Tuesday, April 30, 2013

on 23 comments

The Nail Collection - Subscription Box

I was recently contacted by Ana from The Nail Collection, asking if I would like to trial their new subscription nail box. I replied to her saying I'd love to, but reminded her that I was in Australia, and didn't think her nail polish subscription services would be available for international customers.  To my amazement, Ana replied that yes, their subscription box was open to some international countries - which is what really set them apart.

Firstly, let me show you what I received in my The Nail Collection box.  It arrived from the USA in just under three weeks, which is pretty standard nail mail time. Upon opening the box there was my package gently wrapped in black tissue paper sealed with a sticker.  Inside was pink crinkle cut filling, a note from Ana and each polish individually wrapped in bubble wrap (bottles were unwrapped for this photo).


The polishes I received were China Glaze Mimosas before Manis, OPI Can't find my Czechbook, Essie First Timer and Essie Under Where?  Naturally I had to do swatches of each of these pretties.

China Glaze - Mimosas before Manis.




Essie - First Timer




Essie - Under Where




OPI - Can't find my Czechbook



Firstly, I was very happy to receive four polishes that I didn't have. Always a bonus with a subscription.  All polishes are from recent collections, so they weren't just old cheap stock either. Plus they are all full size, not minis.

I'm sure I read somewhere that you also have the option to choose your own colours from the available collections for each month - although I can't see that info on their site at the moment.

So the big question is - how much is this subscription box?  The box price is $30USD a month and you will always get four full sized polishes from recent collections from brands such as OPI, Essie, China Glaze and Orly.  There is free postage in the USA, but for Aussies postage is $9.99 (a pretty good price considering the recent increases).

Now if we talk Australian retail prices, then this box is an absolute bargain. OPI = $20, Essie = $18 and China Glaze = $12. Total Australian retail value = $68  Of course none of us pay retail, we generally buy from etailers or ebay who are much cheaper.  But I still don't know that you would be able to get the variety of brands from one etailer, which would mean higher postage costs.

Ana also generously provided me with a discount coupon for my Aussie readers that would like to sign up to The Nail Collection.  If you use the code "ausnails" you will get the first month's box for just $20 instead of the regular $30. So the total cost with shipping is $29.99 for the first month.  You can read more about the service and sign up at The Nail Collection website.

I'd love hear what you guys think about The Nail Collection's subscription service. Do you think this is something you'd be interested in? Do you like the idea of a nail polish subscription service?

23 comments:

  1. Ehhhh... $30 isn't a HUGE bargain for 4 polishes, especially since I can't pick my own colors! I would try this if it was cheaper (maybe $20) or if I was just starting out my collection of polish. Or if I was an Aussie and not from the USA. This sounds like a good deal for you ladies "down under"!
    A plus is that I like the color selection they sent.

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  2. I just signed up for this, thanks very much! I thought I would trial it for a month or two as it is very easy to cancel. Hopefully the colours will continue to be as nice as the ones you received are! I am in Australia and this is a good price even including postage.

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  3. OMG that first China Glaze is amazing.

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  4. wow beautiful colours and yay!!!!! they ship to Australia!!!!! thanks for sharing :)

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  5. Eeeee so tempted! I've never had a subscription box before but this one actually looks decent!

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    Replies
    1. Although I think I just heard her call indie polishes 'crappy surprises' on the website which pains me a bit :/

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    2. I didn't check out the website but that is what she called indies? That actually offends me! LOL

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    3. "We’re sure you’ve heard of all the other nail polish subscription boxes, but indie-brand isn’t gonna make you the envy of your friends. We’ll send you colors from the brands you already know you love, so NO MORE UNWANTED SURPRISES"

      LOL, how ridiculous. When I have my Lynns I will definitely 'be the envy of my friends'. Having nail polish isn't even about your friends though... It's about you.

      When it comes down to it though, I might give this a try. :)

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    4. Ooooh did they really diss indie brands? Funny thing is I get the most compliments and questions about what I'm wearing when I wear an indie color.

