The basic rundown is this: each month, you will receive a crate centered around a theme, filled with 5-6 cute goods from Japan. Some of the properties include Sanrio, Sailor Moon, Pokemon and San-X. There are four subscription plans to choose from. One month costs $35. Three months cost $33.50. Six months cost $32 and a year costs $31.50. All include free shipping with an option for tracking and insurance for a few dollars more. You have to pay upfront, so keep that in mind when choosing a plan. For example, a year's subscription costs a whopping $378! You are getting a lot of quality import goods, but that can be a lot of money all in one go. I liked the fact that they had a one month sort of trial, so I went with that one. Here is the VERY IMPORTANT THING about the one month option: it will keep renewing each month at the time you first signed up. I forgot to cancel mine, so I will be getting August's crate too, lol.
Before I get into the crate itself, I just want to mention a little flaw that I'm not really crazy about. It has to do with shipping and the tracking number. I like to know where my things are in the mail, so I opted for the tracking. I think it was $4 extra. Anyhow, a week later, I get the notice that the crate has shipped and will be trackable on the Japan Post site. It is going First Class International, so I know it's going to take 2-4 weeks to get here. However, more than a week goes by and there are no tracking updates! Around the two week point, I started to get worried and contacted them. I got a reply right away, saying give it more time, okay. Another week goes by and still no update. I was ready to just give up, but finally, I got an update saying it had been collected. Whew! I was relieved to know it was going through the postal system, so I didn't mind waiting at that point. Well whaddya know? It shows up a week later! I was surprised that it took that fast, but with the whole tracking thing, it was around four weeks from when they initially gave me the tracking info. I just wish there was a way they could hold off giving you the tracking info until it's actually in the postal system. It's like if I told someone I mailed them something and gave them the tracking number, but didn't actually take it to the post office until weeks later.
So now, with that out of the way, here it is. I like the color scheme and the graphics are really cute. (I'm a sucker for anything with cats though...)
Anddd, now it's been opened up! Hello! Everything is packed nice and neat. Share pics of your crate online if you like!
A group shot first. There are six items total (plus a bonus one that I will get to later) and a handy book telling you about the theme, items as well as some fan art and pics. Pretty neat. July's theme as you can see, was Pool Party.
The first item, which is also the featured item, is a cute inflatable, bouncy Kirby ball. Makes sense, like a beach ball for the pool or ocean. I will be taking a another photo with him out of the package for a chance to win a prize. I'm not a huge Kirby fan, but I have played at least one of his games and he's cute, so it's all good.
This next one is the item I was least looking forward to, a portable fan with optional mist. Nice idea for cooling off outside and it doesn't take batteries, but I just can't really see myself using it. It was available in two designs: Sanrio characters and Sumikkogurashi from San-X. I actually prefer the muted colors of the San-X one better.
Aha! The item that hooked me- the Sailor Moon Kira Kira Canister! This is really a beautiful little thing, measuring about 4 inches with a diamond like sculpted pattern. It was available in two styles and I got the one I really wanted- purple with Super Sailor Moon! The other was pink with Sailor Moon from the first season.
Next, we were supposed to have Gudetama sticky notes, but they have been pre-empted to bring you these Pokemon stickers! Apparently, people loved Detective Pikachu so much, that they wanted to include a Pokemon gift. There was a little note explaining this and how the sticky notes will still make a future appearance. Either way was fine for me, as I find both stationary and stickers useful.
This item is very well made and should be useful. A kawaii character pouch! It measures 4.5 inches wide by 3.5 long and has a zipper and pretty metallic blue ball chain. There were TWENTY different options of what you could get! Mostly Sanrio characters, but I am happy with this Sumikkogurashi one because the big ol' shy cat, Neko, is featured in the front! I still haven't decided what I will use it for yet...
Lastly, there was this adorable dual function Gudetama key chain/strap! There were five options, with the others being two Sanrio and two Rilakkuma, but honestly, this lazy egg butt would have been my preference anyway!
The true final item is actually a bonus one. First time subscribers could get an extra Sailor Moon item and that is honestly what made me take the plunge. It's a very lovely SM clear file with each section being marked by the senshi's henshin sticks. Made by Sun-Star, it will go great with the SM planner I recently bought from the same company!
So there you have it- the Yume Twins Pool Party crate for July 2019! Overall, I would say I am pleased with the items assortment and definitely think it is worth the price. If they could just iron out that weird tracking delay, then it would be fantastic. Like, just don't send the tracking info until it has actually been dropped off at the post office, maybe?
Anyway, I will have another Yume Twins review coming up when the August box gets here and (gasp!) a competitor crate review (Doki Doki Crate) to see how it stacks up!
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