By now, you have heard of the fantastic BarkBox. But have you ever seen the new Goody Box from Chewy? Now you might think that these two boxes are all the same. You sign up, you get a few toys, and your credit card gets charged monthly. We are here to tell you that these two boxes are not the same. And depending on your needs, one might be better than the other. So let’s compare the Chewy vs BarkBox – pros and cons.
What Is BarkBox?
Before discussing Chewy Goody Box vs BarkBox – pros and cons, we need to see the fundamental differences between the two. The BarkBox is one of the first subscription services to bring dog toys right to your door. What comes in a BarkBox? In each box, you get:
- Two themed toys
- Two bags of treats (made in the USA and Canada)
- And a natural chew toy.
These boxes are perfect for creating a fun themed toy rotation for your Doodle. Your dog will love the hand-picked toys and treats every month.
What Is Goody Box?
The Goody Box is a new release from the popular online pet store, Chewy.com. But the Chew subscription isn’t a subscription at all. You get to pick and choose which boxes you like. At the time of writing this article, there are only a few options available. What comes in a Chewy box?
- 1-2 toys
- One product
- Three bags of treats
- And one natural chew.
We love that you know exactly what you get with this box. You are in control of which box you want.
Pros And Cons Of The BarkBox
First, we will examine the famous BarkBox subscription. What we love and hate, and maybe a few things we wish would change.
1st Pro: Cute Themes
We love that the BarkBox comes up with adorable themes for your dog. Your dog will get everything from holiday themes to sipping martinis by the pool. And while your dog might not care, it makes for an adorable talking piece. And in your pup’s birthday month, you will get a special BarkBox birthday box.
2nd Pro: Tough Chewer Option
Many people are wary of getting a subscription because their dogs chew through everything. It would be a waste to subscribe for six months only to have your dog destroy all the plushies. But you don’t have to worry about that with BarkBox. All you have to do is select the tough chewer option to get durable toys. And while no toy is destruction proof, these sturdy toys will last longer than 15 minutes.
3rd Pro: Satisfaction Guarantee
BarkBox is known for its excellent customer service. If you aren’t happy with any toy or treat, you can contact customer support to make it right. In most cases, they will send you a replacement and make a note to your account not to send things like it again.
4th Pro: Food Allergies
At BarkBox, they understand that food allergies are increasingly common. That’s why when you set up your account, they ask you about any food allergies. None of their treats include wheat, corn, or soy. But they go above and beyond and let you choose other ingredients that could cause an issue. Don’t see your dog’s allergy on the list? Contact customer support, and they will assist you with any changes.
5th Pro: The BarkBox Shop
We love that you can buy individual boxes separately on the BarkBox Shop. The shop allows you to purchase most of the popular boxes from the last few years. You can even buy some of the more recent BarkBoxes that you missed. These boxes aren’t included in your subscription, but they are fun to browse and buy whenever you want to spoil your puppy.
6th Pro: Savings
The cost of a BarkBox subscription depends on how many months you enroll in. If you want to pay month by month, each box will cost $35. But if you decide to register for six months, the price drops to $26 per box. And finally, you can sign up for 12 months at only $23 a box. And there is free shipping within the continental USA.
1st con: Not Age Specific
Most of the toys in your BarkBox subscription is for dogs of any age. But you might find that some toys might be too large. Instead, you will sign up for a box according to your dog’s size. So once they get old enough for an upgrade, you will have to edit your account. Some might find this a little bit of a hassle, but it is do-able.
2nd Pro: No Extras
BarkBox doesn’t come with any extras like grooming supplies or other basics. For some, this isn’t a big deal. But others like boxes that come with a few extras like brushes, cute costumes, or new collars. The BarkBox is simple to keep the price low and affordable.
3rd pro: Possibly More Expensive
If you are looking for a cheap monthly subscription, there are some hitches to this. The only way the BarkBox is less expensive than the Chewy Goody Box is if you sign up for 6-12 months. If you only want a month to month option, the BarkBox will cost $5 more. But the good news is that if you sign up for a 6-month plan and aren’t happy, BarkBox will try anything to make it right.
Pros And Cons Of The Goody Box
We continue the Chewy Goody Box vs BarkBox – pros and cons by looking at the Goody Box. The good, the bad, and the things we wish to see in the future.
1st pro: You Choose The Box
With the BarkBox, you never know what you are going to get. And for some, the surprise is exciting, but for picky dogs, you might feel like it’s wasting money. With the Chewy Goody Box, you choose only the boxes you want. So if you see a box of toys that you know your dog won’t like, you don’t have to waste time contacting customer support to return items.
2nd pr0: No Subscription Needed
Chewy doesn’t lock you in with a subscription. If you decide to buy all of the boxes at once, you could. Or if you want only to get a box every three months, nothing is stopping you. You are in control of everything you get and when.
3rd pro: Lower Cost
Many people like the Chewy Box because it is cheaper than paying month to month for BarkBox. But how much is a Chewy subscription? Each box is only $25 plus shipping.
4th pro: Different Themes
While each box isn’t customizable, there a several different types to choose from. There is currently a Chewy birthday box for dogs, a puppy box, an adult box, and a large breed box. Each box has slightly different items that range from treats to toys. We can’t wait to see what else they come out with in the future.
5th pro: Cat Boxes Too!
If you have both a cat and a dog, you might be looking for a cat box as well. You can spoil your cat and your dog without getting two subscriptions to two different websites. And when you get two boxes from Chewy, it puts you just over the price range for free shipping. Currently, there are only two cat boxes available. But we are hoping for more soon.
Pro #6: More To Come
The Chewy released the Goody Box at the end of 2020. So we have high hopes for what’s to come in 2021. They have so much potential to expand on box themes. And we can’t wait to see what’s to come.
1st con: Not Much To Choose From
The first con is related to the last pro mentioned above. We can’t wait to see where Chewy goes with their Goody Boxes. But currently, there are only four dog boxes to choose from. We hope that they add more boxes soon because if it’s not your dog’s birthday, you only have one relevant box to select from.
2nd con: No Customizing
We love that with the BarkBox, you can customize your plan based on size and chewing. You can even adjust your account to allergies. But you don’t have this type of customization with the Chewy Goody box. You will always know exactly what you are getting, but there is no wiggle room for substitutions.
3rd con: Shipping
The Chewy Box is only $25, but this doesn’t include shipping. Depending on where you live, you can expect another $5 in shipping. Paying for shipping month to month is still lower than the monthly BarkBox. But if you plan on signing up for several months, this shipping cost makes the Chewy Goody Box more expensive.
4th con: No Bundling Plans
Since Chewy isn’t precisely a subscription, there is no savings plan. That means even if you bought a year’s worth of boxes, you would still pay $25 plus shipping every month. But who knows. As Chewy expands on this new feature, maybe that will change as well.
Which Is Better?
When looking at Chewy Goody Box vs BarkBox – pros and cons, you can see that they are two different things. The Chewy Box is great for an occasional treat for your pets. But if you are looking for something more customizable, the BarkBox might be best for you. What do you think? Do you have a favorite subscription box?
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!