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    5. they changed it, now it says:

      "WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
      We’re sure you’ve heard of all the other indie brand nail polish subscription boxes, but we’ll send you colors from the classic brands you already know you love, so no more having to wait to find out if the formula is good or not. Nail polish should be simple, not complicated."

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  6. What a beautiful box you got!! I think I might have to go out and get Mimosas before Manis, I love the subtle shimmer it has to it which you captured beautifully! I agree with the above comment, $30 here in the US isn't really that great of a bargain if you are only saving a dollar or two. I agree with you, I don't pay retail, my friend who is a cosmetologist gets me my OPI's at her discount and Essies here go for about $8 a bottle and CG are 5.75 I believe? Regardless, the polishes you got are super pretty and it's awesome that you got ones you didn't have! It definitely would be a great service for someone who doesn't have local access to these polishes or just likes a good surprise. I would just hate to end up with one I already have :-/

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  7. Hmm, that sounds like a decent deal for you Aussie ladies, but it really isn't for those of us in the US. I can get those polishes for $17 at my local beauty supply store ($4 Essie, $5.50 OPI, and $3.50 China Glaze). Even if I pay full retail, it's worth around $30, depending on what stores I buy at, so definitely not worth it - I'd rather just pick what I want.

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  8. Maybe for a polish newbie its a great idea, to get a collection going, but for us who have hundreds of bottles, its prob not worth it. $40 is a lot of money to get colors u already have. And the main online shops sell all these brands, so u could get them all at once and cheaper anyway.

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  9. Those are all beautiful colors! I think that you got a very nice selection and variety for your money. You got a good deal since the retail value of all these is over $30, the Essie polishes sell for $8.00, the OPI for $8.00, and China Glaze is $7. Now add sales tax to that and it is well over $32. Bonus that they are all new releases! You got a great deal :) Even if you didn't pick these colors out yourself. Being in the USA I can get these for a bit less by using store coupons and getting them at a buy 2 get 1 free, but for those without a brick and mortar store nearby I'd say this is a sweet deal. Has anyone ever checked out or know anything about Transdesign, the online nail supply store? That one I am curious about.

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  10. It would be lovely to have a box like this so sad it's not for my country

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  11. I need need need the China Glaze and OPI polish!. Lovely swatches.

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  12. Great swatches! Sounds nice, unfortunately my country isn't available yet but I might try in the future :).

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  13. In the US, each of these polishes retails for about $8, so it would be $32 to buy them individually. Not a huge bargain for us. I subscribe to Julep's Maven box service. It's US$20 a month. You get 2 - 3 polishes plus extras like lip gloss, hand creme, etc. You can learn more about that service here: http://www.julep.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/140741/

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  14. To us girls who live in expensive countries polish-wise, it's a real bargain! I wouldn't subscribe myself though, because I would really like to be able to choose something I didn't already have.
    You got some really nice polishes though! :)

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  15. I must be the only one but I like the idea of not knowing what you are going to get! I love getting things I wouldn't normally choose for myself and maybe initially wouldn't like! Definitely looking into this one!

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  16. Don't know if i like it... to me the price for a parcel is at least a dozen bottles and a few on top. (I buy other brands) and although i like the idea of a surprise packet, i would not like to get lots of clolours I don't like.

    I'm not someone who wants dozens of lookalike colours just because they are from diferent brands. Rather a looot of different colours to paint with. :o)

    Then I rather browse through my favourite shops and grab the special offers :o)

    The colours you got are very nice and, what I like as a nail painter, they fit together :-)

    All the best from Berlin,
    Moni
    my-fingertip-gallery.blogspot.de

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  17. Woah let's say I count the same fees for France, 40$ for 4 full bottles, that makes around 30€, which is already less than the price of 3 Essie !I feel so much tempted right now ! This is such a great idea, especially considering the price most countries pay for US brands ! Love the colors, not even released in France yet I believe, and actually really like the green one when it's not my color... Seing so much of it here is influencing me ! :)

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I live in Canberra, Australia with my husband, Mr Ten and Miss Eight. My blog is all about nail polish, and a few other bits in between. You can contact me at morenailpolish@iinet.net.au