Birchbox Vs. MyGlam?

Jan 27, 2012

Elizabeth O.

I'm currently subscribed to Birchbox, but am thinking about switching to MyGlam cause I'm hearing the samples you get are better and come in full-size. I've only recieved one Birchbox so far in December, and it was just okay. Has anybody tried both and can compare the two? Which one is better?

Jan 27, 2012

Melanie G.

Personally, I love MyGlam better (although I've only gotten one bag so its kind of hard to compare the two yet, but I got 2 full size products in this month's bag). I had been subscribed to Birchbox for several months and it was always a hit or miss (I've had great Birchboxes and ones that weren't good at all). MyGlam has only been around a couple months and are having lots of issues with shipping and billing, so I would maybe wait another month before signing up for MyGlam to see if they can get more organized. :) They both definitely have their pros and cons!

Jan 27, 2012

Yasmin K.

10 reasons NOT to join MyGlam
http://www.beautylish.com/t/vvvcq/10-reasons-not-to-join-myglam

5 Reasons TO join MyGlam
http://www.beautylish.com/t/vvycy/5-reasons-to-join-myglam

I have Birchbox, MyGlam, Beauty Army, New Beauty Test Tube and QVC New Beauty Test Tube. I had Eco-Emi and GoGo Girlfriend. I just subscribed to Allure (Magazine) Beauty Bar and expect that box to be shipped February 5.

So which one is better? It depends on what you're looking for.

Birchbox vs MyGlam: Product size
Birchbox ships out samples ranging from one-time use products to full size items. They have a variety of boxes - of which you can't choose from - and you "get what you get".

MyGlam ships out travel size, deluxe size and even full size items. They have at least two variations to the bag (example, December people either got Mai Couture blush sheets [full size] or blotting sheets [full size]; January people either got TheBalm eyeshadow [full size] or nail polish [full size]).

Birchbox vs MyGlam: Price
Both are the same price - $10 a month or $110 yearly.

Birchbox vs MyGlam: Perks
Birchbox has perks, MyGlam does not. Each item you get in your box can typically be reviewed and you earn 10 pts per item you review. 100 pts = $10 off a full size item from their shop and you can stack points (200 pts = $20, 300 pts = $30, etc) which can be redeemed for FREE products. I earned over 1000 pts in the last 8 months which I redeemed for Birchbox Man box (which had a pair of $70 Skullbuds) plus other cosmetics.

As I mentioned there are no perks to MyGlam at this time.

Birchbox vs MyGlam: Shipping
Both are to ship on or around the 10th of each month. Some people get their subscriptions earlier than others. Both companies have had problems with shipping within the last two months (Birchbox in December, MyGlam in January). The major difference is how the companies handled the situation. Many Birchbox subscribers were unhappy that their boxes were delayed but became happy when Birchbox gave them 100 pts to 200 pts (which equals $10 to $20) which essentially made the box free that month.

MyGlam members who were unhappy most are still unhappy because they're either still waiting for bags or refunds.

Birchbox vs MyGlam: Customer service
I've only had to contact MyGlam once and found that it was over a 72 hour delay before I heard back from someone. At Birchbox I can email Paulina and hear back from her within a day. If I email info@birchbox.com it takes about 24 hours before I get a response. I know Paulina, Mollie and Emily are on the Birchbox team that answers emails.

At MyGlam I believe it's Amy, Emily (different Emily obviously) and one other girl. The MyGlam Facebook wall is operated by a different person.

Birchbox vs MyGlam: Product content
Birchbox sends out high end products but also send out food items and weird items like coasters (and trust me when I say THAT annoyed people BIG TIME).

MyGlam so far has sent out both high end items (Tarte, Urban Decay, Mai Couture, TheBalm) but also drug store items (Freeman cucumber mask). What they will send out in their third box no one outside of MyGlam knows.

Birchbox vs MyGlam: Packaging
Birchbox is a box within a box. All items are place inside a brown box with their logo and that box is sent in a shipping box. Some things do break (mostly due to the weather being too hot or too cold) but for the most part things come intact.

