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The 3rd StyleForum Fragrance Sample Swap Box...

Rambo

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Good luck with that. I didn't participate last time because I put a few hundred dollars worth of samples in the box to start and ended up with a bottle of Joop, a bottle of Polo Black, and not a single sample that I was interested in.

I know you're looking forward to the bottles of Joop and Polo Black btw.
 

DerekS

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I'm definitely in. Nashville Tennessee. Ive got boxes of stuff laying around. A buddy of mine owned a fragrance shop.

**also, If anyone is interested in any Kiehls skincare stuff, let me know...ive got TONS of it boxed up.
 

Master-Classter

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The last time when it came back to me at the end it was in part like that, though not entirely.

I assume that is may have sucked at points along the way, hence my push for it being about sampling new things, with the occasional taking, but not just a free for all to take as they want. It's more about getting rid of a pile of stuff you don't want, trying a whole lot of new things that you'll get decants/bottles of later, and taking a few that interest you.

I've got about 100-200 samples of stuff going in, the juice is easily worth $300 at a basic guess. Every bottle I own has multiple samples in there plus I've spent months going to various stores and boutiques begging for samples.

Joop! ?, nah, already got me a bottle of dat.
 

arlee

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no clue how you enforce it, you just have to hope people honor the system master Classter set up.

any chance we can have a spreadsheet like last time of what samples people have?
 

GreenFrog

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I don't understand this.. so you get the box, put in and take what you want? What about the fact that different frags are higher/lower in value than others?
 

ezlau

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Originally Posted by GreenFrog
I don't understand this.. so you get the box, put in and take what you want? What about the fact that different frags are higher/lower in value than others?

As far as I understand it, uou get the box, sample a little bit of everything, then if you really really really want it, take a sample or two and drop in your contribution at the same time. Then ship the box to another person.
 

Thomas

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This only works when there's a sense of stewardship: those who get the box try an armload, take a few for further review, and put more in, hopefully enough to more than offset what they took. Without that spirit, the people at the end of the chain get hosed because all the good stuff is long gone early in the process. There are always imbalances between what people have to contribute and what they take, but as long as it's not a series of net 'takers' and people part with the nicer stuff that they've been hoarding but never using...then it works out well enough.

About niche: Sometimes it's worth the price, sometimes not. A lot of niche makers will send samples for a small fee, or gratis even...just for asking: Last I checked, Frederic Malle, Ormonde Jayne, and Czech & Speake will do this, and FWIW, Malle and OJ make some fantastic scents that I think everyone ought to try. And, FWIW, there are some mainstream scents that are far better than their price would indicate.
 

MyTailorIsRich

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MC, I was suggesting it starts off by having people ship stuff to you, as the organizer, first. If people can't get it together to ship you stuff then they are DQ. If what they ship is totally lame in quantity/quality then they are also DQ'd. People without samples can send decant supplies, etc. But you will have some way of setting the bar so this doesn't decend into a sample grab. Down side is it takes more time to set-up and two shipments are required: initial one to you and the actual sample box.

Just my 2 cents.
 

AJB

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I would be interested (I am in Northern NJ) have a bunch of samples and maybe a bottle if i can decant.
 

Master-Classter

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Originally Posted by Rambo
Then the question becomes, how do you enforce that?
that's the basic premise of all the 'guidelines'. This is all just for fun and everyone's free to do whatever they want. None of use can force someone else to act a certain way, but I'm hoping that people have integrity and a sense of belonging to the group and want to make the experience good for everyone as well as themselves. It's just about the honor system.
Originally Posted by arlee
any chance we can have a spreadsheet like last time of what samples people have?
Sure, I'll set that up. I don't think I'll be typing up everything that's in there now because it's just too much.
Originally Posted by GreenFrog
I don't understand this.. so you get the box, put in and take what you want? What about the fact that different frags are higher/lower in value than others?
that's the basic idea. I'm trying to focus the experience on being more about trying new things before buying them rather then trading stuff nobody wants for stuff everyone wanted, but don't get me wrong, that's still fair game. I just mean drop in 10-30, try 50, take 5, make 5 samples, more like that sort of ratio (of course ignore the numbers). As for different values, well retail value isn't always the same as quality as Thomas pointed out. Part of the big reason for why you might want to join this is that instead of everyone buying various samples, or being limited to only what's available for them to try locally, basically everyone shares the resources together so we can all try new things for the experience of seeing what's out there, or finally smelling what everyone's talking about, or seeing what to buy/split next.
Originally Posted by MyTailorIsRich
MC, I was suggesting it starts off by having people ship stuff to you, as the organizer, first. If people can't get it together to ship you stuff then they are DQ. If what they ship is totally lame in quantity/quality then they are also DQ'd. People without samples can send decant supplies, etc. But you will have some way of setting the bar so this doesn't decend into a sample grab. Down side is it takes more time to set-up and two shipments are required: initial one to you and the actual sample box. Just my 2 cents.
I hear you there, I just don't think it's practical because then people have to ship a package to me, then when the box arrives, ship it to the next person as well. Plus it'll take a few weeks for everything to arrive here, get organized, etc... I've spent months loading the box up so hopefully it's good to start. Unless you've just got a ton of stuff (lookin' at you Rambo) that will make a big difference to the seed, I think it's fine to just wait for your turn. I don't really want to DQ people, but I do just want to make sure everyone understands what they're getting into in terms of sheer volume of samples, and that they have some sense of commitment to everyone else. OK, hopefully we can get all the people signed up and ready to go by early next week and then we'll get started.
 

Master-Classter

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Spreadsheet is up - HERE
(I'll update what's in there tonight plus include some pics.
Anything in my wardrobe and 'sample' list is included in the box, most with multiples)
 

Master-Classter

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deadhorse-a.gif
???

nothing, it's the honor system. It's been put out there in the guidelines and hopefully people have integrity. My assumption going in is that i'm getting rid of a bunch of stuff I don't want plus a bit of wardrobe stuff i do actually value, hopefully someone else will find something they like and that makes me happy. With some luck, I'll get to sample a few new things I wouldn't have before, so there's not much to lose. Don't give away things you care about what happens to.
 

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