pv.Body: A follow-up

It finally arrived.

The long-awaited package from pv.Body. It was a sassy pink envelope full of so much angst and frustration.

And an unattractive workout ensemble. It's mostly the top I don't like but the pants don't thrill me either. The top is an Alaskan blue printed Nux number and the bottoms are cropped pants from American Apparel. I tried to find what the retail value was but neither style was available online. Of course, none of that matters. It is going back to pv.Body, and it would have even if it was the cutest outfit on the planet. Even if it had been lululemon.

I detailed my frustrations with the new subscription service in a previous post - ranting about a faulty coupon code and poor customer service. After having things nearly resolved, I'm not sure I feel much better about the situation. I still feel like they are a company that, for lack of a better phrase, doesn't have its shit together.

My case:

The day I posted my blog, I shared the link on pv.Body's website. Within 24 hours, they "liked" it but never followed up. I made a sassy comment that I found it amusing they liked such bad publicity and received no further response.

The day after I posted the blog, I made a follow-up phone call. Miracle of all miracles, someone answered the phone and I told him I wanted a refund. There was nothing he could do to help, I said, because I didn't want to do business with a company that wouldn't respond to complaints. He gave me instructions on how to return the outfit - go to my account, click a few buttons to print a shipping label and indicate that I wanted to return the outfit for a refund.

The day after I talked to a rep, two days after the blog and three days after a phone call, I received a message from a pv.Body rep who was returning my voicemail.

Nearly a week after my emails were sent, I received two generic emails saying that they got backlogged during the holidays. If my coupon was bad and I needed a credit, I should email x person. If I wanted to do something else, there were different instructions.

But I don't want to do anything else. I want to return it and I want a refund. The label has been printed and the envelope dropped in a FedEx box. Now time will tell whether I get what I'm hoping for.

(pv) Body conscious

Warning: Rage induced rant ahead ...

You can't swing a resistance band around the blog world, Twitter and Facebook without getting smacked in the face by pv.Body.

Seemingly the latest incarnation in the subscription fad, pv.Body is a company that hand selects workout ensembles for women based on a questionnaire. The company promises that the outfits they put together are from quality activewear companies, even throwing around the name lululemon, as a result of relationships its built with the manufacturers.

Many of the outfits I've seen from blog reviews - and there are too many to list - have not been lululemon but American Apparel, Nux and Colosseum. I've not worn those brands and can't be sure of their quality but the pieces didn't seem to be anything special. Not the way lululemon pieces are.

Nonetheless, I couldn't help but feel jealous that I didn't have the opportunity to review the service, and I waffled for a good two weeks about whether to join. I tweeted about it, in a shameless, vain effort, to get a free box and took the style survey a number of times. I even put the subscription in the cart before canceling it, deciding that even the discounted rate of $39.95 would be better spent on a race fee.

I should note that during my shameless tweets that I did get responses from the company.

But when I received a coupon code via email for 40 percent off just before Christmas, I decided to bite the proverbial bullet and try it out.

Just one problem: The coupon didn't give me 40 percent off. It gave me 20 percent off - not what I wanted. I had hit order too soon, though, and despite hitting the back button, it went through.

I immediately emailed the company, asking them to cancel the order and refund my card before the outfit was shipped. I explained that the coupon did not come off correctly, and the coupon was the sole reason I was trying it. I got an automated email saying that they were busy but would get to my case. A few hours later, another email came saying that my case had been resolved.

For them.

My card is still charged, an outfit has been shipped and I have had no response from the company now that I'm unhappy and unwilling to try the service. I will admit that the holidays could be causing a delay but I've seen tweets from their account and no response to complaints via twitter nor a followup email. I've since emailed a third time and have received an automatic response that my request will be reviewed. I also called as that's what was instructed on its Facebook page in response to other complaint. No answer. Message left.

As for the outfit? I have yet to receive it - according to FedEx, it's still in California - so I can't attest to its quality. But what I can tell you is buyer beware. Sure, a whole lot of bloggers got to try outfits, made exchanges effortlessly and fell in love ... because it was free and the company was trying to spread the word. Now that the word is out, they either can't handle it or don't want to.

And I'm not cool with that.

Editor's note/disclaimer: I feel like I should mention that while I do like to participate in product reviews and giveaways and I do feel somewhat obligated to do them right, I do my best to be honest and fair. When I feel like I haven't (read: MOTOACTV), I try to revisit the topic and update you.

Fit to be tried: Box it up

With the new year - and its resolutions - rapidly approaching, I'm highlighting some of my favorite fit things of 2012. 

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Think outside the box - it's such a lovely saying, encouraging people to step outside their comfort zones. Yet, this year, it seems everyone wants you to think inside the box. From makeup to food items to (now) workout clothes, monthly "box" subscriptions are available to allow consumers to sample new products or items they wouldn't buy otherwise. 

I was a nearly six-month member of Birchbox, trying out anti-aging serums and living on samples of BB cream for $10 a month, and I would have kept up the subscription if I was a little more into beauty.

What am I into? Well, you probably already know. Food. Health. Fitness. And lo and behold there are boxes for those. I recently had the opportunity to try out two box subscriptions - NatureBox and Bulu Box.

NatureBox. For less than $20 a month, a NatureBox includes 15-20 servings of 4-6 items "curated" by a nutritionist and sourced from local growers and independent food suppliers across the U.S. NatureBox also incorporates recipe ideas to go with the monthly theme. Every snack included is free of high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors.

In my box, I received dried pears, lemon pistachios, granola, pistachio power clusters and masa crackers. I was a bit worried about the sugar content of the items as I was on track with the Healthy Holiday challenge and not consuming any added sugars. The pears, pistachios and crackers, thankfully, were all without added sugar, and the clusters were borderline, using brown rice syrup. 

I found the products to be tasty, and it was nice to try something new. I was particularly fond of the dried pears (addicting) and the pistachio clusters, which fueled a Real Ryder class and holiday shopping. The lemon pistachios were quite lemon but tasty as long as you didn't suck on the shell, and the masa crackers delightfully salty.

I love the idea of the box, especially as I don't have a specialty market near me and thus the exposure to these sorts of items. However, I'm not sure I can justify the box's $20 a month price tag. I already have to get creative to fit in our groceries on $80 a week and taking out $5 a week for snacks that might not last all month seems like a bit of a luxury - especially as I'm not sure you can customize to specific dietary needs. I'd be more inclined to subscribe if it was the packages were smaller or there were fewer choices - with an appropriately smaller price tag.

Bulu Box. Bulu Box is the best way to discover vitamin, supplement and health products. Each box is filled with 4 to 5 premium products selected to help you feel your best. Look forward to a new mix monthly for both women and men that include: vitamins, weight loss, energy, protein, digestion, sleep support and more. It costs $10 a month.

In my box, I received FRS Healthy Energy Chews, Perky Jerky, Almased Synergy Diet, Reserveage Organics CocoaWell dietary supplement and Crystal Essence Mineral Deodorant Towelettes.

To be honest, I'm not sure if I can fairly review it because I don't know what to do with most of it. I'm bothered that the second ingredient on the chews is corn syrup (the first is sugar) and the jerky has sugar. When I responded to the PR agent's email, I thought I'd be getting vitamins and not chews and deodorant towelettes. It does have a nice price tag so I'll give it that.

Of course, the subscription I'm most curious about is one I haven't tried: pv body. One workout ensemble a month for $40, including brands like lululemon. Of course, none of the blog reviews mention getting lululemon, and I can't imagine buying 12 outfits a year. My poor dresser couldn't handle it!