Should you cancel your subscription? | Cloth & Paper

[@lisab11]

I’m so glad you spoke about this. I felt like too many C&P followers were fearful to speak up and say the very points you mentioned.

[@AngelinePNW]

I appreciated this video. I think ypu’re spot on. I do feel like as a legacy customer that they did us wrong. I also think they’re pushing subscribers to pre-paid and they’re more important than others. Like another commenter said, the paper quality isn’t great imo, tired of sticky notes and imo the pens are pretty mediocre. Quality has decreased and there’s a lot of cheap filler. When you add up the cost, the value is not there. I also don’t like that they delete any and all questions, comments and feedback that could be perceived as negative.m from fb and ig. For me, the only good of it is that I can now skip or cancel at any time without losing the legacy price which was mainly the reason why I kept my sub.

[@Bruntgrits]

Great video. After the April sub box I decided to cancel my subscription. To be honest, I'm not really moved or inspired by many of the items. There are usually three to four that don't fit into my planning objectives and I give them away.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

Thank you! And yep completely understandable! Im hoping to see an improvement with the new subscription for sure!

[@jennifergillin6843]

I agree with a lot of your points. These sub boxes are pricey gifts we give to ourselves, and to pay $200 more for things we may not use or where we question the quality is challenging. I've spent a lot of money with CP in support of black owned as well. I also think they have great customer service and excellent paper quality for their inserts. My frustration is the inconsistency in the colors or shade grouping from product to product. There was also some confusion around the penspiration add on because they were getting non-pen items, so I could never tell if I wanted to add that or not. In the past year, there has been 1 box a quarter that I have been excited about. I know I want the olive bag, new stickers, new sticky notes, and paper clips for April. So, that box is high value for me. Yet, I'm not confident that the following boxes consistent in providing items we want. I would have been upset with March's box. I could use the photo corners, but that's about it. I don't like the monthly workshops are only for the higher subscriptions, but I understand it as a business decision. I do like that they transitioned from the beige CP bags to other options. I would like to see maybe some options for personalization in future boxes. Maybe, we could pick between 2 color options or something along that line. I am hopeful, but I am instituting a rule that if there aren't at least 2 -3 items I see myself using, then I need to skip a box or cancel.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

Jennifer these are such great ideas - especially giving us the option to personalize boxes. And I agree - for the price I want to feel like even though we don't know what we get, that it will more likely than not be something that I can use at some point in my planning system. I'm also glad they seem to have moved on from the drawstring bags. If the Olive bag in April is a hint to upcoming months, then I'm already sold lol, but we'll see 🥰

[@zuria07]

I subscribed a few years ago but found that I’d rather spend that money doing a haul once or twice a year and getting exactly what I wanted. I still have inserts from the sub that I don’t use because I’m a very simple planner and I don’t need lots of very specific inserts. I think the November box is a great value, but not being able to choose a Sunday start was a dealbreaker for me.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

That's a really good strategy - especially because most of the most popular items in the sub box ends up on the website! And since both Sunday and Monday starts are offered in the spiral planner on the site, maybe this year they will give subscribers an option?...we'll see I suppose! 😊

[@SeasonsbySomer]

What a great video!!! Easy to digest! I’m going to continue my subscription but plan to do the 6 month subscription to try to minimize cost!

[@ThePlannerAisle]

❤ Thanks so much! That $10 a month really adds up 😊

[@karenreneemarshall2006]

Just want to say Thank You. This video is great. I am so in tune to your candor.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

Aw thanks Karen! I appreciate it ❤

[@MzAbstractMind]

That’s a big increase for the items I saw ppl unboxing lately 😳. However, every company is increasing prices, including $1 tree 😩 I am curious to see what they offer to ppl who like sub boxes🤔

[@ThePlannerAisle]

I know, literally everything is increasing it's unfortunate. I just hope they continue to listen to feedback and continue upping their quality so the value is more in line with the price.

[@tanyajones5471]

Great video! Your review is on point. Love C & P and other minimal style planner shops. I currently subscribe month to month and for now I will continue. Still on the fence on quarterly or 6 months. Items I do not use or don’t fit into my functional planning routines I repurpose or share with friends. So glad I found your channel today.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

🥰 Thanks so much Tanya!

