Free Samples: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?
When I was a kid, I loved getting "stuff" in the mail. Back then, oil companies had the coolest stickers and if you sent them a self-addressed stamped envelope, they would send them for free. I don’t even know why I loved the stickers since I didn’t even drive back then.
The Sunday newspapers are good for free samples of cereal and laundry detergent. I eat the cereal but can’t remember when I actually bought the cereal.
It’s a jungle at the department store when you walk through the cosmetic section. Everyone wants to spritz you with the latest fragrance. Better yet, when you do buy something, they give you all these samples of other fragrances. They come in handy but I can’t remember buying anything after sampling them.
Magazines are good for sampling too. There used to be real fragrance samples now they use fold over strips. Does anyone actually rip them open and smell the paper?
Sephora gives its customers up to five samples to select from when placing an order. Even we give out samples of Biofreeze and other items.
I think the most popular sampling is food. When I go to Costco, I use one of those orange carts and when I pass by the sampling stations, I have to dodge carts, people, strollers and who knows what else. These people are crazy! It’s like they haven’t eaten since 2007. I think if they sampled dog biscuits, people would eat them. The poor workers never have enough samples to hand out. But I do know that the stacks of food to buy stay intact.
So the $100 question of the day is: Does sampling work? And why do people love samples so much?
Happy Friday!
September 26th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I love samples. I would much rather find out I don’t like a particular product using a sample rather than spending a fortune to discover it.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:26 am
The fold over samples in magazines of frangrances do work on me. I recently bought Calvin Klein Euphoria because I liked the sample in the magazine. I was also tempted to come in and buy because they were offering a messenger bag with purchase. I didn’t like the bag when I went in, but I bought the fragrance anyway.
I can’t think of any other time that sampling encouraged me to buy.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:01 am
It’s always nice to get to try something for free especially if you’re curious about trying it. I went to a concert Thursday night and afterwards they passes out free samples of some gum. Earlier in the day I almost purchased some but didnt because I thought it might not be good. And after trying the free piece they gave us I would definitely purchase it. It’s a nice way to stimulate purchase of the product by offering it up for free to try as an example for customers as well as a way to tell their friends and family about it to get more profits by word of mouth.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Personally – I love the free samples at Costco!!! I too am pushing that orange dolly around with my son on it trying not to run over people. Or trying to if they annoy me!!!! But I can’t tell you how many things I have purchased items at Costco alone after trying the free samples.
The same is true with my customers!! Sending out free samples of lotion for them to try is critical at times!! With the economy today people will spend money but they are much more cautious with it!!! So allowing them to try it out first is very important. It is a RISK free way for them, once they like the product then they will be more willing to spend their hard earned dollars!!!
September 26th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I’ve had good results from sampling lotions to my customers. If they are looking for a certain type-bronzer, tingle-I sometimes include a sample or two of other lotions in that same category. Many times I’ve had the customer call back and order because they let a customer try it and they now want to purchase a bottle.
Unfortunately-many salon owners don’t understand the concept and end up trying to just sell what I’ve given them and never see the big picture. This hurts their potential to sell a bottle. They are looking for a quick dollar on the sample.
Sampling moisturizer at the counter has been beneficial to salons. It creates an impulse sale and adds $$ to a purchase. Customer tries it-likes it-buys it.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I also love samples. I normally stick to buying things that I have purchased in the past due to I know I will be happy. When I see new products, I am leary on trying some of them due to I am afraid to pay for something when I am not sure I will like it.
Recently I went to a Chinese restaurant that I have gone to many times prior, but this time I ordered something new. When my meal was brought to me, the arrangement of the food was nice but when I tasted it, I was very disappointed. Sometimes buying and trying works out to your advantage and sometimes not. Everyone works hard for their money and it is such a bummer when you pay hard earned money for something, only to find out you do not like it. Sampling to me is a wonderful way to attract new clients.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I love samples! The more I get for free the better! I don’t like the fragrence samples in the magazines cuz they bug me for some reason! I’m weird I guess. But I love going to Costco and getting the samples of food. And when you go places and you buy something and they throw a little something in your bag. That’s the best. And i love buying things from Victorias Secret, cuz i know that I will always get some kinda free gift! It’s always a surprise!
September 26th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Working in the Contact Center we have quite a few vendors that come in to educate us on their products. However- listening to my girls on the phones, the products that they are pushing to customers are 9 times out of 10, the ones we have received free samples of. It absolutely makes it easier to sell a product when you have tried it yourself and I think the customer is more opt to make the purchase if the person suggesting the item has a personal experience with it.
September 26th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I’m mixed about samples. I like having them available to give to customers, I get complaints everyday that we don’t have any free samples to give them.
Though when we had them to give, no one that took a sample bought the product….makes you stop and think if they’re worth it. I know my customers like trying the products in store.
For myself….I HATE samples, except of food. I don’t know why, but I throw out ANY free sample I get. I don’t like having all the little size products around. They just get on my nerves. LOL
September 26th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
A few years, I managed a program for free Cuccio samples. The client had to send in $3 for shipping and got some product at no charge. I noticed two trends. The first was that the clients who sent in for the deal either weren’t current clients or only purchased from us once a year. I also noticed that most of them never purchased the products after getting their samples. They just wanted something for free.
September 26th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I love getting free samples…I don’t know why because I seldom use them, they end up in my closet or aka “warehouse”.. I swear I’m such a hoarder..lol
September 26th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
We believe samples work, because we have been giving out samples of MOP and our customers love it. They like freebies, and being able to try it before they buy it.
We like samples also!!
September 29th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I love samples! Not of everything…and I really don’t like the foil packets of samples. But I love tiny little bottles of almost anything! Since I am a totally TIGI salon and they do not have samples of any kind,I have little cups with lids that I used to put samples of tanning lotion in. I now use them for shampoo, conditioner, and /or styling aids. Educating my client properly and giving them this sample that I make up just for them, makes them almost always come back to buy the reguler size. I also absolutely guarantee any product that my client buys from me, they usually don’t hesitate then. I DO love samples of most things, food is not one of them.