Subscription not a surprise?

powerful_Rogue

theoretica said:

Have you asked them for a pro-rata refund and cancellation as their business model has changed and they are no longer providing what you bought? 

The OP is being provided with what they bought, unless the T&C's specifically state that the surprise item will only be revealed when they open the package. As already pointed out, the OP does not know what the surprise is until it's been posted on social media, so it's still a surprise.

TinyPomegranate

powerful_Rogue said:

The OP is being provided with what they bought, unless the T&C's specifically state that the surprise item will only be revealed when they open the package. As already pointed out, the OP does not know what the surprise is until it's been posted on social media, so it's still a surprise.

I would draw a parallel with - if Netflix or Audible started posting all the endings of their films/books in the synopses, would that be acceptable or would that count as ruining part of the experience of what you joined up for? It doesn't necessarily say that Netflix will remain spoiler-free, but there is an inherent expectation that the company itself won't post endings, at least of new content, so that you get to watch the film and be surprised at the ending. I'm genuinely asking the question, would that be acceptable if they did that from a consumer rights perspective?

In answer to your point, the T&Cs do state "a surprise sewing project direct to your door". I don't know how reasonable my expectation is that they won't spoil the contents until after delivery, except it says "surprise" in all their advertising, including small print. I sense some people feel I'm being petty, and maybe I am, but the surprise element is literally the reason why I joined the subsccription. I'm buying the experience as well as the physical materials. My question and reason for posting here is, I'm not sure how reasonable it is to either ask for my subscription to be cut short or ask for another remedy (such as they keep my money and post me out something different). They are a good company and I like using local business.

pinkshoes said:

Block them on social media?
I subscribe to BakedIn and love the surprise element. No one is allowed to post spoilers until a week after it is sent out!

This is interesting - what would happen if BakedIn suddenly changed their strategy and posted spoilers? Would you feel you should be allowed to cancel your subscription without penalty? Or would you block them and lose out on all their content (including perhaps tutorials etc for your delivered goods)? I could block them, but I'd prefer it if they just kept the parcels a surprise like they advertise.

powerful_Rogue

TinyPomegranate said:

powerful_Rogue said:

The OP is being provided with what they bought, unless the T&C's specifically state that the surprise item will only be revealed when they open the package. As already pointed out, the OP does not know what the surprise is until it's been posted on social media, so it's still a surprise.

I would draw a parallel with - if Netflix or Audible started posting all the endings of their films/books in the synopses, would that be acceptable or would that count as ruining part of the experience of what you joined up for? It doesn't necessarily say that Netflix will remain spoiler-free, but there is an inherent expectation that the company itself won't post endings, at least of new content, so that you get to watch the film and be surprised at the ending. I'm genuinely asking the question, would that be acceptable if they did that from a consumer rights perspective?

In answer to your point, the T&Cs do state "a surprise sewing project direct to your door". I don't know how reasonable my expectation is that they won't spoil the contents until after delivery, except it says "surprise" in all their advertising, including small print. I sense some people feel I'm being petty, and maybe I am, but the surprise element is literally the reason why I joined the subsccription. I'm buying the experience as well as the physical materials. My question and reason for posting here is, I'm not sure how reasonable it is to either ask for my subscription to be cut short or ask for another remedy (such as they keep my money and post me out something different). They are a good company and I like using local business.

pinkshoes said:

Block them on social media?
I subscribe to BakedIn and love the surprise element. No one is allowed to post spoilers until a week after it is sent out!

This is interesting - what would happen if BakedIn suddenly changed their strategy and posted spoilers? Would you feel you should be allowed to cancel your subscription without penalty? Or would you block them and lose out on all their content (including perhaps tutorials etc for your delivered goods)? I could block them, but I'd prefer it if they just kept the parcels a surprise like they advertise.

Your netflix comparison really doesn't work im afraid.

All you can do is ask them, if they say no and you think you have a case, send them a LBA and take them to the small claims court. I personally don't think you have a case at all, however some might disagree.

What's the name of the site so we can have a look at the T&C's?

Olinda99

The item is still a surprise. They don't call you up or write you a letter or send you a text telling you what's coming thus spoiling it - you don't know until you get it.

What you are doing is outside of the agreement - you are going elsewhere (social media) which was not part of the original contract. If you choose to visit a site where, by your own admission, you know they are telling everyone what is coming then that is your choice.

The Netflix comparison is similar - you could choose to visit numerous sites where the ending of a particular Netflix series is revealed or discussed. If you don't want to know, don't go there.

TinyPomegranate

Olinda99 said:

The item is still a surprise. They don't call you up or write you a letter or send you a text telling you what's coming thus spoiling it - you don't know until you get it.

What you are doing is outside of the agreement - you are going elsewhere (social media) which was not part of the original contract. If you choose to visit a site where, by your own admission, you know they are telling everyone what is coming then that is your choice.