[@FIERCE50PLUS]

I am so happy I found your channel!! New subbie here! Great video. I enjoy C&P but was bummed when I heard about the changes. I am going to continue my subscription for the time being and will reevaluate around the summer. Than you for such an in depth video.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

❤Thank you so much, I appreciate it 😊

[@karenmyrie6215]

I agree with many of your points. I usually love the sticky notes. I mainly use fountain pens or high-end rollerball pens. The C&P pens do NOT usually meet my needs. I missed the deadline to skip the March box, so I'm gifting most of the contents to others. Aside from the green pouch, not really WOWed by April, so may skip that too. I love supporting small and/or M/WBE, but have to $upport me first.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

❤Hi Karen! I totally understand! I should probably play around with pens more - maybe someday in the future! I think these next 3 months will be a huge tell into what will likely come down the line. I'm crossing my fingers 🤞🏽

[@dmvrebuild]

Totally random. You popped up on my feed and at first glance I thought oh cool, Shar Jackson is part of the planner community. You guys look alike. I usually only get the November box for the spiral planner. I don’t see a need for many of the items in the monthly boxes but I do wish that some of the inserts and dashboards from the box offered in CP Petite size made their way to the main site.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

I had to google who that is, but I can certainly see the resemblance lol! And yes the November box is always my favorite for the spiral planner alone. I didn’t even even think about the CP Petite size. Maybe if it’s a dashboard or insert you really want you can try emailing them and see if they are open to selling any leftovers from the unused boxes to you?

[@Raja-qz4he]

Good video. Thank you for this great review! I feel that the Yes you have to decide is worth it or not. For me I use the same pens. My frixion and uni one. I use pretty much those except when I am doing devotion, then I use any pen. I also use fountain pens and other pens when I feel like being creative but for my planner I mostly use the frixion so I can erase. 😂. I don’t really want the pens as the accumulate quickly but I can use the for devotion and throw them away. The thing is, they offer stuff in the box and it does not come to the shop and like you said they sometimes have things in the shop that are a one off. It will be a hard decision as I do like the boxes and I try to support small businesses.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

All very good points! At the end of the day it’s a personal decision. I think for anyone on the fence, I would recommend a month to month - that way you can cancel if you ultimately decide it’s not for you.

[@deeslifestyleloves]

I hope that with the new box they will focus on higher end pens even if it means just one. I would be happier with that then a bunch of the same as before. Elevation.... also my word of the year lol.

[@Ms.Frugal]

New to your page. Love your video. Very informative. Do you recommend any other planner sub boxes?

[@ThePlannerAisle]

Thank you! I haven’t personally tried any other sub boxes but I have heard good things about the box from Janes Agenda. ❤️

[@Ms.Frugal]

@@ThePlannerAislethanks for responding. I tried Jane’s when she first began offering the boxes a few years ago.

[@live_in_thejoy]

Thanks for this you just confirmed what I already knew and here’s the other thing is when they announced their reward program, they were like icons and legends are going to be consulted. You’re going to have like first dibs you’re going to be able to wait in on things and and have your voices hurt. None of that has happened absolutely none of it, which is another reason why when all of these changes are coming about is like who are you talking to? Because you’re definitely not reaching out to the legends and the icons like you said you would so it’s just like a lot of miscommunication that I feel is coming from them and I just don’t feel like their products are worth it anymore and I personally hate their paper. I love infinite Lotus and Elcoat much better softer more luxurious. Cloth & Paper is really rough to me so I’m not a big fan of their paper I don’t want a bunch of pens. I’m tired of sticky notes. It’s like come up with something new so I won’t be renewing. I haven’t had a box probably a year and a half. The only reason I keep my status is because I love their astethte box and that I will continue to get.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

Yep completely understand! I am curious who they reached out to regarding feedback as well. I think it would be helpful if they sent out a survey or something. But we’ll see! In terms of paper, I love 8Lotus’s paper quality as well (most of my inserts are from there) but I also like the white tone and grittiness of Cloth and Paper’s. It makes the ink really pop off the page. I have NOT subscribed to the Aesthete box yet - I’m still on the fence, but I hear great things about it. Maybe next quarter 🤗

[@veronicafarfan4384]

I canceled the Aesthete winter box after I received 2 bags of organic potato chips individual bags. Umm sorry, but that is not luxury to me and I found it hard to believe that I paid over $160 for the box.

