BarkBox: April 2013

Finally a post about something other than beauty products, right? I've been wondering lately about BarkBox. Now that Lucy and I don't live very close to a PetSmart, I don't really buy her "new" things very often. I thought this would be a good way to get her new treats and toys and still give me the thrill of my subscription box. BarkBox is a monthly subscription service specifically for dogs. The best part is that 10% of the money you spent on the box goes to animal rescues! You can do a one month recurring subscription at $29 a box, a three month recurring subscription at $23 a box, or a six month subscription at $19 a box. In my opinion, the six month box is the best way to go if you decide it's something you want. It can be cancelled at any time. But you're in luck, if you're interested, use this link to sign up and you'll receive $5 off of your first box! It's a great way to try "just one" box to see if you like what's inside!

Anyhow, I came home yesterday to find my BarkBox. I got my shipping notice around noon, and when I checked it, it was already out for delivery in my area! Talk about a fabulous surprise! 

Inside the box was a little card detailing how the box was curated and why we received the products that we did. "April showers make things tricky for dogs."

On the flip side of the card is a list of the products we received. 

The biggest hit from this box so far is this SafeMade SafeChew Newt. Lucy nearly ripped it out of my hand before I could even get it out of the box to look at it! "Authentic Newt Flavor" -- uh.. okay. It has a little "smell" to it, but it's not too bad.... unless you pick it up and sniff it. Then it totally sucks. Lucy loves this thing!  The card doesn't tell the retail value, so I looked it up for myself. On wag.com, the orange newt seen here sells for $3.99, the red sells for around $9, and the blue sells for $11. I'm not quite sure why there's such a huge price variation.

  

Next up we have the Etta Says! Duck Jerky. I'm not sure if Lucy loves this yet. But I do. What I love about it is that it is Made in the USA from American Farms. I refuse, absolutely refuse, to feed my dog that "Made in China" garbage. This 8oz package retails for around $10.

Lucy girl received two packages of Licks liquid vitamins for Joint & Heart. They also have "Zen" and "Athlete" Licks, too. I've honestly never heard of this. When I went to their website, I found out that each packet is a 2 day supply for a 50 lb dog. Five packets sells for around $14. That makes these two products worth around $5.00. 

This box also contained another Etta Says! product, the Crunch Duck Chew. This came individually packaged, but an 8 oz bag retails for around $9, so I will retail this at about a buck. 

Next up, we have the GroomMitt. There are ten mitts in this package. The package says it's "ideal for big dogs"... struck me as a little odd since I do receive the "small dog" package. Either way, I'm looking forward to getting to use these. When I take Lucy for a walk after it rains, she tends to find all of the muddy puddles I don't want her to find. It'll be nice to have this handy to wipe her down without creating the mess of giving her a bath.  These sell for $9.00 at most pet retailers.

One of the things I love about BarkBox is their commitment to  searching out products made right here in America. These two balls from American Dog Toys sell for around $15. They glow in the dark and they float. So far, Lucy loves them!

Finally, inside the box was a 20% off coupon to Licks and a $10 off your entire purchase on wag.com. My experience with the "$ off" coupons in other subscription boxes is that they usually come with a minimum purchase requirement. Not this one!! I was super stoked to hop on wag.com and find the orange newt that Lucy so loves. I bought 3 -- yea, so. She tears things up rather quickly, and it's nice to have a toy she can't seem to put down! So for $6 ($4.99 shipping), Lucy has a whole newt family.

 

 Seriously, I told you. If my hand had been any closer she would've taken it off.

All in all, I am very satisfied with Lucy's first BarkBox.  This box was worth around $55, so I definitely got my money's worth. I'm a huge fan of American made products, and I'm an even bigger fan of helping the four legged critters! I highly recommend! If you're interested in signing up, make sure you don't forget to get $5 off your first box!! You're welcome!

DISCLAIMER: This product review was not solicited by BarkBox. I am not affiliated with BarkBox or any other subscription service.  This review contains only my honest review of products I purchased.

NOTE: All BarkBox links in this post are referral links.