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What companies have you gotten samples from?

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This is going to be a really stupid question, but...

When requesting samples from a company, take DermOrganic for example- do you basically just go to their website, click 'contact us' and send an email? Or is there some other special way you all know to contact them?

Also..... I'm kind of shy about asking for samples and I was wondering another really stupid question, which is, could I see an example email of what you say to actually ask for samples? Do you include your address in the email? Are you straightforward, groveling, indifferent, business-like? I just don't know how to start... I feel like an idiot!

 
[@]eastofthesun[/@] Here's the e-mail I use when requesting haircare samples. It has worked well for me. Hello, DermOrganic Customer Service. Where can I purchase samples of DermOrganic hair products? A friend recommended your line of Anti-Frizz products. I have long, blonde, not color-treated hair, which tends to be wavy and frizzy. I have adult acne and I was recently informed that silicones/dimethicone in the hair products I use has been contributing to clogged pores on my face. I am looking for new products to improve the quality of my hair and my skin. I would like to try samples before purchasing full-size products. I would appreciate any assistance. Tammy

 
Quote: Originally Posted by peridotcricket /img/forum/go_quote.gif

@eastofthesun

Here's the e-mail I use when requesting haircare samples. It has worked well for me.

Hello, DermOrganic Customer Service.

Where can I purchase samples of DermOrganic hair products? A friend recommended your line of Anti-Frizz products. I have long, blonde, not color-treated hair, which tends to be wavy and frizzy.

I have adult acne and I was recently informed that silicones/dimethicone in the hair products I use has been contributing to clogged pores on my face. I am looking for new products to improve the quality of my hair and my skin. I would like to try samples before purchasing full-size products. I would appreciate any assistance.

Tammy
Awesome email, thanks Tammy!

If I were at customer service, I'd definitely send you some samples! :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

Thanks for your advice!

 
This is going to be a really stupid question, but... When requesting samples from a company, take DermOrganic for example- do you basically just go to their website, click 'contact us' and send an email? Or is there some other special way you all know to contact them? Also..... I'm kind of shy about asking for samples and I was wondering another really stupid question, which is, could I see an example email of what you say to actually ask for samples? Do you include your address in the email? Are you straightforward, groveling, indifferent, business-like? I just don't know how to start... I feel like an idiot!
Click to expand...
It's always good with any request to start with a positive or a compliment. Like... "I've heard great things about your product from XXX" or "I tried product X from you and it was great, so I am curious about product Y" and politely ask for what you want. I think the key thing is to avoid being negative or demanding, like I have seen girls on forums complaining like "oh they gave this to X person but not me," and they wrote to the company to complain. Whether or not you are in the right, starting out on a confrontational note puts the person on edge.
 
How do you all feel when a company just doesn't respond?? I've been on an expensive journey for a natural undereye concealer, and what I have is NOT working for me (they all get dry and cakey and seem to create dry skin that doesn't exist...). So, I'm sick of buying concealer and wasting money. I emailed Christopher Drummond about their duo-phase concealer, hoping to sample it. I offered to pay for shipping and everything, and I know they sell samples of their liquid foundation. No response. I think that just turned me off completely from their company! I almost feel like no matter how great the product is, I don't want to buy it. Am I being a brat??

 
It does frustrate me when they don't bother to respond. A while back, I asked two companies very nicely if I could get a sample or two of their products and then review them on my YouTube channel. I was told that it could be done, blah blah blah, three months later... The PR people never bothered to contact me. I contacted macadamia hair care a while ago just looking to try their products, nothing with YouTube, and they never responded. My hair is healthy but recently I've had a lot of breakage. I was hoping to try the deep repair masque but no dice. I would just buy it, but it's a lot of money to spend on experimenting. Anyway, I'm always very polite, so when companies don't respond I do get a little sad especially if it's an online company. Oh well... Maybe I'm a brat too 😉

 
At least it's not just me! Honestly, a few companies (W3ll people, RMS, Illia), responded that the did not offer samples, but sent emails about their products, my specific skin issues, and their return policy in case the products didn't work out. So, I've felt ok to purchase these products... and like their brands better for their effort!

