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Last week's one post covered a lot, even though it was mostly wordless. One of my projects has ended so I have time. I have been writing up a storm, but not on this blog or my other one. I've been writing like crazy for another website, latestfreestuff.com, and I have much to say about free samples.
Don't get me wrong. I've been collecting freebies for a couple of years. But since it's now my job, I get a lot more. I've gotten 55 free samples in the last two months. It's to the point that all packages are given to me first, and then sorted to the others I live with.
But of course, there are certain situations that are irksome. I don't think I will ever get a Starbucks sample. That's okay. I am not a fan of Starbucks. The problem? Too many hoops. And that is what is so discouraging about obtaining certain samples. The amount of hoops needed to get the sample.
Hoop One: Phone Numbers Needed
Dear companies, we know why you want our phone numbers. I know that your bread and butter is made through upselling. And yes, it does work on impulse buyers. But I believe 35% of those seeking free samples are very savvy so we know you are going to call. For those of us that just want the free sample and don't want to talk to you, yes, we give you a fake number. Some of us want your sample so bad we have fake voicemail. Yes, there are so many tricks to getting a free sample. I'm not there yet. It's not that serious. Look, let your product do the talking. If it's aces, we'll buy more.
Hoop Two: Sharing On Our Facebook Wall
If I see another ad on Facebook telling me my friend, Mary Johnson, likes Buca di Beppo*, it'll be too soon, and I have no desire to sign in to my Facebook account until mid-May. If I feel that way, of course, a few of my friends feel the same way. Requiring us to share on our wall or accept the app to share on our wall without any input from us is very annoying. But those of us who really want the sample use certain tricks to get that free sample. If you have a website, just use that, please.
Hoop Three: Making It A Contest
Seriously?! Really?! It's not that this just gets my knickers in a bunch. This is just ridiculous. I have to enter to win a free sample. I like competitions. I do, but for full products. Trips to somewhere warm. Not for 1.5 ounces of some lotion. And I'm being generous about that amount of lotion. For real, if it's going to be a contest, please give me the whole product. Otherwise, just offer the samples, and when a certain number has been reached, shut it down. That's not hard.
Not A Hoop Yet, But If More Companies Do This It Will Be
Okay, I feel the need to address a special set of companies. I know it is annoying when these websites advertise that you are offering a free sample. I know you cannot handle that amount of requests. Not enough staff, postage would be through the roof, so many fake phone numbers, etc., etc. But if you understood how freebie sites worked instead of just denying those who use their links a free sample, you would re-think your stance. The people that click the link actually want your sample. One company said they had been bombarded with 16,000 requests in one day. I would wager that 13,000 of those requests wanted the sample. The other 3,000 just wanted a free sample. When you take that hard stance, you are actually losing potential customers. We don't have to click the link if we don't want it, you know.
I could go on, but those are the top three hoops and one that needed to be mentioned. It's annoying, and all it does is frustrate people enough to write articles about it. Or they may share their bad experiences on Facebook. They may even send a tweet or two. Companies, listen to Jeff Bezos of Amazon. He said (I'm paraphrasing) back in the day, people would tell 2-6 friends about their bad experiences with a company. Now they can tell 6,000 people. If you thought the postage for free samples was outrageous, just imagine if you lost 6,000 customers.
What annoys you about companies that make you jump through hoops to get a free sample?
*I have nothing against Buca di Beppo. I don't even have a friend name Mary Johnson.
Photo Credit: Stuart Mills at freedigitalphotos.net
