Did you know that sometimes getting free samples is as easy as asking?
Companies spend a lot of money trying to get their products into the hands of potential customers. While many brands advertise official sample offers, others may send samples, coupons, trial-size products or other goodies to consumers who simply contact them.
There is no guarantee that a company will send you anything, of course. But a friendly email or message takes only a minute, and you might be surprised by what shows up in your mailbox.
Here are some companies and types of brands worth contacting if you want to try asking for free samples.
Why Do Companies Give Away Free Samples?
Giving away a small amount of product can be good marketing.
If you try a new shampoo, snack, pet treat or household product for free and love it, there’s a good chance you’ll buy the full-size version later. You might also tell friends about it or post about it online.
Companies may respond to requests with:
- Trial-size products
- Individual samples
- High-value coupons
- Free-product coupons
- Stickers or promotional items
- Samples of newly released products
What you receive can vary considerably, and some companies may simply tell you that they don’t currently have samples available.
Companies to Ask for Free Samples
Procter & Gamble
P&G owns a huge collection of household and personal-care brands, including Tide, Downy, Febreze, Crest, Olay, Pantene and Gillette.
Instead of contacting P&G with a generic “send me free stuff” request, consider reaching out to a specific brand you already use. Tell them which product you like and ask whether they currently have samples or coupons available.
P&G also periodically runs promotions and sampling opportunities, so it’s worth watching individual brand websites.
Unilever
Unilever’s portfolio includes brands in beauty, personal care, food and household categories. Dove, Vaseline, Degree, Hellmann’s and other familiar names fall under the company’s umbrella.
Individual brands occasionally offer sampling promotions. You can also use a brand’s Contact Us page to politely ask whether samples or coupons are available.
L’Oréal
Beauty companies are particularly good ones to watch for sampling opportunities because customers often want to test skincare, haircare and cosmetics before purchasing a full-size product.
L’Oréal and its family of brands periodically run sample campaigns for skincare, makeup and hair products. Keep an eye on the brands you use and consider signing up for their emails in addition to contacting them.
Purina
Pet owners shouldn’t leave their furry family members out of the freebie hunt.
Purina regularly features special offers through its brands and myPurina program. At the time of writing, Purina was advertising free Purina ONE Purée samples for eligible myPurina users while supplies lasted.
You can also contact individual Purina brands to ask about coupons, promotions or samples.
SC Johnson
SC Johnson makes many household products you probably recognize, including brands such as Glade, Windex, OFF! and Ziploc.
Household-product companies may not always have traditional sample-size products available, but they’re still worth contacting. You could receive coupons that make trying a new product considerably cheaper.
Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive owns brands across oral care, personal care, home care and pet nutrition.
If there is a particular Colgate, Palmolive or Softsoap product you’d like to try, contact that brand directly and ask whether samples or coupons are currently available.
Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark is behind household names such as Kleenex, Huggies, Cottonelle and Scott.
Baby and personal-care products can be especially expensive to buy only to discover that they aren’t right for your family, making samples and coupons particularly useful. Look for current promotions or contact the individual brand.
General Mills
General Mills has a giant collection of food brands, including Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Nature Valley and Old El Paso.
Food manufacturers don’t necessarily have samples sitting around waiting to be mailed, but contacting your favorite brands can sometimes result in coupons or promotional offers.
Kellogg’s
Love a particular cereal or snack? Try reaching out to the manufacturer.
Food companies frequently use coupons rather than mailing individual food samples because coupons are easier and cheaper to distribute. A high-value coupon can be just as useful as a sample, especially if it makes the product free or nearly free at the grocery store.
Campbell’s
Campbell’s owns more than just its famous soup brand. Its portfolio includes several popular food and snack brands.
Try contacting the specific brand you enjoy and asking whether they offer coupons, samples or a mailing list for upcoming promotions.
Kraft Heinz
Kraft Heinz owns dozens of familiar grocery brands. If you’re a regular buyer of one of them, sending a compliment along with your request may be worth a try.
Don’t demand a free product. A genuine note about why you like a particular product followed by a question about available samples or coupons is a much better approach.
Mars
Mars has brands spanning candy, snacks and pet care. Depending on the brand, you may find promotions, coupons or sampling opportunities.
Again, contacting the individual brand rather than the parent corporation is usually your best bet.
Nestlé
Nestlé operates numerous food, beverage and nutrition brands. Different brands run promotions at different times, so there isn’t necessarily one universal Nestlé sample program.
Check your favorite brand’s website for a Contact Us form and ask whether it has samples, coupons or current promotions.
Beauty Brands Are Especially Worth Asking
If you enjoy beauty freebies, don’t limit yourself to the giant corporations.
Skincare, makeup, fragrance and haircare companies frequently launch sampling campaigns because trying the product can be an important part of deciding whether to buy it.
