If you are a fan of subscription boxes, you’ve probably seen Causebox pop up as a recommendation. After being a subscriber for over a year, I wanted to give the pros and cons and why I ultimately cancelled my subscription.
Each quarter Causebox sends a box of 6-8 items from companies that make cruelty free, sustainably made and eco friendly products. The company focuses on empowering women and giving back through charity. Each season the products are presented in a beautifully themed box that highlights an artist.
I’m not someone who is really into subscription services, but I was intrigued by Causebox. I liked the products they were using and the companies they were working with. It was also a fun idea to get a box of curated products each quarter.
Subscribers can choose to pay for the whole year upfront for $199.80 with their annual subscription, or you can pay per quarter for $54.95 with their quarterly subscription. The catch is only annual members can customize their box when they have “choice products.” Paying for the whole year upfront was a bit much for me, so I chose to pay quarterly.
Even though Causebox is priced lower than other similar quarterly subscription boxes I have looked into, I wasn’t sure how the value would compare to the price. Causebox values their boxes well over the quarterly price, usually around the $200 mark. But I can say that, without exception, I felt like I got more than my money’s worth in each box.
When I first signed up for the Summer 2019 box, there were only one or two choice products per box, so not springing for the annual subscription wasn’t a big deal. But recently, in the last few boxes, almost everything was a choice product. After several boxes where I seemed to receive all of the products I didn’t want, I became frustrated. It seemed a bit like you were forced to go for the annual subscription, which was a con for me.
However, a pro for me was the focus on products that reduce waste like their silicone lid set, mesh grocery bags and baking mats. Each box has included one product in this category. I am always looking for ways to reduce waste with products that my husband will embrace using and so far these are all winners.
Perhaps the biggest pro of having a Causebox subscription is access to their Add-On Market. Each quarter the Add-On Market goes live for a few days, offering deeply discounted products. Some are products that have been in previous boxes, some are from popular brands you would recognize, and some will be new brands to discover. They have greatly expanded the range of products they offer since starting this feature. There are categories like home, kitchen, beauty, and skincare. I have found some incredible deals through their Add-On Market, and think it adds additional value to the subscription.
The biggest con for me was that I would receive products I couldn’t use or didn’t need. This lead me to the decision to cancel my subscription. When I lived close to family during non-Covid times it was easier to gift these items to friends and family who could use them. But now I live in a new city and I haven’t had the chance to meet anyone due to the pandemic. This means I would have to ship everything I don’t want to others, which is too much of a hassle. In the spirit of being a better consumer, I want to only purchase items I know I would use. I would rather put the money from my Causebox subscription to rebuilding my wardrobe or a piece of jewelry for my capsule jewelry collection.
Even though I have ultimately decided to cancel my subscription with Causebox, I still highly recommend it. I think you get a lot of value for the price you pay. The products that I have kept, like those for the home or kitchen, get regular use. I also kept and enjoyed all of the skincare products. I would recommend going for the annual subscription option. In my opinion, it is the better choice to ensure you get the choice products you want. I also recommend considering Causebox as a gift. I think it would be the perfect gift for those interested in zero waste, sustainable products and clean beauty.
I’ve looked into switching to other subscription boxes, but none came close to Causebox. So for now, I will be hoping off the subscription bandwagon until I feel the need to hop back on.