Thoughts on Scentbird

[Steve Chan]

Hi all!

 

We were recently presented with a sponsorship opportunity with Scentbird. They provide monthly subscription boxes to different scents (colognes, perfumes, etc.) based on the user's preferences.

 

Wanted to see if anyone had any experience or tried their service. Personally, I've always wanted to try them out, but just never got around to making an order.

 

*Please note that our team does our own research and testing around vetting sponsor products and services. However, we've found that soliciting feedback from the community can sometimes add something new to the conversation that we weren't aware of*

[Middcore]

I don't want to stereotype too hard but I cannot imagine this being a product that a significant portion of the LTT audience would be interested in.

[Erioch]

4 hours ago, Middcore said:

I don't want to stereotype too hard but I cannot imagine this being a product that a significant portion of the LTT audience would be interested in.

Do they offer "gamer scent"?

[ToboRobot]

15 hours ago, Middcore said:

I don't want to stereotype too hard but I cannot imagine this being a product that a significant portion of the LTT audience would be interested in.

Just because most gamers aren't the target audience, doesn't mean marketing to that audience is pointless.

Gamers are not all grown in test tubes, and most have mothers, some have wives or girl or boyfriends who like nice scents, and it's a good gift. etc.

Marketing isn't always direct.

[ImNiightt]

I'm not super encouraged on first glance. Trustpilot's average score is 3.1 and on Facebook it's even worse at 2.7.

 

Trustpilot seems to mention a recurring trend of subscriptions being difficult to cancel (which LMG has been very vocal about in the past with this practice not being okay - it would appear your required to email them and then they send over a link?), poor response times with customer service and refusing to refund where a parcel wasn't received.

 

In comparison to some of their competitors, it seems like there's certainly better out there and they've got a bit of learning to do. I would probably pass if I were looking for such a service. Too many red flags.

[kirashi]

As someone who reacts poorly to artificial (or overly strong natural) scents, I could only get behind this so long as LMG does not encourage the use of these scents in public places where people who also react poorly may be present.

 

In fact, the marketing should include a disclaimer about being cognizant of your surroundings so as to not be a detriment to the well-being of people around you. Enjoy whatever makes your life happy, so long as it doesn't detract from the lives of those around you.

 

LMG often includes disclaimers for epilepsy in some videos, so there's no excuse to not include a disclaimer for scented products, especially if it's something they're receiving payment to feature on their content.

 

EDIT: @Steve Chan please get clarification on Scentbird's cancellation process.

• Their support article indicates the only way to cancel is by contacting their support team.
• Reddit posts seem to indicate the cancellation process is more difficult than it should be.

If this is true, it reflects poorly on ANY company accepting Scentbird as a sponsor.

• Additionally, making subscriptions difficult to cancel may violate FTC regulations.

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/05/click-cancel-we-want-hear-you

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/12/ftc-hold-virtual-informal-hearing-january-2024-part-its-review-proposed-click-cancel-rulemaking

https://gizmodo.com/cancel-subscription-ftc-click-to-cancel-pushback-1850615222

https://www.wsj.com/articles/publishers-and-advertisers-push-back-at-ftcs-click-to-cancel-proposal-de96960b

 

https://scentbird.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004536388-How-do-I-cancel-my-subscription-

Quote

How do I cancel my subscription?
All of our subscription plans automatically renew (with the exception of gift subscriptions). To avoid subscription renewal, be sure to cancel your subscription no later than one day prior to your scheduled billing date. Your billing date can be found either in your Scentbird profile here. In the event your subscription is canceled after your scheduled billing date, your cancellation will ensure you aren't billed again in the future.

 

To cancel your membership, please contact our Customer Experience team here. Once your subscription has been canceled, you will receive an email confirming your subscription's cancellation.

