Taste Tests, Freebies, Product Promo and Falling in Line
By Winky
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
Boston, Massachusetts
November 8, 2009 8:57pm CST
Did you have any experience of falling in line just for “taste tests”, promo products and other freebies in the supermarket? I did it yesterday. My family and I had fun with our grocery shopping.
Please allow me to share with you our experience while doing our grocery shopping yesterday:
1st line: Taste Test for Waldorf salad and they are promoting the Lady’s choice mayonnaise product
2nd line: Century corn flakes tuna – a new additional recipe for century tuna
3rd line: Lucky Me Baked Mac – a new product of lucky me for kids
My husband was quite embarrassed but is making fun of me for being in the line for the taste test. My son and his caregiver enjoyed it too. Mu husband teased me that since I am already full with all the “taste tests” no need for us to eat out and for us to just go home after the grocery shopping.
After we paid the grocery we were instructed to the redemption booth to avail of the freebies since we were able to reach to the amount required for it.
1st line – bonus 1 bottle of ketchup and a roll of cotton plus 2 pieces of canister (I can use it for my pack lunch)
2nd line – I had free 5 scoops of Selecta ice cream. The five of us enjoyed it – even mu husband had one LOL.
I considered it a blessing—it was really fun! How about you? Are you embarrass to fall in line or you find it fun and exciting? Please share! Thanks!
3 people like this
8 responses
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
9 Nov 09
I'm definitely not embarrassed at all, especially when it comes to tasting new products in line. That has happened before when it was for Starbucks drinks. I see a lady holding a tray, smiling and I went to her, smiling too; and picking up a small plastic glass and went on to taste the new flavor. And if it's deliciously enticing, I'll go and line up to buy it. There might be a sale done for these testing of food, drinks and whatnot.. 
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
9 Nov 09
thanks zed for this quick comment. it's really logical to taste it first before we will be encouraged to buy their product so there's really no reason for us to be ashamed and embarrass to fall in line and wait for our turn to have the taste of it... giving you a smile is a plus for having that taste tests LOL. good custome service i may say!
1 person likes this
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
9 Nov 09
the starbucks food server is quite oriented about good customer service but the lady who's in-charge with the selecta ice cream for our freebies was frowning... i don't know why but i just took it as--that lady must be very tired for the day's promo but then she should maintain positive interaction with the customer.
1 person likes this
@sunnycool (12714)
• India
13 Nov 09
if given a chance i would complete all those stock LOL.i wouldnt be embrassed to taste all those freebies.i have heard a lot abt these freebie tastes in other countries but its really unfortunate that in our country they havent adopted to that kind of marketing strategies.you had 5 ice cream scoops on a roll u must be having huge tummy LOLgud day.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
13 Nov 09
Hi Sunny,
of course i share the other scoops to my family... it was individually top on an icecream cones. it was fun really. i just hope one day this kind of strategy will be adopted in your area too. i am pretty sure you will be the first one in line LOL!
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
13 Nov 09
why not friend... i can start promoting Filipino foods. i know it will be a hit in your country. one of these days this will happen!
@sunnycool (12714)
• India
13 Nov 09
so i misunderstood u.if at all no one starts the freebie strategies i hope you can make some gud business at our place nd i can have my free stuff too.LOL.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
9 Nov 09
Its definitely fun, no questions about it. I love going shopping and picking up freebies and going for taste tests LOL as and when they are there. Its only on Saturday that I bought an extra bottle of shampoo (I’ll use it next month) coz it had a soap free with it, four packs of curry paste got me to packs of instant noodles and the ice-cream counter had some new winter special flavours so I got to taste them too LOL…there was also some launch of cakes with cream fillings for kids and they were giving that away at three points in the supermarket …I actually went round to all the three places (c’mon I was a liiiiiiiitle embarrassed to go to the same guy again and again) and in all, I got six little packs of cream cakes. Great fun, no doubt and let hubbies be hubbies LOL
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
9 Nov 09
Really you made it 6x? that's what we call GUTS-- see you have lots of it! Congrats for that! Yes, there are also laundry and bath products with freebies and that were also some of the things i enjoyed collecting too!
@Jankar (583)
• Philippines
11 Nov 09
Well msfrancisco, whenever there are free stuff, I'm always in for it. And this free taste promos also gives us the idea whether that product is good or bad without wasting any money. Plus, that way, I get a free snack. Hahaha, Lol!
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
11 Nov 09
that's what make promos extra special for giving us extra blessing to have some snacks. nice that you don't have any problem for trying new products.
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
10 Nov 09
Whenever the I go to the grocery store and there are samples given to the shoppers, I try to have the samples to know if the new product being promoted is good. I also take advantage of those freebies given away at the stores, they're fun to have, I guess the fun comes from the fact that it's free.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
10 Nov 09
Maybe one of these days we can share some of the freebies that we had out of this promos in the supermarket especially now for the holiday season. You are right -- the fun is really coming from the fact that things are given for FREE-- whatever it is big and small, cheap and looks expensive, we hav that excitement to get or have one of it!
Let's schedule one weekend to do our grocery shopping and then check on what we freebies we have and what food we have tasted... THanks Doryvien!
@rjvb26 (2518)
• Philippines
14 Nov 09
Why get embarrassed in the first place it is free and it is intended to be consumed by the public without paying it, the embarrassing situation is that it is not free, it came from a friend and you will consume it, till there's no more that is embarrassing, but that is a free taste so i will enjoy it besides at this present economic situation, doing that is already a kind of saving money.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
14 Nov 09
true...tastes tests in grocery and malls are really a blockbuster nowadays-- people really patiently fall in line to get their share of the product. this has a double benefit for the endorser and the consumer...!
yes, nothing to be embarrassed and and ashamed of for we are just being friendly for giving in to their favor of asking us to taste their food and other products.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
10 Nov 09
Hi Cher,
oh sad to hear that... but did you ever experience one? and enjoy it?
@lindiebiz (1006)
• Canada
9 Nov 09
I love this kind of shopping. It can be a lot of fun and I am not ashamed of standing in line for free stuff once in a while
@triplejazzm51 (1373)
• Philippines
9 Nov 09
No i am not ashamed falling in line to product taste tests. If i have time i also fall in line because that is my chance to try new products which i can also buy or use. Though sometimes if the line is very long i dont join the line. Freebies in shops are good motivation for the customers to buy products being promotion. There are stores which gives useful kitchen utensils as freebies. Last time i was given a free peeler and kitchen scissors. I really love the peeler its different than the usual we buy in shops but its very good to use. Its stainless and durable. Its been 7 years already and still very useful.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
9 Nov 09
really a good marketing strategy to attract more customers to patronize their products-- with your story, it was a double edge promotion. They're not only promoting their main product but with the freebies-- it's another product that you can consider having/buying. Great that you have that 7-year old peeler. Youo are lucky enough for having that one as a gift.
There will be lots of this for the christmas season. We just have to patient.
