How to score free samples from restaurants, stores
Getting something for nothing is a thrill, but it鈥檚 also a great way to give a new product a test-run before you decide to shell out real money for it. Tons of companies and retailers are eager to get their products out there, but you have to know where to find them. We rounded up the best ways to score听听online and off, plus advice on avoiding scams and managing all of the marketing messages that come with free stuff.
Also, be sure to check听DealNews'听听page for great free offers, and our听听for all the resources you need to find freebies year round.
Why companies give out free samples
The most obvious reason why companies are willing to give you something for free is because they want you to try their product, in the hopes that you鈥檒l become a paying customer. Some not-so-obvious reasons manufacturers and retailers will shell out something for nothing:
- Sampling programs are often cheaper than traditional advertising, and studies have found them more effective.
- Most free samples require the recipient to give contact information, allowing the company to continue marketing products and offers to him or her.
- If you like the product, you鈥檙e likely to share the offer with friends and family, giving the company more potential customers.
Types of free samples
There are a variety of ways that companies distribute free samples of their products, including:
- In-store: Department stores like听听补苍诲听听often give out free samples of perfumes, cosmetics and other health and beauty products either with or without purchase at retail counters. Grocery stores like听, and Trader Joe鈥檚 often have in-store product promotions where customers can sample food products while they shop. Discount chains like听补苍诲听听补苍诲 warehouse clubs like听, and BJ鈥檚 often have in-store sampling events as well.
- Samples by mail: These are usually online promotions, where mailing information is collected through social media channels like Facebook or a website form and a free product sample is sent by snail mail, generally in 6-8 weeks.
- Coupon samples: These work like samples by mail, but with a coupon that must be redeemed in-store for free product samples. Coupons may be mailed, emailed, or downloaded to a store鈥檚 loyalty card.
- Loyalty program samples: Customers registering for a company鈥檚 loyalty or rewards program, like听听辞谤听听will periodically get free samples or products, usually at sign-up, on birthdays, and when special promotions are offered.
How to find free samples
If you want free samples on an ongoing basis, the easiest thing to do is register for any rewards program your favorite companies or retailers may offer. You鈥檒l receive offers for free samples via email or snail mail when they鈥檙e available. For example,听offers samples and coupons for their various brands to registered members, as does听.听听补苍诲听听list free sample offers on their websites and update often. And听听program, where you can download a coupon for a free product every Friday to your rewards card to redeem in-store.
If you want to try a specific product, email the company and ask for a sample. This won鈥檛 always work, of course, but it never hurts to ask. If they don鈥檛 send you a sample, they鈥檒l usually send you a coupon, sometimes a high-value one that will make it worth your time.
If you want to browse everything that鈥檚 out there in free product samples, there are a ton of sites that aggregate them on a daily basis.,听听补苍诲听list most of the legitimate offers available. If you鈥檙e a Twitter user, check the听听hashtag to see the top offers being tweeted about and find the freebie experts to follow for regular updates. On Facebook, follow your favorite brands and local stores to find out when they鈥檙e giving out free samples.
And check听听regularly to see all the hottest free deals! In addition to coupons, downloads, and magazine subscriptions, there are many product samples.
When free isn鈥檛 exactly free
Many legitimate free sample offers require you to do more than just fill out a form. Some companies that offer free samples, like听, require recipients to fill out surveys either before or after they receive samples. And many of the free sample offers listed at the aggregator sites are actually sweepstakes, where you aren鈥檛 guaranteed to receive a free sample just by signing up; you鈥檒l be part of a random drawing instead. Always read the fine print when requesting a free sample online, so you know what you鈥檙e agreeing to, and how companies will be using your information.
Unfortunately, many free sample offers are actually scams, where spammers 鈥� or worse, identity thieves 鈥� can get access to your personal information. Here are some things to look out for:
- You need to pay shipping or handling, or enter your credit card and go through a checkout process.
- There鈥檚 no privacy policy on the website.
- The required information seems excessive: a portion of your social security number, phone number, sharing friends鈥� and family contact info, etc.
- You鈥檝e never heard of the company and the website looks less-than-professional.
Managing freebies
An easy way to manage the email you鈥檒l be getting once you start signing up for company loyalty programs and free sample offers is to create a separate email address just for free samples. Or, if you want to keep everything in one place but don鈥檛 want to clog up your inbox with promotional emails, create special filters and folders for sites you鈥檝e signed up for.
Jessica Hulett is a contributing writer for DealNews, where this article first appeared:听
