Many believe that nothing in life is free – but how wrong are they? It is possible to get plenty of things for free, if only you know how. But what exactly are free samples – and more importantly, how do we get our hands on them?
A free sample, by definition, is a portion of food OR product (e.g. beauty products, cleaning products), given to consumers in shopping centres, supermarkets, shops and even across the internet. Sometimes non perishables are even included within products bought – those perfume samples you get in magazines are the perfect example of this.
Stay Attentive
Sometimes free samples aren’t quite so obvious – a person giving out samples in the supermarket may be hidden in a corner and you won’t necessarily see them. A person handing out free samples on the street may be missed as you try to avoid all of the other people who are trying to sell something unlike this person – it is easy to miss these situations if you aren’t looking for them. Unfortunately we always feel pretty rubbish if we notice afterwards – and by then it is too late. Keeping your eyes out for any potential ‘freebie’ opportunity is the best way to get free samples when out and about.
Get Online
There are plenty of places to find free samples online. Businesses are often giving away free products on their social media pages or their websites – all you usually need to do is submit your details.
A number of facebook groups and websites have popped up over the years which help you track down these kinds of offers. As a starting point we would suggest the following:
Note: Some of these are closed groups, which means you need to join the group before seeing any of the deals but you can always leave if you don’t find what you’re looking for (but you will, trust me).
If you really want the sample but aren’t too interested in their emails, set up a specific separate email address just for free samples – that way, any emails you sign up to won’t encroach on your usual email inbox. Some people can deal with all of the marketing emails they receive but if you can’t, a new email is key to getting free samples – especially as most brands will send a confirmation email to your email address before you actually get sent the sample. You don’t want to miss that email!
Keep An Eye On The Amount Or Date
Sometimes freebies are only available for a certain amount of time – until a certain date or when the 100 all get snapped up. It can be disheartening to submit our details to get a message saying we were too late and that they are all gone so make sure you are checking exactly when you need to apply by.
Be Aware Of What Is Real And What Isn’t
Going back to the phrase ‘nothing is free’, sometimes the offer is too good to be true. Apply for free samples but make sure you are getting into nothing untoward along the way. Make sure you don’t sign anything or give away your details unless you know exactly where they are going. It can be tempting to sign up to those ‘get the new iPhone to test’ emails but they’re always a scam. Unfortunately most free sample opportunities are genuine but there will always be someone trying to scam others out of something.
DO sign up to newsletters
Once you have established a newsletter is real, definitely sign up to it as you may be able to take advantage of freebies on your birthday. Many brands give away a small item to their customers on their birthday – whether that is a free drink or dessert at a restaurant or an extra £5 to spend on a bingo site. Making sure you are signed up to these emails with your date of birth clearly available gives you the opportunity to receive freebies without even really applying for any.
Just Ask
Something that has become more and more popular in recent weeks is simply by just asking the company if they have some free samples. Find out the details of the company you would like some free samples from and email or write to them mentioning how interested you would be in trying their products and how reluctant you are to spend out on them just yet in case you are disappointed. Some companies will come back and say that they cannot send any samples out but plenty send some out to consumers, hoping that they do indeed like them and will add them to their weekly shop.
As well as asking, there is also the option of samples for feedback. Whether you want to heap praise on an establishment and a particular member of stuff or if you want to complain, let the brand know and they may either compensate you for your complaint with some freebies or show you their gratitude for your praise with something free too. Companies love a bit of feedback, whether it is good or bad, as it shows them where their strengths and weaknesses are. By letting them know your thoughts and opinions, they can focus their attentions on certain areas and work on improving those they are weak on and then showcasing those areas they are stronger on.
Free samples are the perfect way to be introduced to a brand and its products and plenty of brands are starting to realise this – it is certainly a good marketing tool. After all, the companies get our continued custom and we get something for free to try – no one loses! With so many avenues you can try to get some free samples, here’s hoping some freebies start coming through your letterbox very soon!
Main image credit: Myrtle Beach TheDigitel