 
It does frustrate me when they don't bother to respond. A while back, I asked two companies very nicely if I could get a sample or two of their products and then review them on my YouTube channel. I was told that it could be done, blah blah blah, three months later... The PR people never bothered to contact me. I contacted macadamia hair care a while ago just looking to try their products, nothing with YouTube, and they never responded. My hair is healthy but recently I've had a lot of breakage. I was hoping to try the deep repair masque but no dice. I would just buy it, but it's a lot of money to spend on experimenting. Anyway, I'm always very polite, so when companies don't respond I do get a little sad especially if it's an online company. Oh well... Maybe I'm a brat too 😉
Click to expand...
The macadamia hair care masque is PHENOMENAL!!! You can buy a trial size packet of this masque at Ulta for $4.00. This packet lasts for 2-3 uses on my shoulder length hair. I highly recommend it!!!
 
This is what happens when you spend a lot of money at Sephora and Nordstrom, as well as, LUSH and Macy's in just one day. They hook you up. And this is what I received while shopping with my amazing boyfriend, who I have to thank for this too.





I am also a member of Birchbox and Ipsy. Anyone know of another sampling place? Send me a referral, so I can join. :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 
Quote: Originally Posted by Sarah Afshar /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  This is what happens when you spend a lot of money at Sephora and Nordstrom, as well as, LUSH and Macy's in just one day. They hook you up. And this is what I received while shopping with my amazing boyfriend, who I have to thank for this too.





I am also a member of Birchbox and Ipsy. Anyone know of another sampling place? Send me a referral, so I can join. :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />
WOW!!! That's .... I have no words.

I don't get it, how did you go about getting those? Did they just throw them in since you spent so much, or did you have to ask if they would include some samples? I have to know! Also... you wouldn't mind divulging a general amount at which you spent at say, one of those stores, to obtain those? Hehehe, girl's gotta know!

Congratulations, that is totally awesome! I hope you love your purchases and get lots of use out of your amazing samples! <3 JEALOUS!!!!

 
Quote: Originally Posted by Sarah Afshar /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  This is what happens when you spend a lot of money at Sephora and Nordstrom, as well as, LUSH and Macy's in just one day. They hook you up. And this is what I received while shopping with my amazing boyfriend, who I have to thank for this too.





I am also a member of Birchbox and Ipsy. Anyone know of another sampling place? Send me a referral, so I can join. :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />
I spy an Aquolina Pink Sugar sample! I've been trying to get my hands on one of those for a long time now. It's not sold anywhere around here and I don't want to buy it until I know I'll love it.

 
Quote: Originally Posted by eastofthesun /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  WOW!!! That's .... I have no words.

I don't get it, how did you go about getting those? Did they just throw them in since you spent so much, or did you have to ask if they would include some samples? I have to know! Also... you wouldn't mind divulging a general amount at which you spent at say, one of those stores, to obtain those? Hehehe, girl's gotta know!

Congratulations, that is totally awesome! I hope you love your purchases and get lots of use out of your amazing samples! <3 JEALOUS!!!!
I also would like to know,

What do I do to obtain all of these samples?!

 
Quote: Originally Posted by eastofthesun /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  WOW!!! That's .... I have no words.

I don't get it, how did you go about getting those? Did they just throw them in since you spent so much, or did you have to ask if they would include some samples? I have to know! Also... you wouldn't mind divulging a general amount at which you spent at say, one of those stores, to obtain those? Hehehe, girl's gotta know!

Congratulations, that is totally awesome! I hope you love your purchases and get lots of use out of your amazing samples! <3 JEALOUS!!!!

If you spend a lot of money, keep going back, you are rewarded, as a result. Excellent customer service always brings people back and that includes special incentives such as samples.

 
Quote: Originally Posted by JuliaGhostx3 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  I also would like to know,

What do I do to obtain all of these samples?!

When you become a customer and spend a modest amount of money, you are rewarded with samples. Also, ask to try new things too the next time you are at Nordstrom, Sephora, or Macy's. It also helps to have your boyfriend with you, as he can buy you stuff and also get samples for you too.

 
Quote: Originally Posted by Sarah Afshar /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
When you become a customer and spend a modest amount of money, you are rewarded with samples. Also, ask to try new things too the next time you are at Nordstrom, Sephora, or Macy's. It also helps to have your boyfriend with you, as he can buy you stuff and also get samples for you too.
Well...  I think the actual question is the definition of "modest amount."  I used to drop $100 at Sephora/Bon Marche aka Macy's/Nordstrom every weekend (so, yeah, hundreds every month), and I was never offered so much as a foil even though certain sales people knew me by name.  It was almost as if they thought that since I spent that much money, I could be relied upon to buy stuff without trying it first. 

