Do in-store or mail samples lead you to buy something?
By dragon54u
@dragon54u (31634)
United States
August 20, 2008 8:10am CST
Does trying something usually lead to your buying it? That rarely works on me but I had a sample at the grocery store yesterday of a sub sandwich and asked what those things were on the bottom that were so tasty--they were banana peppers! So I went to the aisle they told me and bought a jar. I added them to my egg-beater omelet this morning and mom and I thought they were yummy!! I can hardly wait for my sandwich at lunch so that I can have them again, and only 10 calories per serving!! 
I don't usually buy things that I sample. In the store, I'm very frugal and will taste things out of curiosity or my tummy's rumbling but I don't buy it. Especially those expensive crackers! Mail order freebies I use as stocking stuffers or I save them and send them as surprises to people in my family.
So do you buy things after sampling them or are you usually a moocher like me? 
I don't usually buy things that I sample. In the store, I'm very frugal and will taste things out of curiosity or my tummy's rumbling but I don't buy it. Especially those expensive crackers! Mail order freebies I use as stocking stuffers or I save them and send them as surprises to people in my family.
So do you buy things after sampling them or are you usually a moocher like me? 3 people like this
13 responses
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
20 Aug 08
The free samples are one of the reasons my son likes to go shopping with me. He always wants to try the samples. I normally let him try them instead of me. I don't want to seem greedy and take one too. I rarely get the product. My son also claims all of the food samples I get in the mail.
3 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
20 Aug 08
Do you frequent the freebie sites? He'll have a lot of good treats from there! I loved the box of chocolate chex mix I sent for and did end up buying a bag. I dole it out sparingly to myself, though, I could easily sit down and eat the entire bag in one sitting--and it would go right to where I sit! 
2 people like this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
20 Aug 08
I like to sample things because I may want to buy them in the future and want to know what they taste like. I often buy what I sampled, but not always. I have heard that this is really effective marketing on the part of the store. They say that sales of an item go way up if free samples are given out.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
20 Aug 08
Sometimes when I try things and really like it, I do. Alot of the time I use them and it helps my budget.
3 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
20 Aug 08
Every so often the stores will have demos that coincide with sales on that item. Plus the demonstrator gives you a coupon! I got my favorite packaged cheese after tasting it for the first time in the store and the gal gave me a coupon. It was on sale and I got it for $1! Unfortunately, I don't buy it much because it's $3.99 a package when it's not on sale! 
2 people like this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
20 Aug 08
I do not usually buy things that I've sampled unless the product is really great then I will consider buying it again especially if I feel like I just have to have whatever the sample was. Usually, I get the samples and keep them on hand when I end up running out of my usual product. It saves me a trip to the store and a bit of money if I have them on hand.
3 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
20 Aug 08
Good idea! Whenever I get samples of bandaids or tylenol or something, I add it to my emergency room where I keep things I may need in a disaster (we have tornadoes here). I'll also keep some food items in my cupboards "just in case". This past winter I was stuck at home for 4 days because of the snow and it was nice to know that I wouldn't run out of anything for weeks!
2 people like this
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
21 Aug 08
Samples are good and you can be tempted to buy when you see things in the mail, yes.
But this does not happen often.
Most of the time I pass it up because too many people use this to get extra sales rather than promote new or innovative items.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
21 Aug 08
It's not often that someone comes up with something that's truly new and different, it's mostly the same old thing packaged in a different way! Thanks for the response.
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
20 Aug 08
Sometimes, but more often than not I'm glad that I didn't pay for the product;) And even if I like it, sometimes the cost of the actual product will stop me from buying it, too, even though I might have liked the sample the cost-value factor is important!
3 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
20 Aug 08
I've only bought two things I've sampled in the store, the peppers and Kraft's Select american cheese which is SO good!!
Usually though, I see the price and wonder why they think I've got that much money!
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Last year our family had a rule that not more than $5 could be spent on adults. So I sent away for lots of freebies and packed them in a box for my sister. Boy, was she surprised! She was still making great discoveries in the package in January! And the postage was just a bit over $5! She loved it.
1 person likes this
@sameroad (3179)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I rarely try the in store samples because you always have the person standing there looking at you, watching you and then trying to sell it to you and all that bothers me because I can't eat if someone is staring at me! lol but i get a lot of mail samples.
and sometimes it will lead me to buy something but that is rare and i think it also depends on what it is, like if its food or a product of some kind. I think i'm more likely to buy food products vs something i can't eat. lol
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
21 Aug 08
That would bother me, too. But I just take the sample, say thank you and walk away to try it. If I like it, I'll go back for the coupon!
@dont_pick_your_nose (2279)
• Australia
21 Aug 08
lol i think i am more like you i love the free sampling and i suppose it could influence my decision if it was really good but they are not normally that great and i have had some really foul ones that make you think why are you handing that out for people to try when it is so disgusting, i would have left it on the shelf for people to try if they want it not free samples so everyone knows how bad it is.
I usually look for specials and have an idea of what i want and what i want to spend, i try to stick to that if i went in aimlessly i wouldn't be able to afford meals for the week.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I always have to go with a list! If not, I wouldn't have what it takes to make meals--I'd buy delicious cheeses, frozen vegetables, sale items that have nothing to do with each other like maybe powdered milk and toilet paper and then I'd get home and have nothing to make a balanced meal!
1 person likes this
@StarChild517 (657)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Yes most of the time they do lead me to buy something but only if I like the product.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I really like some of the things and even accept coupons for them but once I go and see the price, I usually leave the coupon with the product on the shelf and leave without buying it. Things are so expensive!!
1 person likes this
@manunulat (604)
• Philippines
21 Aug 08
Samples are good promo ideas. I need it to test cosmetic products that I am contemplating to buy. There's this promo that we fill up a survey via email and they send some control nos. via text message to get the sample from the store. It's fun and pretty much helpful on my part because I need to test stuff before actually buying the product.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Yes, those are very good because lots of people have allergies to makeup. Better to try it for free than spend your money only to find out you can't wear it!
1 person likes this
@khenson7 (104)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I am a moocher, but if it is too yummy I get suckered into buying it! My husband is really bad- if it's good we have to get it. Now, my 4 year old daughter is a MOOCHER! She tries everything that is offered to her and if she likes it she doesn't ask to buy it she just asks for another sample of it. haha! We shop at Sam's Club and they always have samples everywhere, it takes us a while to get through shopping because of taking time to eat samples. My daughter even sampled the Gummy Vitamins and wanted another but she couldn't! It was a vitamin and she fell for it. It also depends on if I'm hungry or not. If I'm hungry, I am very vulnerable. If I'm full, I usually don't even try it!
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I can't resist, even if I'm not hungry! I wish they would have more sampling in my grocery but it's pretty rare. So, did you buy the Gummy Vitamins since your daughter liked them so much?
@BANDULAAB (1)
• Sri Lanka
21 Aug 08
Yes smapling is the best way of trying a new product and also give us our chioce to see how it looks like . most of the supermarkets have this promotions to grab the customer , even they request to make some comment so they now what we really think of the product. not even the food items we can have promotions to other products as well , but its not tasting but in another way of attracting a customer.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I think it's a great marketing tool and an advantage to consumers.
I see this is your first post here on myLot! Welcome to a very nice community, I hope you enjoy yourself and the extra cash you'll be making! Remember to never post you referral links or the discussion you're in will be deleted. Other than that, have some fun and post a lot!
1 person likes this
