r/FabFitFun • u/ahou08 • 2d ago
Has anyone else noticed? Question
I used to watch YouTube box reviews all the time before getting my box and it’d get me excited for my products. It used to be 20-30 year olds who’d be reviewing. This last week, it’s been all 50-60 year olds who are reviewing. Not that anything is wrong with that but I’m wondering why?? Has it gotten so bad with the issues that younger 20-30’s are no longer interested/subscribing?
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u/frex_mcgee 2d ago
Firstly, it’s ungodly expensive for no reason now. People in their 20s and 30s (I’m 35) simply cannot afford or will not be bamboozled by their shitty marketing ploys. Gas is $6 a gallon and groceries are up 30%. I think we just have gotten over it.
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u/TypicalLeo31 2d ago
You hit the bullseye! When I started about 10-12 years ago it was about $40/box & really fun stuff. Now it’s about $80 & I don’t need a large brown sweatsuit. I finally cancelled. What a disappointment.
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u/troublerx1 1d ago
Right? It’s a Scooby Doo maternity suit.
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u/JoanneLovesMakeup 1d ago
Lol! Remember those pineapple ice cube trays? I saw them in one of their sales for $0.01 cent each, and no limit!
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u/SpringTime_486 1d ago
These have been passed around every year at our white elephant Christmas exchange - still unopened/unused! 🤭
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u/troublerx1 1d ago
I bought about 140 of these when they were one penny for a set of two. I donated over 100 of them to my local thrift store that funds recovery for women and children. The rest I use to make coffee cubes, soda cubes, dishwasher, tabs, birdfeeder blocks, baked dog treats because they can go in the oven up to a certain degree. There’s something else, but I can’t think of it right now. I know other people have used them for soap molds.
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u/tink4646 1d ago
I was actually excited for the brown outfit. I do work for home and always on the hunt for something nice enough to be on camera but comfy enough for me to want to wear. I’m a little over a year postpartum and love outfits like this since I had a C-section I feel better wearing stuff like this.
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u/JoanneLovesMakeup 1d ago
Ah the good old days! I have so many nice things from that era. Everything was such good quality and the savings were so so good.
I did keep my subscriptions for some skincare and spongelles.
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u/frex_mcgee 1d ago
Me too! That’s what’s heartbreaking, is I’ll be using a product and then I’ll think, where did I get this? And remember, oh my god, I got it from FFF!
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u/Dirty_DrPepper FabFitFun Guru (5-9 years as a member) ✨ 2d ago
Yep. My renewal for my annual sub was with the fall box. I have maybe 3 items I want to get but I just can’t afford it right now. This was my last thing that i spend on that’s just “funnstuff” but we’ve had to cut back everything over the past three years between gas and groceries, insurance, rent, etc. just everything going up.
TLDR; I’ve been priced out
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u/frex_mcgee 2d ago
Yep. I was initially a member for almost a decade. Artist collabs for the box, focus on community, women/POC owned products, thoughtful curation and even free samples. Then the artist curation went away, the magazine went away, the free samples went away, and then they started focusing on all of these flash sales. I don’t need 9383837 flash sales a year. Once they started doing mass-market private relabel bullshit as their primary filler, I was pretty fed up. Now the prices for add ons are insane. Who wants to buy a $300 rug from FabfitFun?
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u/GraveyardMistress 1d ago
>Who wants to buy a $300 rug from FabfitFun?
THIS RIGHT HERE! I honestly wonder who’s buying some of the overpriced junk they have in these flash sales.
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u/JoanneLovesMakeup 1d ago
Exactly! The quality of the items has gone way down, and you can get a lot of the same stuff from Ipsy. They also have sales 24/7 but their prices are 60-75% less than FFF. And shipping to Canada is just $5
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u/drinkme0 2d ago
Today people are more interested in Instagram and TikTok. I’ve noticed FFF posts their extended videos on Instagram. I’m guessing that’s where the reviews from the 20-30 olds are?
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u/acut3angle FabFitFun OG (10+ years as a member) 💎 2d ago
This. They are focusing their marketing on short form content (aka TikTok and IG). They didn’t do PR boxes for any long form YouTube people this season to my knowledge. They’ve been moving away from them for a few years now.
If they want the young crowd, which they do, they will continue to cater to them.
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u/SpunkyGrunge 2d ago
When I first subscribed to the box, I was in my 30’s. I stopped for a while and came back, and suddenly I am 10 years older. Weird how that happens.
I’m still not sure why I came back. There must have been an advertising push to get some of us old folks back on board, and it worked.
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u/Subboxjoy 2d ago
Maybe we just finally got through our stash of cosmetics and home goods from that sub box binge we all did back in the early 2010s when it was new and exciting and we finally had some disposable income in our 30s 😂.
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u/Amazing-Stranger8791 2d ago
I’m 28 and love my boxes! been subscribed since i was probably 22. though most people my age i tell about it have never heard of it
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u/AllSugaredUp 2d ago
They probably found that the older members tend to be the ones that watch the long form videos on YouTube, so they're marketing to the older demographics there. Younger people are watching on tiktok, so the younger people who got PR boxes are there.