I have since stopped shopping at those sorts of places (now it's almost all online.  Yes, I will go into Sephora, swatch something, and order it from sephora.com -- sometimes while actually standing in the store -- instead of buying it in-store solely to get those samples) in part because I would see other people buying *the exact same stuff* as me and walking out with tons of samples without even asking, but I would get nothing.  I hate asking for samples in stores because *I don't know what's out there*.  I want samples so I can try things I don't know about, and then there's the part where a lot of these sales people won't give samples unless you ask for a specific product.  That's the main reason I love Birchbox:  I might have to pay ten bucks (five bucks -- or even less then four if you're annual -- after points!) for it, but they pick things out that I've never even *heard* of before and send it to me. 

 
Quote: Originally Posted by meaganola /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Well...  I think the actual question is the definition of "modest amount."  I used to drop $100 at Sephora/Bon Marche aka Macy's/Nordstrom every weekend (so, yeah, hundreds every month), and I was never offered so much as a foil even though certain sales people knew me by name.  It was almost as if they thought that since I spent that much money, I could be relied upon to buy stuff without trying it first.

I have since stopped shopping at those sorts of places (now it's almost all online.  Yes, I will go into Sephora, swatch something, and order it from sephora.com -- sometimes while actually standing in the store -- instead of buying it in-store solely to get those samples) in part because I would see other people buying *the exact same stuff* as me and walking out with tons of samples without even asking, but I would get nothing.  I hate asking for samples in stores because *I don't know what's out there*.  I want samples so I can try things I don't know about, and then there's the part where a lot of these sales people won't give samples unless you ask for a specific product.  That's the main reason I love Birchbox:  I might have to pay ten bucks (five bucks -- or even less then four if you're annual -- after points!) for it, but they pick things out that I've never even *heard* of before and send it to me.

They never offered a sample?! That is not only disrespectful, but bad customer service. Did you ask for any samples at all? Did you send Sephora a message about this? What about the other places? I think it depends on where you go, etc. I see you are from Portland. How many Sephoras are there? So sorry about your experience. When I use to work for Lauder, I always offered samples. I love Birchbox too.

 
Quote: Originally Posted by Sarah Afshar /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  This is what happens when you spend a lot of money at Sephora and Nordstrom, as well as, LUSH and Macy's in just one day. They hook you up. And this is what I received while shopping with my amazing boyfriend, who I have to thank for this too.





I am also a member of Birchbox and Ipsy. Anyone know of another sampling place? Send me a referral, so I can join. :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />
7b.gif


 
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Quote: Originally Posted by elfbarbie07 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

It does frustrate me when they don't bother to respond. A while back, I asked two companies very nicely if I could get a sample or two of their products and then review them on my YouTube channel. I was told that it could be done, blah blah blah, three months later... The PR people never bothered to contact me. I contacted macadamia hair care a while ago just looking to try their products, nothing with YouTube, and they never responded. My hair is healthy but recently I've had a lot of breakage. I was hoping to try the deep repair masque but no dice. I would just buy it, but it's a lot of money to spend on experimenting. Anyway, I'm always very polite, so when companies don't respond I do get a little sad especially if it's an online company. Oh well... Maybe I'm a brat too 😉

Quote: Originally Posted by camel11 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

How do you all feel when a company just doesn't respond?? I've been on an expensive journey for a natural undereye concealer, and what I have is NOT working for me (they all get dry and cakey and seem to create dry skin that doesn't exist...). So, I'm sick of buying concealer and wasting money. I emailed Christopher Drummond about their duo-phase concealer, hoping to sample it. I offered to pay for shipping and everything, and I know they sell samples of their liquid foundation.

No response.

I think that just turned me off completely from their company! I almost feel like no matter how great the product is, I don't want to buy it.

Am I being a brat??
I saw this thread recently and decided to give this a go. I've gotten a few responses, some positive, some not, but there are a lot of companies who just don't respond, like you guys have been talking about. I was wondering what the average wait time for a response is in your experience? Like, do most companies usually answer by the next day, or have you gotten answers days or a week later? Thanks 
smile.gif


 

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