The Only Retro Box is a subscription that sends collectibles and antiques from previous decades, usually with a focus on pop culture. In addition to their collectibles subscription, they also have a subscription for a Surprise LP of the Month, and another subscription that combines the two. This review is of the combination subscription.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: The Only Retro Box + LP of the Month Club
The Cost: $45 + $20 shipping = $65 per month for the combo subscription; $30 + $15 shipping = $45 per month for the collectibles only; $12 + $8.99 shipping for the LP only
The Products: A box filled with various pop culture collectibles and antiques from previous decades, plus a surprise LP
Ships to: Everywhere, but please see their site for international shipping rates
Good to Know: Every box is different!
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This is the information sheet that was included with my box of vintage goodies. Interestingly, not everything is listed.
In order to get some idea of the value of the items sent to me, I am using eBay values wherever possible.
M&M Mug, Circa 1990 - Currently listed on eBay for $14.99
This was the first thing I pulled out of the box. It's in decent condition, but I don't really have any affinity to vintage advertising. I know a lot of people do, but this is a bit of a miss for me.
The Beverly Hillbillies: The Saga of Wildcat Creek - Currently listed (and not selling) on eBay for $0.01
The Beverly Hillbillies DVD - Not listed, value estimated at $1.50 based on similar items
The Beverly Hillbillies were a little before my time, but I definitely watched them in syndication when I was a kid. What a silly show! I had some neighbors who were kind of like them in the 1980's. I can't imagine reading this book.
Michael For Ever Tee - Not listed, value $5?
This tee is a women's size M, and it almost looks homemade. It's in good condition, so I can't really tell what era it's from. Based on the fact that it's a women's cut, I am guessing it's from this millenia. My ten-year-old son is a huge Michael Jackson fan, so I gave it to him to sleep in. Please don't tell him it's a women's shirt!
1996 Atlanta Olympics Texaco Sponsor Pins - Currently listed for about $4 each
Oh fun! These are cool, to me at least. I was at the 1996 Olympics when they were held here in my home town! I managed to get tickets to a women's handball match. Getting tickets was not easy! I'm glad to have these two little pins.
Statue of Liberty Centennial Ornament - Not listed, value $2?
I was still a youngster, but I remember the statue turning 100! I think this ornament is made of cardboard or fiberboard, though, and it's pretty beat up.
Realtone Solid State AM/FM Radio, Model 2208 - Currently listed at $9.07
This is cool! It's an actual transistor radio from the 1970's! With the original hand strap! It works, too.
My LP came in a separate package, but they both came at the same time via UPS.
Oh. No.
Aerobic Dancing! - Currently listed at $5.97 on eBay, in much better condition than mine, and still not selling
Oh no! This is my album of the month. I can't even...
This is the record itself, which is only in fair (and pretty dirty) condition.
These are the instructions on how to do aerobics, which are actually pretty hilarious. My Mom was big into aerobics back in the day. The funny thing is that you can't actually do aerobics to a record, because you will make the record skip like mad. Fortunately, this was around the same time as the advent of cassette tapes.
Verdict: As I was preparing for and writing this review, I had the realization that for people like myself, and maybe most people, vintage shopping (or "junking" as we call it) is actually a pretty personal thing and shouldn't really be randomly undertaken by strangers. I really only liked two of the items I received (the pins and the radio). The current estimated value of everything I received totals about $47, which falls short of the $65 box + shipping cost. It's a little better than the cost of the box alone, but I would never have spent that much for these items, personally. I keep trying to envision what kind of person might benefit from this subscription, and all I can come up with is, "If you like all collectibles from any era, no matter what condition they are in, and you don't mind paying top dollar for them plus a kind of high shipping cost, then this box is for you." But I don't know if that person exists.
What do you think of The Only Retro Box + LP of the Month Club? Does that kind of person exist?
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