Brands such as La Roche-Posay, Dove, RoC and other beauty companies have offered free samples through online promotions. Current offers change quickly, so search for “[brand name] free sample” before contacting customer service.
You may discover that the company already has a sample request form available.
Pet Food Companies Are Worth Contacting Too
Switching pet food can get expensive, particularly if your cat takes one sniff and files an immediate complaint with management.
Pet food and treat manufacturers sometimes provide samples, coupons or introductory offers. In addition to Purina, consider contacting the manufacturers of foods you’re genuinely interested in trying.
Be prepared to provide basic information about your pet, such as whether you have a dog or cat, age and dietary preferences.
Don’t Forget Smaller Companies
Big brands aren’t your only option.
Small and newer companies may actually be particularly interested in getting products into the hands of potential customers. Consider contacting companies that sell:
Skincare, cosmetics, soap, shampoo, coffee, tea, snacks, seasonings, cleaning products, pet products, baby products and health or wellness products.
If you’ve discovered an interesting product online but aren’t ready to buy the full-size version, ask whether a trial size is available.
What Should You Say When Asking for Free Samples?
Keep your message short, polite and specific.
Here’s a simple example:
“Hi! I’ve been wanting to try your [product name] and was wondering if you currently offer any free samples or coupons. I’d love the opportunity to try it before purchasing the full-size product. Thank you!”
If you’re already a customer, personalize your message:
“Hi! My family loves your [product], and I’ve been interested in trying your new [product]. Do you happen to offer samples or coupons by mail? Thanks for making products we enjoy!”
You don’t need to write a novel. Customer-service representatives probably aren’t waiting for your three-act origin story about discovering ranch dressing.
Compliments Can Pay Off Too
You don’t necessarily have to ask directly for something free.
Some consumers simply contact companies to tell them how much they enjoy a particular product. Brands may respond with a thank-you, coupons or occasionally promotional goodies.
Be genuine. Don’t invent a story just to try to score something for free.
If a product really is a staple in your household, tell the company. Consumer feedback is valuable to brands, whether it’s positive or negative.
Where to Contact Companies
Start with the company’s official website and look for a Contact Us, Customer Service or Help link.
Contact forms are often easier than hunting for an email address. You can also check a brand’s official social media accounts, although private messages aren’t always handled by the same customer-service team.
When requesting something by mail, you’ll eventually need to provide your mailing address. Only provide personal information through legitimate company websites or verified channels.
Sign Up for Official Sample Programs
Asking brands directly isn’t your only option.
Some companies distribute samples through dedicated sampling programs and product-testing communities. These programs may ask you to complete a profile so they can match products with the right households.
Depending on availability, programs such as PINCHme and SampleSource may offer opportunities to receive samples. Product-testing communities may provide free products in exchange for honest feedback or reviews.
These aren’t quite the same as emailing a company and asking, but they can dramatically increase the number of sampling opportunities you find.
Tips for Getting More Free Samples
Create a separate email address for freebies, coupons and brand newsletters. It keeps promotional messages from taking over your primary inbox.
Follow brands you genuinely like on social media, where limited sample campaigns are sometimes announced.
Sign up for company newsletters and rewards programs. Some free samples are offered only to members.
Check frequently. The best sample promotions can disappear quickly when companies reach their distribution limit.
And don’t be discouraged by a “no.” Sample inventory changes constantly. A company that has nothing available today could launch a nationwide sampling campaign next month.
Watch Out for Fake “Free Sample” Offers
A legitimate free sample shouldn’t require you to hand over a pile of sensitive information.
Be cautious if a website asks for your Social Security number, banking information or other unnecessary personal data.
Also pay attention to “free” offers that require expensive shipping charges or automatically enroll you in a paid subscription. That’s not the kind of freebie we’re hunting.
Whenever possible, request samples directly from the company’s official website.
Are You Guaranteed to Get Something Just by Asking?
No, and that’s important to understand.
Companies change their sampling policies all the time. One person might receive coupons while another receives a polite response saying that samples aren’t available. Limited promotions may also end without notice.
Think of asking as knocking on a very large corporate door. Sometimes nobody answers. Sometimes you get a coupon. Every once in a while, the mailbox gods smile upon you and a little package arrives.
Since sending a quick message is free, there isn’t much to lose.
The Bottom Line
If there’s a product you’ve been wanting to try, ask the company if they have a free sample.
Start with brands you already buy and products you’re genuinely curious about. Visit the company’s official website, find its contact form and send a short, friendly message asking whether samples or coupons are available.
You won’t get something every time, but the occasional free product, coupon or surprise in the mailbox can make those few minutes of effort worthwhile.
And once you start paying attention to official brand promotions, rewards programs and sample campaigns, you’ll probably discover that there are far more opportunities to try products for free than you realized.
