~OneSpirit.com has lived up to my expectations without any issues~
Written: Nov 14 '06
|
| Full Review |
Last January I received a catalog mailing from a club called "One Spirit." I merely tossed it aside until my other half picked it up a day or so later very interested in the contents. I was asked if it was okay with me if he signed me up to join this club and I replied that I really didn't care. So that was how I ended up being a part of One Spirit.
~What is One Spirit all about?~
One Spirit is considered a book club that has a "new age" appeal to it. You can order books (fiction or non-fiction) on tarot cards to the afterlife and even self-help. It is supposed to cater to your spiritual side of life, hence the name.
~Membership~
Like most book clubs, One Spirit gives you a deal on buying a certain amount of books for an extremely low price as long as you purchase so many books within a time frame.
You must be over the age of 18 to be a member and also live within the USA.
When I joined I was given 5 books essentially for free (I think there was a $1-$2 charge for all five) plus shipping and handling. The shipping and handling was just over $15.00, but still a huge discount for any hard-cover books that you would purchase at an actual store.
I was given two years to purchase four books at the club price (still 30% publisher's retail price) and my membership would be fulfilled. At that point, I could cancel anytime. I had twenty days to try out the five books I had chosen and if I was not pleased, I could cancel the membership right off the bat. Simple to understand, right?
~The Featured Selection~
Each month there is what is called "The Featured Selection." Like most clubs, you must reply to this selection each month or it is automatically shipped to you and billed to your account.
The Featured Selection is always some type of book that is considered in my opinion, the best deal of the month. Unlike clubs like Columbia House DVD who will send you a reminder via email to respond by accepting or declining the offer, One Spirit does NOT.
You have to go into their website and decline the offer or you will have a new book in your hands within no time. I have had to put this on my calender to remind me each month because one time I had the result of receiving a book that I didn't decline and also was not interested in. You have to take it upon yourself to remember.
The only help that the company will give you is they send out a monthly mailing catalog where you can mail in your decision via a post card. It is this time that I realize to just jump on the site and decline it.
This is indeed the only drawback to the club.
~Navigation~
The website is very user-friendly. Signing up is a cinch where you pick your login name (your email address of your choice) and password. However, you can only use the website if you are a current member though or have received a gift certificate. You cannot just go on and purchase items without the membership as far as I know.
The layout is simple to read whether I have my glasses on or off. I have very poor eye sight so I consider this a plus that the fonts are large enough to read for me and I don't have to go find my glasses just to look around One Spirit.
The icons used easy to understand as well. Obviously a "question mark" is going to relate to the "help" section of the site. You can pretty much find the answers to anything within the help section but you can also contact One Spirit as well.
~Contacting One Spirit~
You have two choices when you want to get in touch with One Spirit.
1) Email - using a form that is provided on their site
2) Telephone - (717) 918-2665 (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday-Friday)
I have found that email is the best way to go in most cases. I have called them recently on a question for my order and the three different people I spoke to didn't seem to have the answer I was searching for. However when I have used their contact form on the site, I always receive an answer in a timely manner. You would think that it would be the opposite but I recommend using their email format over speaking to a live person.
I also find that not having a toll-free number is almost unheard of these days. Although many people do not have to pay for long distance like it used to be, it is still ridiculous that a large company cannot offer a toll-free number. I also would have to say that with a website I would expect 24 hour, around the clock, availibility to get in touch with customer service. One Spirit only offers the phone during certain hours which don't include weekends when many people shop on the web or the contact form.
Regardless of that, contacting customer service is not an issue for me. When I received my Featured Selection by accident, I wrote to them. I returned it (had to use my own money for shipping) back to One Spirit and then they took it off my bill immediately.
There was also an incident where I did not receive a Featured Selection but was billed for it. When I contacted them through email, they also took that right off my bill. Since the deliveries are made through the USPS and no one signs for them, One Spirit could not prove that I had received the book. Therefore, it was taken off my account.
One Spirit does not try to scheme you out of your money from the experience that I have had.
~Browsing and Sections of the Site~
You can search the site through entering the key word information in the search box.
You can also browse by category such as dreams or alternative medicine.
There are also sections of the website that are broken down for your easy use on the left side. Here you will find the following:
* New this month!
* Coming Soon!
* Animals
* Audio Books
* Fiction & Literature
* Health & Healing
* Merchandise
* New Age & Divination
* Nonfiction
* Sacred Sex
* Sacred Space
* Science & Nature
* Self Help & Psychology
* Special Collections
* Spirituality
* Web-Only Sale
~Ordering, Shipping and Checking Out~
There is not any sales tax on items which does save you a few pennies. There is usually $1.99 charge for shipping and handling costs (for regular shipping). Priority mail is an additional $5.99. Then there is the charge for the item you are buying. You only get credit towards your membership when you buy actual books. For example, if you purchase jewelry it will not fulfill any membership requirement at all.
Like most websites, you can browse and add to your cart. When you are ready to checkout you "proceed to check out." You can have items gift wrapped and sent to different addresses for birthdays or other holidays. The gift wrapping costs an additional $1.99 but is professionally done.
You can have the items billed to you or pay by credit card. They accept Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Readers' Reward Visa (a program through their site).
There are gift certificates but I have never bought one for anyone and am not familiar with how to purchase one.
It is easy to order and check out. It is added to your account immediately. You can always check the status of your order by clicking on it under your "Account" and see when it shipped or if it is back ordered, etc.
~Items Bought~
I have purchased books, jewelry, and audio books. I have always received them quickly. I have also sent items out to people as gifts and they have told me they received them gift wrapped and packaged nicely.
The merchandise itself is always great quality.
I have never had to return an item because I was not happy with it such as a sterling silver pendant necklace. I have had many compliments on the jewelry that I have purchased for myself and others even though it is a book club.
The prices are very reasonable to me for what you receive in return. You get a discount off on popular books that you would normally spend 30%-50% more at a store. It is a great deal to me.
~Overall Thoughts~
I know everyone has their own opinions regarding book, CD or DVD clubs. I have had a positive experience with OneSpirit.com whereas others on Epinions have not. You have to take all sides into consideration. However, from the experiences that I have had with this site and company, I have been pleased.
I recommended this site to two other people who have both been happy that I told them about it. I feel the membership is reasonable and I have enjoyed everything I have bought from them.
To sum it up, OneSpirit.com is an easy place to shop that ships directly to you or a friend quickly but you have to remember to decline your Featured Selection each month and be willing to abide by the Membership Rules. For me, I am happy that my other half signed me up and have only had good things come from it while discovering my spiritual side of life.
www.OneSpirit.com
Thanks for Reading!
kparsons13
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
kparsons13
|
 - Top 200 |
|
Member: ~Kimberly~
Location: Sunny Arizona
Reviews written: 636
Trusted by: 179 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.