[@live_in_thejoy]

@@veronicafarfan4384 I only pay $130 because I’m one of the originals I actually like the food options that they throw in there. I really think you’re paying for them. I think they’re just an added extra but they may be. I don’t know but the robes that we get the bubble bath the lotions the candles to me. It’s worth $130. I’m one of the originals.

[@bettebluebrownlee2830]

Great video. I agree with many of your comments. The quality has diminished. I don’t collect or use the pens often. I have my collections of pens that I love, so the pens aren’t a value add for me. The April box was underwhelming overall, acrylic calendar isn’t desk sized. I think the olive pouch couldn’t compare with the beautiful vegan pouches earlier in the year. I find the cost to be too much. I will cancel my subscription and just purchase what I need throughout the year.

[@mitszub]

Thank you for the video!

[@deeslifestyleloves]

Not sure if anyone is aware but you can skip boxes that you are not intrested in. I have done this in the past with both month to month and 3 month prepaid as recently as Feb this year.

[@The.EditedRose]

I used to do this when I'd get the 3 or 6 months prepayment. It worked really well and I like that we get enough time to see some of the box items to decide if that box is what we want.

[@e.lenahwilson4344]

I am relatively new to C&P subscriptions. I currently pay $45/mo so the increase is not that big ($10), but I agree that what I am getting is not really worth it because I only use a few items(maybe) from the boxes. I was going to skip April, but I want that pouch! 🙃 I am still on the fence as to whether I will cancel or just pause until I see a box I want to have. Great video!

[@Bruntgrits]

Me too. 😂😂😂

[@ThePlannerAisle]

Thanks so much! ☺I have very similar concerns. Hopefully there will be more useful items in future boxes! Crossing fingers🤞🏾

[@kekah29]

Thank you for giving us your feedback, I am new to planning and I agree with your thoughts. I received my first box this month and I found that I am not reaching for some of the items that they included like the inserts or pens. I was not a fan of the pens because they skip and the highlighters are not a typical color I would buy if I had the choice. I will try this new intentions box but I am not sure if I will keep it long term. Great video!

[@ThePlannerAisle]

🥰Thank you so much! I hope the Intention box is a win. I do have high hopes though.

[@toneshav340]

Thank you for featuring my comment! I appreciate you going through the website. It made it so much easier for me to find what items work for me ❤

[@ThePlannerAisle]

Of course! Im glad you found it helpful! 😊

[@booksandbags]

Great video. I am getting the April box because I forgot to cancel. I'll cancel my subscription after this. I've moved to digital planning but keep a paper agenda for meetings and notes. The subscription isn't worth it for me any more. I agree with an earlier poster about the lack of cohesiveness regarding colors.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

❤Yep I completely understand. I’d love to hear about your digital planner. I also have a digital planner but mainly use it for task planning and projects for work. I’m always looking for new ways to utilize it though 😊

[@tiaharp-harr317]

You are as beautiful as your videos!

[@ThePlannerAisle]

🥰 Thank you so much! 💕

[@StephanieTrimpe]

Thank you for the honesty! I am new to C&P and did the prepaid sub box for 6 months and I’m so excited to move into a “grown up” agenda. I love pens so the writing utensils are definitely a pro for me. Love your videos, you always have great ideas.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

❤Thank you so much Stephanie! You'll definitely have to let me know how the pens work out for you. At some point I'll venture down the writing utensil road and branch out 🤗

[@plannerheaux]

i got my post removed from their group when i questioned it. i wasn't even rude about it, just the combining of the penspiration box AND the stationery box without any consultation whatsoever. i already had my ride or die pen, and i don't need to accumulate 500 pens. anyway, i got the post removed and received a warning.. so unless you're into hyper-consumerism or a 'yes men' for ashley, you can't have an opinion. you can't even leave a review less than 3 stars on their website otherwise it'd be removed. mind you, i'm from australia so imagine the conversion rates on top of that. i made this comment on another video from another creator who had quality issues and i received at least 6-7 replies from others with their negative experiences but almost shady business practises. edit: i renewed for another 6 months a few days before they announced their changes, had i have known, i would've not renewed the sub altogether.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

Oh wow! 😬 That’s honestly terrible. Thank you for sharing - I wasn’t aware. I definitely would have appreciated an email or survey or something asking what our thoughts are - just so we could have some input. Regarding your renewal, surely given the circumstances they could make the adjustment and allow you to cancel?