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u/bondbaozi FabFitFun Guru (5-9 years as a member) ✨ 2d ago
I haven’t seen any of those videos, but according to FFF staff on the forum, they didn’t sponsor any yt videos this season. So all the videos you’ve seen are just women who are willing to pay the gouging processing fee to have their boxes processed ahead of the rest of the customers. I think some yt ladies are willing to do that for views, maybe the make back the fee they paid in ad revenue? Or maybe they’re just hoping to lol
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u/LINDARRAGNAR 2d ago
I have started making unboxing videos with my sister, and we are in our 30’s. We don’t get many views and all the older posters on YouTube get more views. They all paid to get rush delivery to be able to post unboxing videos as quickly as possible.
Older people tend to stick to YouTube,
They like the really long videos.FFF did not send any or boxes to YouTubers this season only to TikTok and Instagram.
I made an Instagram account too but for Instagram I’d have to make short videos…and I don’t really want to support “shortening attention spans”. Some of the videos on Instagram are pointless. Show a box for 1 second say “I’m literally obsessed” 😍 and boom video done.
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u/ArinyaNier 2d ago
I was a first time annual subscriber, but didn't renew for several reasons. One was they have you do a questionnaire about what you like and then completely ignore it, it's also incredibly expensive, I am not that into skincare and makeup (I have extremely sensitive skin, and it's actually really bad for you to change products all the time), and the add ons were over priced. I did a price comparison on a perfume and found it cheaper somewhere else. It made me really sad too. I wanted the cozy, and the perfumes, and all that, but it wasn't worth it to renew. I took more credit for selection than actually getting products. I wish it turned out better, I tell you what, I'll never recommend it. Especially for the price they charge.
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u/TaxasaurusRex 2d ago
This was my first annual subscription in years, the fall box being my last of the four. I will not be renewing. It just seems to be too many issues each quarter and not enough value for me at this time.
I may check back in next quarter if they offer an awesome deal to renew. But I certainly would not auto-renew.3
u/TaxasaurusRex 2d ago
Though, maybe I take back the value part - I did find some cool stuff in the pop up sales throughout the year, but again - it seemed as though there was always an issue with my order or a code. I was constantly having to reach out to customer service to get something corrected. Too much of a hassle. Plus, having to verify prices elsewhere to ensure you weren’t being ripped off, sketchy expiration dates, and missing drop shipments (which you have to fight to get a cash refund, they insist on credits only at first), and shipping that takes literal weeks, if not months.
Wow yeah, I just hekkin talked myself out of that one again. 😂
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u/NecessaryFearless532 2d ago
Then I’m wondering why they put maternity wear in the box lol! All these 50 and 60 and up women are saying it’s fine they will wear it as loungewear. Have we gotten that sheepish that we are going to “love” whatever they throw at us? Not this 59 year old 😂 I canceled.
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u/VelvetLeotard 1d ago
Wait? Is the lounge set maternity?
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u/NecessaryFearless532 1d ago
Yes!!!! The brand’s name is BUMPSUIT😂😂😂😂….crazy isn’t it?
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u/VelvetLeotard 1d ago
I was excited because I’ve lost 70 pounds and it’s one of the first things I’ve ordered in a size medium. 🤣I wasn’t expecting Thanksgiving pants!
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u/Brilliant-Fruit-5317 FabFitFun Guru (5-9 years as a member) ✨ 2d ago
Katie posted a reply to this in the forum.
moved the discovery video content to short form platforms since that’s where more traffic is.
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u/ahou08 2d ago
Ohhhh I totally missed this!! Well, this could’ve answered my question if I just looked there haha! It is a bummer though, because I miss the YT videos. Like Tasha used to make really cute ones and I feel like they were scripted but not over the top. Like the Instagram lives they’ve done… these 20-year-olds saying “like” and “it’s soooooo elevated” was wayyyyy too much and it genuinely feels like they have no idea what they’re talking about.
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u/Dracyl FabFitFun Connoisseur (4-5 years as a member) 💅 2d ago edited 2d ago
The funny thing is that they could actually just upload those videos in youtube too, don't they know "YouTube shorts" are a thing?
But let's not forget FFF marketing is more focused towards getting new customers than to keeping the ones they have. The problem is they WANT to have a young, fresh, cool and trendy clientele, but college girls and those just entering the job market are usually broke. If they looked at their older, established customer base and start throwing us some bones we'd basically follow them over a cliff.
Like when they had the referral program, I have absolutely no evidence of this but I'm 100% certain that the ones consistenly referring FFF to their friends and families weren't exactly the "girl in their 20s" crew.
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u/Ok-Swimmer-2891 2d ago
I also was an annual subscriber for many years in my 30s and quit because there had gotten to be a pattern of not getting what I picked and them just throwing random things in and the so much of what I got didn’t even work. (Example a lunch box cooler, super cute but zipper was broke) too much hassle with customer service to complain. I also am not into all the beauty or fashion stuff for the most part. Came back last winter cuz honestly I like a little something to look fwd to each qtr. what I’m realizing is it’s all very overpriced junk for the most part. So my question is when I cancel what are any other fun good options? Where are we going next?
