Indie Gift Box review, August 2014

Name: Indie Gift Box
Details: Surprises you with a themed collection of unique gifts from independent artists and small businesses.
Price: $25


I hate to say it, but this was the shipment that made me cancel my subscription to Indie Gift Box.

I was thrilled with the first couple of packages that I received from the company. However, I've been less than happy with a few of my more recent shipments. It's gotten to the point where I'm crossing my mental fingers when I receive a box in the mail each month, hoping that I'll find at least one or two things that I'm not completely "meh" about.

Anyway, let's take a look at what I received in August's Indie Gift Box.

This month's theme was "Indian Summer," which I'm taking to mean that everything inside the box had an element of Native American culture or design attached to it.

1. Fair trade bracelets by A Global Friendship (retail value: $25). I'm actually okay with these bracelets. They were handwoven in Indonesia, and their purchase supports A Global Friendship, which is a non-profit organization that helps woman and attempts to alleviate poverty throughout the world. They're cute, and I'll wear them.

2. Gift card from Bunglo (retail value: $12+). Indie Gift Box considers this gift card to have a retail value starting at $12. However, this isn't really a gift card. It's a coupon code good for 40 percent off any purchase at the website Bunglo. I don't consider a coupon code to be an "item." If I'd received a product from Bunglo, and gotten a coupon code on top of that, cool, I'd be a happy camper. As it stands, I'd need to spend $16 in order to get the $12 value that Indie Gift Box said I'm receiving. The items on Bunglo are very cute, and I might end up ordering something inexpensive from the site, but I still feel a little irritated by the whole thing.

 3. Feather ear cuff by Finch Finery (retail value: $22). Maybe, at 35, I'm just too old for Indie Gift Box. This cuff, which slips over the top of one's ear, is well made, but there's no way I'd ever, ever wear it. Ever. Finch Finery has rave reviews on Etsy, and I don't doubt that, for people who are into bold fashion statements, this cuff would be amazing. However, I feel that, by including such obvious "love it or hate it" items in its shipments, Indie Gift Box is doing a disservice to its customers. Maybe it's just me, I don't know. In any event, to conclude, I won't be wearing this and I have no idea what to do with it.

4. Nail art cuticle tattoos by Rad Nails (retail value: $6). These are alright. Nothing exciting, but nothing horrible, either.

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My heart sank after I finished opening this Indie Gift Box, which made me realize that, like I mentioned before, I need to cancel my subscription. For $25 plus shipping I received, in theory, $65 worth of products, but all I really wanted was my $25 back. Maybe the next few months will get better, but I'm not going to risk my hard-earned money on it again.

If you're interested in checking out Indie Gift Box, head here: Indie Gift Box subscription link