Written on December 31, 2008 at 6:00 pm by admin

Free Samples

Filed under Coupons and Discounts, Saving Money no comments

If you’re interested in saving money while trying a variety of new products, you may be wondering how to request free samples online.

What are Free Samples?

Many different types of companies offer free samples of their products in an effort to boost sales. For example, you can frequently find free sample offers for the following:

Small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, or other toiletry items
Free magazine subscriptions, often for three-to-six issues
Trial sizes of a new snack food
Pens, paper, and other office supplies
Downloadable trial versions of popular computer programs

As an added bonus, many samples will come with coupons that let you save money on a full-size version of the product.

The Ethics of a Free Sample

While getting free samples can be a fun way to save money, it’s important to follow a few simple rules to avoid taking advantage of the situation. For example:

Don’t lie to get freebies. The item you’re requesting may be free for you, but it did cost the company money. If the offer says it’s for teachers only, don’t sign up unless you’re a teacher. If the offer says “one per household,” honor the request.
Don’t order samples of products that you’re not genuinely interested in. The company offering the freebie is trying to generate business with the offer. Requesting a free sample doesn’t obligate you to buy anything in the future, but you should be open to the possibility.
If the company provides a comment field in the free sample offer, thank them for their generosity. A little gratitude goes a long way.

Avoiding Junk Mail

One of the biggest pitfalls of requesting free samples online is that you’ll inevitably be added to many company mailing lists. To minimize the amount of unwanted mail you receive, remember the following tips:

Set up a free email account at Yahoo or Hotmail to use for your sample offers. This will keep spam away from your work or personal account.
Don’t give out any more personal information that what is necessary. For example, there’s no need to provide your mailing address if you’re requesting a free sample of a downloadable software program. In most cases, there’s no need to give your phone number at all.
Look for free sample offers that provide an opt-out option that will keep you off any company mailing lists. Avoid offers that state you’ll automatically be signed up for future mailings from the company.

Finding Freebies Online

If you’re interested in using free samples to save money, check out the following helpful websites:

If you want to get the best free samples, remember to visit these sites often to check for new offers. Since most companies only provide a limited number of samples, offers tend to expire quickly. Also, some sites restrict the number of offers you can receive, so consider your choices carefully so you can get what you really want.