Subscription boxes in Canada come in a wide range of prices. The price depends on what is included in the box, what type of membership you have, and the quality of the products. Boutique or interactive boxes may be more costly. For example, an escape room mystery box with interactive elements may cost more than a pet toy box or even a monthly sock subscription.
Basic Cost Factors
For the most part, subscription boxes start at $10. This is usually for the smallest and most basic box. You can expect 2-3 items in the box, but this depends on the type of box it is. A sock subscription box like Spiffy Socks includes a single pair of socks per month, while a sticker subscription box like STICKII’s has 6 or more sticker sheets inside.
Subscription boxes can get expensive, too. Perfume boxes, boutique options, and deluxe boxes can be $50 or more. You’ll get more products on average, and they will be of a higher quality. Options that include kids’ crafts for more than one child can get expensive, but they usually contain up to four of the same activity. Boxes will full-sized lotions, perfumes, and other care products can be more expensive than $50 per month depending on your choices.
Prepay and Commitment Pricing
If you pay for your subscription boxes monthly, you are likely to be paying the most expensive price for your box. When you take advantage of commitment pricing or prepay a few months at a time, the cost is lowered.
For example, a monthly subscription to a box may cost $20 if you pay monthly. If you pay for 3 months at a time, it will be one $54 fee, but you’ll only be paying about $18 per box. This compounds with longer subscription prepay options. If you pay for a year of that same box, you may be paying $12 per box instead.
Of course, prepay options lead to a larger lump-sum payment. However, they may save you money over time if you are committed to getting your subscription box for the length of the prepaid term (usually 3, 6, 9, or 12 months at a time).
Tier Options
Some subscription boxes in Canada offer a single version of their box each month. Others have subscription tiers that allow you to choose more products, bigger boxes, or a more tailored theme each month.
Each tier has a different price and state value. You should choose the one that looks best for you, but also consider the increased cost of any deluxe editions or boxes with more products per month. For example, the Am Happy Soap box offers a box with 1 bar of soap and 1 sample of soap, a box with 2 bars and 1 sample, or a box with 3 bars and 2 samples. The cost inflates with each tier.
Consider whether you will use all of the products in a box each month. For boxes that offer self-care products like soap and lotion, understand that there are expiration dates for these products. If you can’t use them all before they expire, purchasing a larger box may not be the best option.
Value
Each box will have a different stated value, which you can usually find on the website. For example, the TheraCare Self-Care box is $39.99 per month but is said to contain a retail value of up to $200. This value is based on what each item inside the box would retail for if it was sold separately.
However, it can be tricky to watch this value. It’s impossible to take it at face value–not because of dishonest marketing, but because of the availability of such products and what markup the box is factoring in. Also consider that the company can purchase these items in bulk for much less than retail, which is how subscription boxes make a profit.
Value can be a worthwhile way to measure how much you are getting for the cost of your subscription. It’s wise to take it with a grain of salt at the same time.
Shipping Costs
Don’t forget shipping! It’s rare that subscription boxes ship from Canada, so you can expect to pay shipping from the US or UK to your address. Some boxes use your location to calculate shipping, which can get pricey depending on where you live.
Others include a flat-rate shipping fee for Canadian addresses regardless of location. This is the best option if you have to pay shipping. These fees are usually lower than regular shipping would be.
Keep in mind that subscription boxes may be subject to VAT and import fees. Since they are purchased from a US company, you may have to pay additional fees when they arrive. The cost for this can vary wildly (and may not even be needed in some cases). Before you order a subscription box in Canada, consider that you may have to pay even more than the cost of the box and associated shipping.