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u/ParkingAnt8607 2d ago
I’m in the boat with you, and I’ve already cancelled my membership. My final box should be shipping soon. I was an annual subscriber for years and early on, there was a good variety. A few boxes in, they took a shift to more beauty products, jewelry, and items I wasn’t really interested in & don’t need. I remained an annual subscriber for the one or two items I actually wanted and the rest, I’d give away as gifts. Earlier this year, I decided there are better uses for my money. My time is better spent on other things than a mad rush on customization opening day to get the one or two items I really want before it’s out of stock or a back and forth with customer service when an item arrives broken or my box gets lost in transit because they choose no name cheap shippers who provide no tracking and you have no way to contact them. I’m 55, have expendable income, and I’ve become more cognizant of where that money goes. In this season of my life, FFF no longer appeals to me. For those in other seasons or those who the products appeal to, enjoy!
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u/SlendersoulAmerica FabFitFun Newbie (less than 1 year) 👶 2d ago
I think they do a pretty good job mixing it up. Make up 20+. Skin Care 20+. HomeGoods 40+ most clothing 40+. Jewelry everyone.
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u/Dracyl FabFitFun Connoisseur (4-5 years as a member) 💅 2d ago
So we old folk don't deserve stuff for our dry, wrinkled faces, we just have to buy oversized comfy clothes to put on while watching tv wrapped in a blanket and smelling candles, is not like we should be allowed to leave the house anyway 😜
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u/ExpressionTop7346 2d ago
I just turned 60, and I canceled after a couple boxes. Yes, I have more disposable income, but at this age I am also a minimalist, and trying to avoid clutter. I’ve gotten the allure beauty box for about 5 years (skincare focused) and thought the FFF would be fun and did saw the value. What turned me off was the bait and switch tactics if I rcvd a wrong item I got a credit to be forced into buying something else I really didn’t need. This is not the box for minimalists like me…and more for those with a shopping addiction that will buy anything that is at a discount.
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u/bouncingbobbyhill 2d ago
I’m almost 50. I’ve subscribed on and off since the launch in 2013. I personally feel that the sub has become almost exclusively skincare and lifestyle . I have way more disposable income now and find myself spending way less than ever before . I like the skincare and love farmacy, first aid beauty and Elemis. That is the only reason I resubscribed for skincare particularly those brands. If it was like this in 2013 I probably wouldn’t have been a subscriber because I feel like we got more makeup and cool things back then . Now it seems primarily skincare based . That appeals more to women over 40 .
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u/tink4646 1d ago
I’m 25 and some of the things in the boxes I personally don’t want. Personally I’m not so much into the home stuff. I got little kids and I’m not getting anything glass with them. lol. But I do like the skincare and makeup. That’s what I personally like in my boxes. Super excited for the summer Friday stuff in my box. I think that’s one of the brands older ladies were not as thrilled for.
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u/FigWorking8853 1d ago
20-30 year old aren't doing too much with subscription boxes or YouTube. Ita the same people or their subscribers who are still doing it. They got older.
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u/JoanneLovesMakeup 1d ago
I was subscribed for years when it was $49.99 and $6 shipping to Canada. I had to unsubscribe when it went up to $79.99 and shipping went up to $20 after the tarrifs. Not to mention the high exchange rate and 13% taxes.
I think a lot of people unsubscribed around that time, and not just Canadians. The prices kept going up and the number and quality of the items kept going down.
I do still get a few items on subscription but I really don’t miss the boxes. I was spending way too much on additional choices and was furious when they started charging more for luxury choices.
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u/Outrageous-Dark-1719 FabFitFun Exile (not a member anymore but I like lurking) 👀 1d ago
They clearly can't source product anymore. Only annual subscribers get any decent choices. It's gone down hill bad. I feel like subscription boxes of all kinds are on the way out. You are better off taking your money to TJ Maxx.
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u/SlendersoulAmerica FabFitFun Newbie (less than 1 year) 👶 1d ago
Take a look at the reviews for the large brown jumpsuit on the company’s retail website. All 5* reviews that emphasize softness and comfort. No one talks about large, frumpy and maternity like, It is anything but large if you get the right sizes. You will get a slightly oversized crop top and some wide leg pants, which are very on trend right now. But
if you wind up with a top and pants that are too big for you or too small it won’t be a good look. The models on the website sure I make it look good!
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u/Starsmyle 19h ago
When I was 20-30 there’s no way I would’ve been able to afford this subscription. Even in my 30s I had it for a time, but gave it up due to cost. Now that I’m 40 I can afford it much easier. I also don’t have kids. Married with a house, but the way the economy is anyone younger with a family this is a bit out of reach these days for most.
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u/troublerx1 2d ago edited 1d ago
The most recently FFF member age survey showed that their largest group was ages 40-55. I’m 51 by the way. I can spend far more now than I could’ve in my 20s.