If you've never heard of Citrus Lane or Bluum, let me enlighten you. Both are mama/children themed subscription boxes that are curated based on the age of your child (ranging from infancy to age 5-6 or so). I decided to try both, for one month, to see which one I preferred, and I'll break down my entire experience with both companies.
Let's begin with Citrus Lane. I received a few boxes from them in October, but for the sake of a side-by-side comparison, let's take a look at the one for an 12 month old boy.
This box contained: Trucks and Diggers by Chronicle books, a Hohner cage bell instrument, a large, plush football by North American Bear Co, and two Wedela diaper cream samples.
Citrus Lane was running the NEWMOM promo at the time, so I received this box for $5.00 (they are usually $29 per month, unless you have a 3 or 6 month subscription). Both my 2.5 year old and 1 year old enjoy the colorful book of CAT construction vehicles, and while the baby doesn't care much for the football, his sister does. I probably won't use the diaper cream samples, but the cage bell (a.k.a. noise maker) was a hit with both kids.
The general opinion from other long-time subscribers, was that this box was disappointing. I will say that I was much more impressed with the older boxes I received that same month (see my previous post), but I paid so little for this one, so my quibbles are minor!
Let's break down the pros and cons of Citrus Lane as a company:
Pros:
- Very reliable customer service. I put them to the test several times this last month with questions about back-ordered items from their shop. They were extremely helpful, and even credited my account for the inconvenience of a delayed item.
- They provide a fun variety of items and present opportunities to experience new brands. I love the brands that they partner with!
- They love to give away money and prizes. Seriously. I've won so many $15 credits by participating on their app. They also have fun promotions with mystery codes and sales for their online store.
- It is extremely easy to cancel your subscription online. Just one click and you're done. Easy-peasy.
Cons:
- Their box age ranges can sometimes be awkward. For example, my 12 month old son received the same stuffed football that a younger baby would have. While it's very cute, I felt it was too "young" of a toy to hold his interest. That said, the two other boxes that we received were more age appropriate (again, see my previous post).
- The online store does not always indicate when items are on back order, which isn't great when you're making a time sensitive purchase.
Now, onto Bluum.
In this 12 month box, we received an adorable Happy Birthday book, a Hey Diddle Diddle book, a mini Manhattan Toy Company dog puzzle, two stage 1 Ella's Kitchen fruit blend baby pouches, and two Luna bars.
I decided to give Bluum a try, because I found a $12.00 deal for a one month subscription on Plum District (each month is usually $29.00, unless you lock in a cheaper rate through a longer subscription). I will say this about Bluum, I love that they included so many books! We are just building up the young man's library, and these are two darling additions. The mini dog puzzle is cute, but doesn't seem very exciting (then again, we'll let the munchkin decide for himself), and while I love the inclusion of Luna bars for me, the baby food was a bit of a let down. It was a very runny stage 1 puree for babies 4 months and up.
Onto the pros and cons!
Pros:
- Your Bluum box is curated based on your child's exact age by month (in addition to milestones you indicate on their website), so it's highly personalized. That means no two children (even in the same age range) get the same exact same box.When you open it up, it's a very unique experience and a total surprise!
- I enjoy the manufacturers that they partner with. Like Citrus Lane, they choose safe, eco-friendly, and organic brands.
- Because the box is so specifically based on age and milestones, it's very random. I've seen some awesome boxes and some really disappointing ones, all for the same age. You never know what you're going to get, so it's hit or miss.
- Bluum boxes already ship out late in the month and the company has been falling behind on meeting shipping deadlines. Some customers report being charged for the next month before the even received the previous month's box (that wasn't my experience, however).
- Fewer sales and promotions offered compared to Citrus Lane.
- Canceling your subscription is extremely difficult. Even though I canceled as per their instructions and well within the correct time frame, I was still charged for the next month. When I double-checked my account status online, it stated that it was inactive. Bluum customer service did end up refunding me, but according to the reviews I've read online (including the ones on the BBB's website), this seems to be a re-occurring problem. I'm very wary of any website that won't let me remove my payment information.
I knew I was only going to keep one subscription box, and my verdict is Citrus Lane. Though their pricing is the same as Bluum's, overall I prefer the quality of their products more and can personally vouch for how incredible their customer service is. I have placed numerous orders through their store and have loved all of my purchases. Even better, I was able to score great deals through Groupon and Living social for a subscription for each of my kids,. If you can find one, I highly recommend you grab it!
In the meantime, if you would like to try Citrus Lane for one month, use my link to receive 50% your first box. Shipping is always free for subscriptions. They are constantly offering promotions and prizes, so be sure to check out their website, app, and Facebook page.
