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Do you charge for samples???

 
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ChicLady

posts: 27

May 27, 2008 9:21 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I am getting tons of requests for samples... Do you guys charge for for samples? Shipping? HELP!



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Robin Lucas, CEO
MYSS, LLC- Creator of Chic Peeks Adhesive Cleavage Covers
www.ChicPeeks.com
"Ladies, this ain`t your mamma`s dickie"
charlie702

posts: 30

May 28, 2008 1:11 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Robin,
 
I have to wonder if the requests for samples might often stem from a poor feel for the product. 
I would like to see a page with some nice high resolution pictures of the product and maybe even a video to show how to use it and how it affects (or doesn`t affect) the clothing. This would stop me from requesting a sample in the first place!
 
Great product and congrats on being featured on The Big Idea.
Regards,
Charlie
 
 
EngineersCanSell

posts: 163

May 28, 2008 7:56 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Robin,

My philosophy for sampling in areas other than commodities (I wouldn`t term your product a commodity) is generally not to do it.  I can only think of three times off the top of my head for you to offer freebies.
  1. You are just getting started and want to get a few products in the right people`s hands to get meaningful testimonials (Joan consumer won`t be able to do this for you, but a celebrity sure would be awesome to have a picture of).

  2. You will end up selling a large quantity and the single freebie isn`t really useful without purchasing more material.  This is also not the case for you, this would be appropriate if you sold say steel pipe and an oil rigging company wanted a one-foot section for analysis before procuring 500 feet.  You could think of a store`s purchasing agent as this big potential too, so a free sample would be appropriate.

  3. You personally don`t think your product is worth charging for.  I hope you don`t fall into that category. 
Bottom line: for what your product costs, make the general public pay for a sample.  They will value it more and be more likely to use it in order to extract the value of the money they put into it.  A free sample is more likely to end up in the bottom of someone`s underwear drawer never to see the light of day again.

I also agree with Charlie, have a video - why not a viral attempt with a woman wearing your product in a successful business meeting and then tearing it off to have a few drinks with the girls after closing that big deal?  That would be pretty cool - I`m sure some folks on SuN have experience with this type of marketing and could point you in the right direction.


GetAGrip

posts: 99

May 28, 2008 10:05 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Are you speaking of samples for the consumer or for the buyer, if for the buyer, they are a must.  In my experience, there is not a buyer out there that is going to make a buying decision with a simple catalog sheet.  You need to get the product in their hand for them to make a honest decision.  Now, if your talking about for the consumer, I agree with everyone else, but for the retailer, get them samples!
 
If money is what your concerned about, there are a lot of loopholes that can allow your samples to be a tax benefit, one example is to charge $.01 or $1.00 and pay this yourself so it runs through your inventory system, such as your accounting software, like quickbooks.
 
Just my thoughts!  Thanks....Trent


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Trent Rousey
President - 3R Products, Inc.
DaleKing

posts: 1061

May 28, 2008 10:42 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I`m pretty sure that she`s talking about consumers, Trent.
 
Dale King


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GetAGrip

posts: 99

May 28, 2008 11:06 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I kinda thought so also, but it isn`t stated.

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Trent Rousey
President - 3R Products, Inc.
sddreamweavers

posts: 260

May 28, 2008 8:39 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I am getting tons of requests for samples... Do you guys charge for for samples? Shipping? HELP!




Can you describe your samples in detail?  Are they just a small piece of fabric or do you send out the actual product?


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Aaron Wood
CEO
San Diego Dream Weavers
http://www.sddreamweavers.com
awood@sddreamweavers.com

New and improved! Now with blogging goodness!
http://www.sddreamweavers.com/san-diego-seo-marketing-blog/
handelgate

posts: 7

May 29, 2008 4:12 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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And more important, do people actually buy your product after they get the sample?
handelgate5/29/2008 4:14 PM


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Trade Consultants in Russia
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houseofjerkyjanie

posts: 1150

May 29, 2008 9:26 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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If you are talking about consumers instead of potential retailers, I would say they should BUY them, and TRY them!  I see you offer three for a price of $16.99, which is very affordable if someone wants to try your product out.
If the product requests are from a potential retailer, I would do some research on them.  Why send your product out to everyone that asks you to? 
 
We have always been inundated with product sample requests, which I use to be fairly generous about.  But handelgate asked the right question, do they actually buy after they get the sample?
 
In our business it`s easy for everybody to say they want to start a jerky business and  feel they have a need to request samples of our product.  Do you realize how many companies they could be calling with the same request? Lots of jerky they`re eating. :)  We now have a sample package they can purchase that will be deducted off their first order with our company. It works very well.
 
I know you`re product is completely different because it is unique.  That might be a reason a potential retailer might want to see it.  Some of the other suggestions have been great.  Make it so they have no question about how it looks, how it works and how it feels.  The demonstration video would probably work very well.
 
Janie
houseofjerkyjanie5/30/2008 8:42 PM
katt33

posts: 484

May 31, 2008 1:37 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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For a start up giving samples out for free is tough.  Even the large manufacturers I use and whose products I sell no longer give free samples, so neither do I.  With my soaps, I will offer two samples baskets and charge base price, what it would cost me to buy them.  the manufacturers I represent, like Sea Ora, they sell sample packets of 24 items with a catalog for about $8.00 and even if I charge $12, it would still be okay.
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