Urthbox Review
*Disclosure: I received a product sample of UrthBox for review. All thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own.
Recently I reviewed a sample box from Urthbox.com for review. I had not heard of Urthbox before, but they are a monthly subscription service where they deliver a box of goodies to you each month. This is cool, but what really made me interested in them is that they have Classic, Gluten-Free, Vegan, or Diet versions to choose from. I am always looking for new gluten-free products to try out so the gluten-free Urthbox seemed like something that was right up my alley!
When I received my Urthbox in the mail, I was impressed with how meaty it was. For some reason in my mind I thought it was going to be like Birchbox and I was going to get small samples of everything. Nope. This box was jam packed with goodies. And it was heavy with all sorts of different FULL sized samples. Fan-fricking-tastic.
Some of the items in the box were items I have tried before like Justin’s Peanut Butter in squeezable packs (love those things) and others were new items I had never heard of before like chocolate covered cashews. My Urthbox also came with a printed list of everything that was included and a list of stores where you can buy the products. You can check it out below:
Each Urthbox comes with around 12-15 snack items. It is priced at $25 a month and drops slightly if you buy in bulk. For example, if you buy 3 months worth of Urthbox it comes out to $22 a month and 6 months comes out to $19 a month. I think the value is pretty good considering you are getting full samples of everything. I mean, this box is literally jam packed with goodies.
Did I try everything in my Urthbox? No. A lot of the goodies were quickly swooped up by my husband! Between the two of us, we tried almost everything except the Annie’s rice.
Overall I was very impressed with how many snack items the Urthbox gives you in a monthly box. I don’t think I would continue to subscribe to this box monthly because I try and stick to paleo snacks if I can. I could see myself getting this once every couple months as a way to discover new gluten free snacks but once a month would be too much for me. However, if they made a paleo Urthbox, I’d be all over it.
I did notice that the Urthbox is available to purchase as a gift and I’ve been considering getting a subscription as a gift for friends of mine who are gluten-free or are just starting out on a gluten-free diet. It’s fun to get new snacks in the mail, and Urthbox has the great potential to turn you on to new products you may have never heard of before!
If you are interested in checking out Urthbox, you can use the code fitandawesome and get $10 off your first box.
Enjoy!
What about you? Would you subscribe to a monthly snack box like this? Which would you choose – gluten-free, classic, vegan, or diet? Post in the comments and let me know!
Hi there,
I have had the WORST customer experience with Urthbox. Approximately 5 minutes after I placed my order, I emailed customer service and asked them to change my 3 month subscription to a 1 month. Travis, a manager there, replied they couldn’t since the subscription already started. At that point, I simply asked for a refund. Their website says that they can give you a refund provided the item hasn’t shipped. He claims they shipped my item in the hour that I placed my order. Yet, a month later I still haven’t received a thing. I asked for shipping/tracking information. Nothing. The point is my item wasn’t shipped and they had no problem charging my card.
Their terms are sketchy. And customer service is lacking.
Anyone else have a similar experience?
I am experiencing the EXACT same problem right now! I can not get a response! I emailed and called multiple times! I opted for just the 1 month box using a groupon and I was STILL charged $59 for a second box 3 months later! This is frustrating because the 1 month box is NOT a subscription! I am calling groupon and leaving as many reviews as I can. This company is a rip off and they have unethical practices! BEWARE!
I am having pretty much the same problem right now, although there wasn’t a 3 month gap between my 1-month groupon box (ordered in Aug, received in mid-Sept) and my being charged $59 on Oct 1st for a bogus subscription that I did not sign up for.
I actually emailed them multiple times right after receiving my mid-Sept box, because of a problem with the contents (I think it was point blank the wrong type of box, as I did not order the Gluten Free). I waited over a week before even eating anything out of it, in case they asked me to return it. Finally, when I had lost hope and eaten a few things, I finally got ONE email back which had an odd tone to it, not necessarily rude but not especially nice either — and they asked me to TAKE PICTURES of the contents of the box, the subtext if which was that they did not believe me. Having already eaten and/or given away some of the contents — again, because the box had been sitting for over a week already! — I could no longer do so, but I was also kind of offended that a) they didn’t even make a pretense of believing me, and b) I’d be asked to spend my free time taking a bunch of pictures when they can’t even bother answering my email in a timely manner. And I don’t have a phone with a camera, so taking pictures is a whole ordeal for me.