 

Please note that 3, 6, or 12-month subscription plans (with term commitment) cannot be canceled mid-term. If you wish to downgrade your plan back to a month-to-month plan or stop automatic renewal of your multi-month plan, simply reach out to our Customer Experience team to let us know. We're here to help with that!

https://www.reddit.com/r/scentbird/search/?q=cancel&sort=new&restrict_sr=on&t=all

 

[kirashi]

26 minutes ago, htimsenyawed said:

That might be outdated information. When my woman cancelled her subscription, it was in her account page under - I think, "Payments & Subscription" heading.

I am hoping it is outdated, however, given Scentbird's own FAQ article says you have to contact them, I want confirmation from Scentbird.

[Skipple]

2 hours ago, kirashi said:

I could only get behind this so long as LMG does not encourage the use of these scents in public places where people who also react poorly may be present.

 

In fact, the marketing should include a disclaimer about being cognizant of your surroundings so as to not be a detriment to the well-being of people around you. Enjoy whatever makes your life happy, so long as it doesn't detract from the lives of those around you.

This is ridiculous. 

[Skipple]

9 hours ago, htimsenyawed said:

I never imagined someone being triggered by people wearing cologne, but here we are.

I mean, I can understand how people are sensitive to cologne or scents in general. The dude walking down the hall wearing too much Old Spice can give me a headache sometimes too. Sometimes my wife lighting a certain candle can get to me.

 

But asking LMG to educate or warn their audience against cologne in public spaces during a cologne sponsored segment is actually idiotic.

[aisle9]

So on the one hand, I'm not within the target market for Scentbird.

 

On the other, I know someone who is, and she hates them with a fiery burning passion. I remember her saying that it took "a goddamned act of Congress" to get her subscription cancelled. So there's some secondhand feedback from someone who I consider to be trustworthy and of good moral character.

 

On a third hand, lots of ASMR women end up sponsored by Scentbird, and the thought of Linus himself doing a 60-second ASMR girl spot about subscription perfume is just all the lulz.

 

DO IT.

[Poinkachu]

On 12/21/2023 at 4:50 AM, Middcore said:

I don't want to stereotype too hard but I cannot imagine this being a product that a significant portion of the LTT audience would be interested in.

Who knows, they might make a steamdeck fume smell soon.

 

And maybe a melted/burning 4090 12VHPWR connector smell.

[aisle9]

5 hours ago, Poinkachu said:

Who knows, they might make a steamdeck fume smell soon.

 

And maybe a melted/burning 4090 12VHPWR connector smell.

Eau de Cablemod?

 

It's pronounced French, so say it like "Oh day Cab-leh-mod"

[Poinkachu]

1 minute ago, aisle9 said:

Eau de Cablemod?

 

It's pronounced French, so say it like "Oh day Cab-leh-mod"

Well, to be fair, before cablemod there was nvidia's own connector.

[aisle9]

Just now, Poinkachu said:

Well, to be fair, before cablemod there was nvidia's own connector.

It's almost like they're trying to shove too much power through that tiny piece of plastic.

[Lightwreather]

4 hours ago, aisle9 said:

"Oh day Cab-leh-mod"

Pretentious Pedantry: "Ugh the Cah-b ugh l-mo" (mo is like the stereotypical French hon-hon-hon, but with m)

[dizmo]

While I don't think their service is great in terms of value, and I don't think they'd gain a ton of business from the ad campaign...I don't see why it's an issue to take the money they're offering. Someone might find more value in it.

 

On 12/20/2023 at 11:06 AM, htimsenyawed said:

Not personally, but my woman used it for 3 months. She went through and done the sample questions, asking what her favorite scents were and things like that. Then every month they sent the total opposite (and frankly old lady) smells to her. She cancelled that after realizing they don't take the users preferences into account.

How long did she use it for? My gf had pretty good success, but with something like this not every scent is going to be for every person. You'll never get a 100% enjoyment rate.

On 12/20/2023 at 1:50 PM, Middcore said:

I don't want to stereotype too hard but I cannot imagine this being a product that a significant portion of the LTT audience would be interested in.

