Comments on: Why I Don’t Request Free Samples

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:41:39 +0000

The only things I really agree with here is the packaging. I LOVE free stuff! I get tons and honestly use it. The cereal and granola bars make for prefect breakfasts for me. Add a piece of fruit and it’s only about a $.50 meal. I also love the shampoo/toothpaste samples for travel. (I fly a lot!) And I’ve gotten tons of ‘full sized’ things: bags of sun chips, boxes of ice cream sandwiches, packs of gum, 20 oz sodas. Plus, I’m pretty sure I’ll never have to buy tampons again. It doesn’t even take up that much of my time. Maybe 20 minutes a week. And I just take it out of my ‘computer time.’

By: Alison

Alison — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:44:12 +0000

One great thing about samples is the stock up factor… someone else mentioned tampons… I’ll probably never have to buy another box of tampons (which are expensive!) because of my stockpile of samples. But even if I do have to, I have lots of coupons that came with them, which should equal free or close to free products when combined with a sale

By: crunchycon

crunchycon — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:45:18 +0000

I don’t request near as many as I used to – only products I want to try and I do appreciate the coupons that come with. I like to give the free cat food samples to my mother. Until recently, I travelled a fair amount for business, so it was a good way to get travel sizes for travel.

By: Janknitz

Janknitz — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:38:46 +0000

Another reason not to fill out all those forms for free samples is that you get on every mailing list and then some. Not only does the company from which you requested the sample send you junk mail (e or snail) but also every company they sell your name to. More waste!

When I do request something online I use an email addy reserved on for such requests, but you can’t do that for your mailing address where you receive the samples.

My local drug store sells sample sizes of many hygiene and grooming products that are nice for traveling or for trying something before you buy the big size. These are usually under $1.00. I buy tiny bottles of the shampoo and handlotion I always use for trips–I can always refill these from my regular supply. I also like the little mini-deoderants for trips.

We save the other odd free samples that come our way (leg razors in the newspaper last week), dental supplies (tiny tubes of toothpaste, floss, and toothbrushes) for travel. There is an entire drawer in our bathroom for our various dental samples–great for when one of our kids’ friends forgets to bring a toothbrush for a sleepover. At home we use electric toothbrushes, but when we go on a trip we each grab a brand new sample toothbrush for the duration.

By: Franci

Franci — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:14:34 +0000

Here in New Zealand, free samples are a lot harder to get hold of, and then you can only get one sample per household. The things I’ve gotten recently are things that I’d normally use anyway (eg tampons), or things I wouldn’t buy but would enjoy (eg specialty coffee), or simply things I’m curious about (like a new cereal I got recently). I too appreciate the coupons that come along with samples as we hardly get coupons here for ANYTHING (no coupons in our Sunday papers!). I only ever sign up for them online – I don’t think I’ve ever even seen a paper form for free samples. It hardly takes any of my time, because my browser remembers most of my details and the promotions are few and far in between anyway so I feel like I get a little perk when I get a free sample in the mail.

My husband, on the other hand, shakes his head and thinks it’s funny that I get so excited about my ‘little presents’ in the mail. I’m sure he’d more agree with you!

By: Kalee

Kalee — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:45:36 +0000

When I was in college I signed up for a ton of them, they were a good way to get sample sizes of products for either when I was traveling or as an emergency back up in case i ran out of something (like detergent). I still sign up for travel sizes of products I already use. Or if it’s a sample of a new type of cereal from say, Kashi, who we already eat a lot of. But otherwise I agree, trying to sign up for a lot creates a bunch of junk mail, and takes up too much time!

By: anne

anne — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:21:59 +0000

I started out signing up for lots of free samples, but have slowed down. It does take a lot of time. (something I’m short of) I like that you pointed out all the packaging that comes along with the free samples. Sending just the coupon would be great too!

By: Angela

Angela — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:55:38 +0000

Kristen- Thanks for pointing out the downside of all that packaging. As a nonconsumer, sometimes (though not always) “free” is too expensive.

I do like samples of shampoo or lotions to use for travel, and get just a few at a time at Origins or Body Shop, both of which recycle all their containers.

By: WilliamB

WilliamB — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:07:46 +0000

It depends. Doing it online means no stamp or envelope, so that’s a plus. Many products come with coupons, a potential plus. It’s a good way to try something you might like for free, another plus.

The bath products seem to come mostly in little plastic packets, a big minus. Many of the samples are of things I would never use or don’t want, a minus. Some are for over processed foods of types I don’t like, a minus.

I hadn’t thought about getting samples to donate to shelters, but there’s still the problem of the plastic packets that are too small and very annoying to use. I stash hotel bottles for guests and donation instead.

The Kashi was a good deal, wasn’t it? Bear Naked has a similar offer on their website. And Bear Naked has a plastic bag recycling program! You get points redeemable for gear, for bags sent back, more points for larger bags.

By: Sabrina

Sabrina — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:54:32 +0000

I love samples of beauty products. Since we travel so much, they come in really handy.

I also request free samples of stuff for the coupons. I got a sample of Kashi cereal in the mail. It came with a coupon for a free box of the cereal and several $1.50 off coupons. That was definitely worth it. When I requested a sample of Fiber One, it came with cereal and a granola bar (which Her Majesty actually eats) and a sheet full of coupons.