Then on 2 Oct, I just happened to be checking my credit card statement and, lo and behold, there’s a charge from UrthBox for $59 on 1 Oct! I emailed them immediately, and like 4 times, to cancel this fake order. At no point when I made my initial order was I made aware I was signing up for an ongoing subscription. I mean, the order detail on screen before I clicked “Enter”, and the order details I received via email, stated “Product: LARGE DIET 1 MONTH” with no mention of automatic renewal. They have something in their FAQ about their subscription service, but they are in no way upfront about it when you make an order.
I have not heard a peep from them, but when I log into the Urthbox site today (4 days later), the new $59 order actually does appear to have been removed. HOWEVER: the charge has not been dropped from my credit card yet. I’ll be nice and give them a couple more days to issue the refund before I file a dispute.
It’s sketchy, too, that Urthbox is listed on by credit card as “Men’s Clothing” — did they register as such to help with their state taxes or something?!
I agree. Urthbox customer service is terrible. Got hosed by a subscription that I didn’t order. Getting any assistance is extremely difficult and slow. Never again will I use their service.
This company has the worst customer service ever.
I just moved and I changed my address on the website the only place you can change it. I get the tracking info for my August boxes, I’m subscribed to three boxes, and I check to see where my boxes are. Tracking info says they’ve been delivered, they shipped them to the old address though.
Obviously I’m pretty disappointed so I email them letting them know what happened. They respond saying that I should have emailed them to change my shipping address and that if I want my August boxes I will have to pay $6 more per box for them to be shipped to the correct address, the address that I had already changed on their website which says NOTHING anywhere as far as having to email them to change your shipping location.
I let them know that I thought it was pretty messed up how they were handling this situation considering it was their error and their website issues that caused it to happen. To which they let me know that they would be adding a note to their website to email them if you need to change your shipping address. Yet are still requiring that I pay them another $18 on top of the already $70+ that I paid for my August boxes.
Now they’ve stopped responding to me and are censoring me from their Facebook page.
This is a terrible company with terrible standards, they will not last long.
NEGATIVE REVIEW…I agree, terrible customer service, and dishonest too! I used a Groupon coupon for a 6 month trial membership. I was told that my credit card number was needed “because the system cannot process delivery orders without that information on file.” When I expressed my hesitancy to do this, I was assured by the production manager, TRAVIS, that unless I personally approved future deliveries beyond the 6 month trial period, there would be no automatic deductions for continuation of services. That was a LIE ! Now I am being billed $115 for an extension of services that I DID NOT APPROVE. I called Urthbox numerous times; the company line said to call back during business hours. Seriously? M-T-W, 9am-5pm are not business hours? Urthbox refused to respond to any of the messages I left, or to return any of my emails…until I left a NEGATIVE REVIEW on their website! Now, they are refusing to refund the full $115. They want to refund only $90, stating that since they mailed out the Sept. box already, they would be deducting that amount from my refund. Federal law PROHIBITS companies from mailing unordered merchandise to consumers, and then demanding payment. Gee…I wonder how many people they do this to…maybe all of the Groupon users? That’s ALOT of $$$$ for Urthbox that they are NOT legally entitled to.
Hi Rose Anne – Wow. I am really sorry to hear about this. I am going to contact the folks at Urthbox and ask them to respond to this. Thanks for letting us know! – Lindsay
I am experiencing the EXACT same problem right now! I can not get a response! I emailed and called multiple times! I opted for just the 1 month box using a groupon and I was STILL charged $59 for a second box 3 months later! This is frustrating because the 1 month box is NOT a subscription! I am calling groupon and leaving as many reviews as I can. This company is a rip off and they have unethical practices! BEWARE!
