands and scarves to the list. they have also reclassified the Scale categories to be minimal, everyday and statement (instead of minimal, moderate and maximum). **

SHIPPING
my order was placed on May 20 and it shipped on the 23rd from Romulus, Michigan. my package was tracked by Landmark Global. after it crossed the border on the 24th, it took another 5 days to land in my mailbox -- oh Canada Post. all in all, it wasn't a long wait.

PACKAGING

my Jewelry box came in a white rectangular cardboard box measuring roughly 5" x 8" x 3". still fits in the community mailbox. the jewelry itself is bubble wrapped within some black tissue paper, which is placed upon some folded tissue paper (what is the term for these?),

CONTENTS
welcome card:

summary of my preferences:

what i got in my box & their "retail" prices (let's use 'retail' loosely here):

May's Jewelry box featured Suzanne Kopulos (a shopping and style expert).

1) Free Form Hoop Earring
i laugh now at the name of this earring because it is indeed free form. so free form that one of them did not exactly match the other. you can see that the right one is slightly warped differently. although i do not normally wear hoop earrings anymore, i would've enjoyed these if they had been identical...
but no worries here because i have contacted Wantable about this (read under Customer Service!).

retail value: $28

2) Return to Me Ring - size 6 
this was my least favorite item... the butterflies are cute but i was a little thrown off since this seemed like something a kid would play dress up with. the yellow is really... yellow.
funny enough, my sister likes this one.

retail value: $24

3) Kylie Necklace
next we have this layered multi-toned necklace. i prefer my necklaces long and the shortest strand on this one sits right on my collarbone...it is slightly adjustable but i wish it was longer. the necklace is not heavy but has that metal smell to it. i am scared if i wear it for long periods of time and/or sweat, my neck might become a different color...

retail value: $28 

4) Drew Earring 
i have not worn earrings like these before... i think i have to retract my 'love' for maximum-scale earrings. as well as my 'like' for beads... haha. these are actually pretty but just not my style.

retail value: $22

CUSTOMER SERVICE
my favorite item would have been the hoop earrings but i was saddened to see that they were defective. i contacted Wantable through email using their Support page and received a response within 2 days. the lady was really nice and after sending her a picture, she told me they are going to send me a replacement. it has been 10 days since she told me that so i should be receiving them soon... will update you on this when i do!

just so you know, if you wanted to return something, you'd have to pay to ship it back. i am not sure what this amount is.

SUMMARY
i was really afraid that this whole experience was going to be a bust since i've seen many complaints about Wantable's jewelry box. most of the complaints mention that the retail price listed does not reflect the jewelry piece. i agree with this in that i would not pay 'retail price' for any of the items i received. especially for the ring - $24 is really hard to believe.
i've come to understand that i need to more specific with my preferences. if there is something you are not sure you are a fan of or if you are just alright with receiving it, i'd suggest you select 'dislike' just so you can reduce the amount of risk of being disappointed or unhappy with what you get. i felt that i was just 'okay' with many of my selections during the quiz which led me to receive items that were just 'okay' to me.

with that being said, i think i might give this a go, one more time. i am more aware of what i actually like and do not like so i am crossing my fingers for a better experience.

for those who got a Wantable box, how did you fare? will you be receiving another box?
if you have not tried them yet, would you? and would you try the Jewelry box? (if you'd like, check them out through my link :))
thanks for reading!