MyGlam the products are placed inside a cosmetic bag (different bag each month so far) and that bag is placed inside a bubble mailer bag which increases the chance for the items inside to become broken while shipped. I would advise MyGlam to put the cute cosmetic bag inside a similar size box (called literature mailers) since it's basically the same price to mail a bubble mailer as it would a literature mailer box.

Birchbox vs MyGlam: Shipping
Birchbox uses Streamlite to send items via ground (aerosols, nail polish, perfume can't be shipped cross country via air) which can take up two week plus weeks from time of shipment (from New Jersey) to arrive at it's destination (affects primarily those of us on the West Coast). Once it arrives at the Streamlite hub destination it's then transferred over to the USPS who will actually deliver it. Birchbox also uses USPS Priority Mail and First Class mail but it depends on the box.

MyGlam send out their first bag via USPS and their second bag (January 2012) via UPS then USPS. There were LOTS of mistakes this month which has affected numerous customers (who are still waiting for a bag or a refund). No idea how MyGlam will ship next month.

Birchbox vs MyGlam: Account information changes
Birchbox if you want to change your credit card info but say you changed your email address. You will have to either change it back to the email address you signed up with OR contact them so they can update it. I found that out when I had to update my credit card info and it wouldn't accept it because I had changed my email address. MyGlam you CAN'T change your credit card at ALL and they can't either. If you attempt to the account is suspended. What you have to do with MyGlam is completely CANCEL the current subscription and sign back up. If subscriptions are closed then you have to wait for it to reopen.

Birchbox vs MyGlam: Subscription openings
Birchbox has, in the eight months I've been a member, only been closed to new members once and it was a brief period. MyGlam closes subscriptions often and reopens "randomly".

Birchbox vs MyGlam: Payment period
Birchbox typically charges a customer between the 2nd of the month to the 5th. I typically see a Birchbox charge on either the 3rd or 4th of each month. Birchbox does not immediately charge a person for their box (though I would have to go back and verify this with my bank account).

MyGlam immediately charges a member for their first box and supposedly charges customers on the 1st of each month. In my case I'm charged on the 23rd of each month so far as I signed up with them on November 23. My 2nd billing (for January's bag) was on December 23 and my 3rd billing (for Feburary's bag) was on January 23.

So which would I recommend? Again, depends on what you're looking for. I personally would recommend Birchbox time and time again over any other subscription company (and I do like Beauty Army and am happy [currently] with MyGlam) but hands down I have been pretty happy with Birchbox.

If MyGlam can get their act together and ship with no problems and have *amazing* full size products each month (like the December bag which was their initial bag) then I would recommend MyGlam over Birchbox. But right now because MyGlam is so new and has so many problems to work out I can't recommend them without warning people that they do have things to work out. They are after all a brand new company.

Jan 29, 2012

Elizabeth O.

Thanks for the feedback! I've decided to stay with Birchbox a little while longer, but I have to agree with the fact that the edible crap they decided to send is BS!! C'mon, if I want some granola bars I'll go to the grocery store, thx! lol.

Mar 1, 2012

Yasmin K.

I never waited. I signed up when it was open.

Mar 3, 2012

Dawn S.

interesting info. I've never heard of myglam. was thinking about joining beauty bar though....

Mar 7, 2012

Cal R.

myglam has bad customer service 

Mar 7, 2012

Yasmin K.

Having seen their customer service first hand it's not that they have bad CS but rather not enough people to handle CS. 

Mar 17, 2012

Karen P.

One service you don't want to join is gogogirlfriend. They take money from your account and you never receive your box. I still waiting for my December box. So I would hold off. They are under new management and they have very poor customer service. They never respond to your emails. Just my opinion.
My favorite is Julep. It's nail polish 2 bottles and another item like hand lotion, serum, nail therapy, nail file or oil for hair, hands and nails. It's a different product every month.

Mar 17, 2012

Althea N.

I have both.... You do NOT want my glam. It consistently sucks, and I don't usually bash companies, but phew.... They do not have their crap together and the products aren't always that great :-/

Jan 19, 2013

Jennifer E.

Ugh I am still waiting for my birchbox invite:/ I really want to try it!:)