Good morning Lindsay..Have you had any response from them yet? I wish I read all of these NEGATIVE reviews before I participated in this program…
I, too, am having an issue with UrthBox. After my 6 month subscription ended, I was surprised to find a charge for $295 on my credit card. They auto renewed my subscription without my knowledge or consent. In the state in which they operate, they are not allowed to auto renew without a customer’s explicit consent. The terms of the auto renew must be on the check out page within visual proximity of the purchase button. It is not on the page at all. The terms must also be “clear and conspicuous.” This is defined (by the state of California) as the terms being different than the text around (bolder, bigger, different font, etc.) it in order to draw attention to it. It’s not. I had to search for the terms in the fine print of their terms and conditions. I have emailed and called. The rep I talked to was ignorant of the law, and other things, including what the definition of a subscription actually is. She refused to refund my money. Their practices are totally illegal and they are setting themselves up for a class action lawsuit, in which I’d gladly participate. I have recently disputed the charge with my credit card company and they are currently investigating. I have also warned UrthBox not to send me any more packages. If they do, I told them, I will keep them as” a gift to the consumer” as I’d also a California law stated in the same statutes that address automatic renewal. An attorney really needs to get involved with this company and stop their illegal practices. They will not listen to anyone who informs them, and even send them copies of the law. They need to face punitive damages.
Not customer friendly and overpriced. Received this as a gift, but they put me on auto-renew so now I am stuck for another 6 months for something I think is overpriced and not very good. You get a smallish box containing “sample size” packages for about $30 per month, not a good value. Save your money and go to any health food store and spend the $30 on full size bags, bars, and boxes of healthy stuff. You can get far more product for your money shopping this way. Also, they won’t let you cancel after you have been auto-renewed. Their claim “its our policy to not refund money”. No notification that you are about to renew and they don’t make cancellation easy.
Hi Mark! I see that you left a yelp review the same day I did. Make sure you dispute this charge with your credit card company. What they’re doing is illegal. You could also report them to the BBB, but you’ll probably see no result from that as they have an F rating for ignoring customer complaints. However, it will help other consumers recognize the magnitude of their underhandedness. I also suggest reporting them to the ca attorney general. It’s easy to do. You just fill out information on their web site. I am rather obsessed with making this company cease to continue their illegal practices. I am beyond angry that my trust was violated and they literally stole my money and then flagrantly violate statutes and duck behind their illegal policies to keep my hard-earned money. It’s like that are sticking their tongues out, daring me to do anything about it. It’s robbery! The authorities need to be made aware that they are preying on consumers. Honestly wish someone would sue them. There’s a good case here!
Hi April,
I am sorry you and everyone else who has commented has had such a negative experience. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.
Lindsay
I am glad I seen this before I placed my order. Thank you for the warning.
They are awful!! I innocently placed an order for 6 MONTH gift for my father. Not only did they email HIM with the notice of my orDer, but it contained the price I had paid! How TACKY!. Then , he only received 5 boxes, one of wIch the post office said he owed $8.00 for!! What company sends gifts with COD on it?? NOW, I see they have charged my credit card automatically for another 6 months, when I only ordered a 6 month gift!! If you call them, you get a recording saying there is a 10 minute wait time and they’ll call you back…3 hours later and still no call..oh wait, they actually HAVE NEVER RETURNED ANY OF MY CALLS over the last 6 months. NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH THEM!! THEY ARE CRIMINALS
Hi Melisa,
I’m sorry you’ve had such a terrible experience. Please keep us posted on your situation and if you hear back from Urthbox.
Lindsay
They are horrible . My mother in law had gotten me this as a gift for Christmas and they just keep billing her card even though it should have been for only 3 months. They never return emails. I need to investigate who they need to be reported to if it is the better business bureau or the federal trade commission. I will not idly stand by rest assured. I am thinking they will not be in business long.
I too, had a horrible experience with UrthBox. Horrible customer service. I bought a LivingSocial Deal to try them out for 3 months. My deal specifically said NO CONTINUED CONTRACT. First, I my mail carrier was at my door, asking for the $ they shorter- in their free shipping. Then, I was RENEWED and billed $72. I called right away. Nope, they don’t care. I sent a copy of my contract, they don’t care. I missed the window to cancel, which was before I was billed. Horrible company. Horrible service. Luckily, my credit card company will handle it. I would not ever recommend them to anyone.
My Sister bought 5 boxes and after 2 days of waiting, the box was arrived It looks great the shipping is good although we add some Bucks but it worth it. I helped my sister to get more discount from UrthBox so i recommended her to go to this site http://www.couponchief.com/urthbox and the results was amazing!