I broke my own rule...

I've had good and bad experiences with mystery boxes. The last one was from an online store also and was very disappointing. I got a wooden decor piece that I would never have purchased, a bunch of ugly dies and some mismatched paper. I decided not to buy any more mystery boxes after that. I'd rather pick out what I want then get a deal on a bunch of crap.

midorica, first (((hugs))) to you. Try if you can to look at it as a donation to a good cause. If it makes you feel better (and I totally did this) just take the stuff to your closest thrift store and get it away from you. Double donation.

I have been burned twice. The first was with a no-name company that offered a mystery box, mostly for card making. It was beyond belief horrible. The stamps were so old that when I tried to take them off the backing, they ripped in half. Everything was years and years old. I donated that whole box.

The second was actually from Ranger. I was SO BUMMED. I got all this chunky glitter, like more glitter than anyone could use in a lifetime. Donated that. I got some stickles and those were okay-ish, but a lot of people had gotten ink or cool TH stamps in their boxes and I didn't get any of those. Just glitter.

Anyway, I am sorry that was so disappointing. At least with Ranger all my stuff was new.

I'd be upset about it, too. Very disappointing.
I'm always tempted when I see good unboxing videos but I can never get myself to take a chance. I've tried Freckled Fawn $5 grab bags and was disappointed when I got smashed puffy stickers and other cheesy embellishments that I wouldn't use. So it was a small price to pay to learn a lesson. I'm sorry it was a bigger price for you.

I would probably email them and let them know my stuff seemed used and not at all what you expected. Let them know you are glad the money went for a charity you support, but that what they sent was really unacceptable.

If they get away with it then the next charity will have very wary customers likely choosing to give it a pass and just donate directly to their chosen causes.

4 words - Studio Calico warehouse sale

So awful!

Okay this is a little different, but funny.
We have a group that scrapbooks once a month at a local school. Once a year we would do a holiday party and get donations from local businesses and do a raffle (money went to the school's PTO). We had a craft store in town that was part of a small chain (Or, WA) that had always donated some great stuff. Well Hobby Lobby came to town and this store went decided to close - so the year they were going out of business they asked if we wanted some of their mystery bags they were selling for $5 (gift bags the size of a paper lunch bag folded and stapled so you couldn't see in). Sounded good. So we did a raffle (bought tickets put them in cups in front of the bags). OMG it was most bizarre thing. Someone got a bag that had glue sticks and some used ribbon. I got one that had used paint - so used there was only a drip left and a used stamp shamy (almost black). There was one that had office supplies - like someone dumped the contents of a desk drawer. Not one was "good". And If I would have paid $5 for any of them I would have been mad. But the money went to the school so a good cause and all. We still joke about it though. So weird.

I was thinking the same thing.  You're a good sport and a very kind person for seeing the donation as the main reason for buying that mystery box.  I also think you are more than justified in being disappointed and feeling cheated in some way.  Their description was very misleading.  I'd send the email.

Another little knowledge bump on the road of life. At 81, I'm sorry to say there'll be more, so drive carefully.

I've always thought that mystery boxes and grab bags, were the unsold products and junk that a company was selling in the form of mystery box or grab bag, as a last effort at collecting some revenue for the unwanted junk so it's less of a financial loss for the company.

I would never purchase a mystery bag, for this above reason. I rather use the funds to purchase items that I want.

Years ago, I used to buy the Outlines Rubber Stamps grab bags at the expos. They were filled with unmounted stamps. I was never disappointed, and there were always a lot of brand new, unused stamps that I liked. I still have them. I gave away the ones I knew I wouldn't use, but there were only a few. None of them were used or damaged. Also, I never spend more than $10 on a "surprise" anything.

I'm guessing if the stores don't sell these items through grab bags then they donate them as prizes at crops...

I've received some really awful crop prizes! Like the 4x4 album by a designer that's no longer in business, which didn't even include pages to fit! and the odd shaped xyron tape without the xyron machine!

I have also won some really nice crop prizes and really appreciate those companies that are almost always consistently generous.

Awww that stinks. I've had it happen a couple times. SC and an Echo Park box once.

Usually EP boxes are awesome but I think they packed mine very last and dumped all the leftovers. 🙄

I’ve never been brave enough to order mystery anything😂. I could maybe be tempted from somewhere like Elle’s Studio, or Felicity Jane, brands that I really like, and don’t own much from. Even then, I’d rather just spend the money on a sure bet. Sorry you had a bad experience, that’s crummy!

My worst box was a prize box from Paper Crafts Magazine. I applied to their card makers of the year and was a runner up (an editor actually FB messaged me to tell me that I lost 3-2 in a tie breaker for a top spot but was awarded runner up instead). The winners received $600+ in brand new, awesome products. Runners up were supposed to receive a mystery prize box and I couldn’t wait to receive my box! I was hoping for a few new stamp sets or new inks… not as cool as the grand prize but still nice products.

My box was full of years old products, random weird theme products, and just junk. I kept one older Echo Park collection pack and donated the rest. I was so, so disappointed. I missed the grand prize by one vote and received a box of outdated, unusable products. I remember I received the no longer supported Stampin’ Up! digital software. :/

The Studio Calico Mega Sale was pretty bad, too. What’s worse is I convinced my mom to get a box and her box was 10x worse than my box! I received some products that had value (like the AE DD kit I received, a few stamp sets, and an album). My mom received 50+ of the same 4x6 PL card and random crap. Instead of receiving $200+ in value, hers was less than $35. It was sooooo bad.