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Cake, bacon and condoms: eight unlikely subscription services Cake, bacon and condoms: eight unlikely subscription services
(2 days later)
Sometimes internet shopping is just too exhausting. All that thinking and clicking and looking – who has the time? If you’re rich enough, there are ways around this exertion. Welcome to the world of subscription shopping.Sometimes internet shopping is just too exhausting. All that thinking and clicking and looking – who has the time? If you’re rich enough, there are ways around this exertion. Welcome to the world of subscription shopping.
Maybe it’s because we live in a self-service culture that leaves us with less time and a bewildering range of choices, but somehow the biggest luxury today seems to be outsourcing our decision-making. Instead of repeat orders of one product, subscription boxes offer “surprises” and new brands, for everything from beauty to bullets. Here are eight you can have chosen for you and delivered to your door.Maybe it’s because we live in a self-service culture that leaves us with less time and a bewildering range of choices, but somehow the biggest luxury today seems to be outsourcing our decision-making. Instead of repeat orders of one product, subscription boxes offer “surprises” and new brands, for everything from beauty to bullets. Here are eight you can have chosen for you and delivered to your door.
Beauty productsBeauty products
Beauty subscription boxes have been around for a few years and are becoming increasingly popular – and it’s easy to see why. For a monthly fee, you get a box of surprise beauty treats, from lip gloss to nail polish. The hope is you will get luxurious new lotions and potions every month; the reality is more likely to be a bathroom cabinet overflowing with sample-sized ointments you never use.Beauty subscription boxes have been around for a few years and are becoming increasingly popular – and it’s easy to see why. For a monthly fee, you get a box of surprise beauty treats, from lip gloss to nail polish. The hope is you will get luxurious new lotions and potions every month; the reality is more likely to be a bathroom cabinet overflowing with sample-sized ointments you never use.
RecordsRecords
Vinyl Me, Please – a service that delivers an album to your door each month – offers the chance to discover new music. But unlike an old-school book subscription club, it also offers limited-edition art prints, themed cocktail recipes and a weekly music magazine – for $27 a month in the US or $44 a month internationally.Vinyl Me, Please – a service that delivers an album to your door each month – offers the chance to discover new music. But unlike an old-school book subscription club, it also offers limited-edition art prints, themed cocktail recipes and a weekly music magazine – for $27 a month in the US or $44 a month internationally.
CakeCake
Once again, the internet has solved a problem no one had. In the unlikely event you get through the day without passing a single coffee or tea shop, for just £24 the Cake Slice Club will deliver a single piece of cake (8cm x 12cm x 2cm, if you’re asking) to your door. Yup, one slice. Once again, the internet has solved a problem no one had. In the unlikely event you get through the day without passing a single coffee or tea shop, for just £24 the Cake Slice Club will deliver a single piece of cake (8cm x 12cm x 2cm, if you’re asking) to your door each month for three months. Yup, three slices.
SocksSocks
Nothing is too mundane for a subscription. Soxiety and the London Sock Company both offer the chance to avoid ever having odd socks again by sending you up to three pairs a month. Very useful if you need a new pair every week or so.Nothing is too mundane for a subscription. Soxiety and the London Sock Company both offer the chance to avoid ever having odd socks again by sending you up to three pairs a month. Very useful if you need a new pair every week or so.
TamponsTampons
If you want to make a big deal of your monthly cycle, there’s a box for that. Or a Pink Parcel, as it’s more coyly known. Along with your usual box of tampons or towels, you get sachets of tea, small bars of chocolate and beauty samples. It costs £9.99 a month (the first box is £5.95). If you don’t know what to do with all your bundles of cash, this seems like a good idea.If you want to make a big deal of your monthly cycle, there’s a box for that. Or a Pink Parcel, as it’s more coyly known. Along with your usual box of tampons or towels, you get sachets of tea, small bars of chocolate and beauty samples. It costs £9.99 a month (the first box is £5.95). If you don’t know what to do with all your bundles of cash, this seems like a good idea.
BaconBacon
From calorie-controlled snack boxes to chocolate lovers’ clubs, food subscriptions have been around a long time, but they are more specialist than ever. If there’s one food you adore, chances are you can get a subscription. Cure and Simple, for example, offers “artisan bacon through your door” every week, fortnight or month, so you can properly pig out.From calorie-controlled snack boxes to chocolate lovers’ clubs, food subscriptions have been around a long time, but they are more specialist than ever. If there’s one food you adore, chances are you can get a subscription. Cure and Simple, for example, offers “artisan bacon through your door” every week, fortnight or month, so you can properly pig out.
Dog turfDog turf
For dogs who turn up their noses at concrete, or live in a flat in the US, you can buy a square of grass as a toilet. The bug-free turf from Fresh Patch can be delivered every week if you need it, and starts at $27.For dogs who turn up their noses at concrete, or live in a flat in the US, you can buy a square of grass as a toilet. The bug-free turf from Fresh Patch can be delivered every week if you need it, and starts at $27.
CondomsCondoms
If you’re too embarrassed at the thought of your pharmacy or supermarket delivery man seeing your contraceptive choices, there’s a subscription that can save your blushes. In the US, there are a rash of subscription condom services with names like Sir Richard’s Collection. Or, y’know, you could just grow up.If you’re too embarrassed at the thought of your pharmacy or supermarket delivery man seeing your contraceptive choices, there’s a subscription that can save your blushes. In the US, there are a rash of subscription condom services with names like Sir Richard’s Collection. Or, y’know, you could just grow up.
• This article was amended on 22 January 2015. An earlier version suggested incorrectly that £24 was the Cake Slice Club’s price for one piece of cake.