There's lots of people that wouldn't mind getting some new cologne. This is a decent way to check out scents if you only sub for a few months. Beats buying bottles and trying it out that way.

 

Also, I don't think it really matters...

On 12/21/2023 at 3:54 PM, kirashi said:

As someone who reacts poorly to artificial (or overly strong natural) scents, I could only get behind this so long as LMG does not encourage the use of these scents in public places where people who also react poorly may be present.

 

In fact, the marketing should include a disclaimer about being cognizant of your surroundings so as to not be a detriment to the well-being of people around you. Enjoy whatever makes your life happy, so long as it doesn't detract from the lives of those around you.

 

LMG often includes disclaimers for epilepsy in some videos, so there's no excuse to not include a disclaimer for scented products, especially if it's something they're receiving payment to feature on their content.

 

EDIT: @Steve Chan please get clarification on Scentbird's cancellation process.

• Their support article indicates the only way to cancel is by contacting their support team.
• Reddit posts seem to indicate the cancellation process is more difficult than it should be.

If this is true, it reflects poorly on ANY company accepting Scentbird as a sponsor.

• Additionally, making subscriptions difficult to cancel may violate FTC regulations.

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/05/click-cancel-we-want-hear-you

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/12/ftc-hold-virtual-informal-hearing-january-2024-part-its-review-proposed-click-cancel-rulemaking

https://gizmodo.com/cancel-subscription-ftc-click-to-cancel-pushback-1850615222

https://www.wsj.com/articles/publishers-and-advertisers-push-back-at-ftcs-click-to-cancel-proposal-de96960b

 

https://scentbird.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004536388-How-do-I-cancel-my-subscription-

https://www.reddit.com/r/scentbird/search/?q=cancel&sort=new&restrict_sr=on&t=all

 

Hmmm I agree with most of what you said about the company, but putting a warning about not using it in public spaces is...a bit much.

I can totally sympathize about how scents can affect you like that, however the masses shouldn't be restricted by very small fractions of the population.

It's kind of like saying people shouldn't eat peanut butter in public.

 

The FTC stuff you linked seems to be for future hearings. Not really relevant to anything before that.

 

At least their cancellation system is easier than Amazons

On 12/21/2023 at 9:38 PM, aisle9 said:

So on the one hand, I'm not within the target market for Scentbird.

 

On the other, I know someone who is, and she hates them with a fiery burning passion. I remember her saying that it took "a goddamned act of Congress" to get her subscription cancelled. So there's some secondhand feedback from someone who I consider to be trustworthy and of good moral character.

 

On a third hand, lots of ASMR women end up sponsored by Scentbird, and the thought of Linus himself doing a 60-second ASMR girl spot about subscription perfume is just all the lulz.

 

DO IT.

I think it depends on the CS rep you get...same as most places. My GF didn't realize she was still subscribed, and they gave her a full refund. Granted this was before they shipped the product, so if someone's trying to cancel after they shipped the product, well it's just common sense that they'd be SOL.

[Spotty]

Went to the website. First thing I see is a fake limited time special offer countdown. Closing the page and opening it again in incognito mode resets the countdown to 20 minutes. Go through to the order page and it's showing the same fake limited time offer countdown but now it's counting down in deciseconds (seriously?)

When the countdown reaches 0 it simply removes the "Deal ends in" countdown element from the page but the same offer still shows.

 

 

 

 

These fake countdowns are used to trick prospective customers in to a false sense of urgency to push people to purchase on impulse without properly considering what they're subscribing to. If you need to rush customers to sign up before they think about it for a few minutes then it's probably a bad deal. I know LMG has taken issues with sponsors misleading customers with these fake countdowns in the past (cough Nord cough).

 

Using misleading pressure sales tactics along with the complaints about how difficult it is to cancel the subscription are pretty big red flags for me and gives me the impression that they're probably a pretty scummy company that I wouldn't buy from.