[@MoniM_]

I. Cancelled mine immediately when they announced their price increase because honestly I only use maybe one or two things I will use . For me and in my opinion it is so not worth the money at all .

[@agirland4boys]

I canceled mine as well. I like the pouch in Aprils box but I can get one from Amazon.

[@saraschmidt5766]

Glad I found this. I felt that they were "dropping the ball" a little with quality over the years, too. I agree with one of the commets that said they are posting a bunch of luxury things (bags, vacations) to give the appearance of luxury...the CP customer service remains top notch. I hope that the changes coming will be positive otherwise I will have to join the mass exodus from the sub box, which feels a bit sad as I have been a subscriber since 2017. ❤

[@ThePlannerAisle]

Thank you for this comment Sara! ❤️And you are definitely a long time subscriber! 🤗. I also have my fingers crossed for better quality as well. It’s nerve wracking to say goodbye to something you’ve been a part of for so long, BUT I’m a firm believer in letting go of whatever doesn’t serve you anymore, so don’t feel bad to take a break if the items no longer have a use for you. 🥰 You can always resubscribe down the road if you choose to!

[@deeslifestyleloves]

I have both sub boxes (non legacy), 3 month prepaid. Under the new plane i saved money. I love pens but now I have too many and I am glad I was forced into the reduced plan option lol. I am looking forward to higher quality and more useful products. They have proved on showing the items in upcoming box so I do skip months depending on what is in the box. Items I wont use I gift or sell. I love most items so I will keep it.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

♥That's great. It's good to know you can benefit from the new subscription especially with the reduction in pens. It seems like it's a lot more practical! Looking forward to higher quality items as well☺

[@gwenjones4235]

Great video! Thanks for sharing !

[@ThePlannerAisle]

❤ You’re welcome!

[@marybarr8422]

It's actually kind of fascinating to watch how they sell mediocre products at a high price vis-a-vie the owners' "fancy" lifestyle which constitutes a lot of the company's instagram content (eg. expensive fashion items, weekend get-a-aways, a European vacation, exclusive leisure activities etc). I guess that's what a lot brands do, sell an illusion. Anyway, in case you couldn't tell, I don't think the products are all that luxurious. .

[@ThePlannerAisle]

🤗 Yep, I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. I think that’s their brand marketing though right? They aren’t just selling a product, but they are also selling their brand - luxury in simplicity - which is fine as long as the value matches up (which is what I’ve struggled to see in the recent sub boxes). You hit it spot on with the ‘illusion’. That’s just marketing and I understand all companies do that to some degree, but the end result has to provide that level of value for the customer. I personally think a majority of items on the website are a very high quality and super unique. I hope the sub boxes will rise to the challenge as well and we’ll start to see some added value there. Thank you for the comment! ❤️ It’s always nice to hear different perspectives!

[@veronicafarfan4384]

First time watching your video and coming across your channel. Subscribed! ❤

[@ThePlannerAisle]

🥰 Thank you Veronica!

[@GailFuhlman]

I have been with CP since 2017 and I liked everything that I was getting. As time went on I requested that my planning page be un-punch. Because I do change binders from time to time. Some of my binders are 7 rings and not always 6 rings. As far as the pens go they can keep them. I use very high-in pens (Waterman Fountain Pen by Ellington etc). I will have to see if I will continue my subscription to CP. Also, you used to be able to take $15.00-20.00 off your subscription box with the reward. To use your rewards, you must now purchase something.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

I’d love to know how you like using your fountain pen in your agenda! ❤️ I’ve played around with them but always go back to my Signo Uniball. And yes, I find I don’t use my rewards very often at all now due to the change.

[@adetraquay]

I always use my rewards for my subscriptions. I just did I it for the April subscription. The manage subscription section has changed so it may be confusing to find the add coupon button. You can also always reach out to customer service to have them redeem your rewards for a discount on the subscription.

[@GailFuhlman]

@@adetraquay That is funny because I just got an email today to correct my last rewards that were applied wrong. Because I had always used my rewards toward my subscriptions. So Thank you for letting me know that they still offer a discount on subscriptions.

[@ThePlannerAisle]

@@adetraquay Good to know! Thanks so much 🥰

[@deeslifestyleloves]

What other pens do you use? I am a pen snob. Please due tell😊.