The Netflix comparison is similar - you could choose to visit numerous sites where the ending of a particular Netflix series is revealed or discussed. If you don't want to know, don't go there.

I'm only going to their own social media, where they have tutorials etc for the things they sent me previously (so it's expected that I'll go there as part of the purchase). And they've only recently (2 months) been posting spoilers, it's a new thing they're doing. If I went to a random film page I'd expect to see possible spoilers for something I don't want to know yet, but I wouldn't expect to see spoilers for new episodes in e.g. Netflix's own insta stories.

powerful_Rogue said:

What's the name of the site so we can have a look at the T&C's?

I don't feel like I need to provide that, especially since I said it's a local business. I copy-pasted what the T&Cs said about the surprise element; the rest of the T&Cs relate to their promise to never send out the same project twice, the cut off point for payment each month (for those on a monthly plan) and what to do if there are delivery issues.

I don't want to do LBA etc, I'm not out to demand anything from them. I just wanted to know if it's reasonable to expect they will stick to their advertising that it's a surprise item or if I'd be unreasonable asking them to end my sub or send me an alternative item.

powerful_Rogue

TinyPomegranate said:

Olinda99 said:

The item is still a surprise. They don't call you up or write you a letter or send you a text telling you what's coming thus spoiling it - you don't know until you get it.

What you are doing is outside of the agreement - you are going elsewhere (social media) which was not part of the original contract. If you choose to visit a site where, by your own admission, you know they are telling everyone what is coming then that is your choice.

The Netflix comparison is similar - you could choose to visit numerous sites where the ending of a particular Netflix series is revealed or discussed. If you don't want to know, don't go there.

I'm only going to their own social media, where they have tutorials etc for the things they sent me previously (so it's expected that I'll go there as part of the purchase). And they've only recently (2 months) been posting spoilers, it's a new thing they're doing. If I went to a random film page I'd expect to see possible spoilers for something I don't want to know yet, but I wouldn't expect to see spoilers for new episodes in e.g. Netflix's own insta stories.

powerful_Rogue said:

What's the name of the site so we can have a look at the T&C's?

I don't feel like I need to provide that, especially since I said it's a local business. I copy-pasted what the T&Cs said about the surprise element; the rest of the T&Cs relate to their promise to never send out the same project twice, the cut off point for payment each month (for those on a monthly plan) and what to do if there are delivery issues.

I don't want to do LBA etc, I'm not out to demand anything from them. I just wanted to know if it's reasonable to expect they will stick to their advertising that it's a surprise item or if I'd be unreasonable asking them to end my sub or send me an alternative item.

Well without seeing the full T&C's/ Website and you not wanting to go down the LBA route, all you've got left is to ask and accept their answer.

TinyPomegranate

powerful_Rogue said:

Well without seeing the full T&C's/ Website and you not wanting to go down the LBA route, all you've got left is to ask and accept their answer.

The T&Cs state "a surprise sewing project direct to your door".

user1977

I think you're reading too much into what "surprise" might mean.

pinkshoes

TinyPomegranate said:

pinkshoes said:

Block them on social media?
I subscribe to BakedIn and love the surprise element. No one is allowed to post spoilers until a week after it is sent out!

This is interesting - what would happen if BakedIn suddenly changed their strategy and posted spoilers? Would you feel you should be allowed to cancel your subscription without penalty? Or would you block them and lose out on all their content (including perhaps tutorials etc for your delivered goods)? I could block them, but I'd prefer it if they just kept the parcels a surprise like they advertise.

I would just not look at their social media page or mute it temporarily until I had my box. I wouldn't cancel.

Sometimes when I've been super busy and haven't had chance to open my box then I just don't look at the online group. We do get an email in advance saying what wet ingredients are needed but not what the bake is.

Social media groups are optional and not part of the contract.

If your contract said it was a surprise and you also had to follow their social media group then that would give you more rights to cancel as then you can easily say the surprise element has gone.

RogerBareford

user1977 said:

I think you're reading too much into what "surprise" might mean.

I think it depends on what the website actually says. If it was this one for example: https://sewingsociety.com/sewing-subscription-box/

https://sewingsociety.com/sewing-subscription-box/ said:

"It’s Fun to Have a Sewing Surprise Delivered Every Month When your monthly sewing subscription box shows up at your door, it’s like Christmas morning. You won’t be able to wait and see what’s inside. Some monthly sewing boxes give you a couple of fabric choices beforehand and others leave it as a complete surprise. I think both ways are fun. You usually don’t know what sewing goodies will be included, though. That’s where the fun comes in!"

So they are very much selling the surprise element and comparing it to opening presents on christmas morning so if they for example spoiled the surprise on social media it would totally go against one of the selling points they are making a big deal about.