It can be fun and rewarding to get free samples by mail. Legitimately free stuff sites will not ask for credit card information or ask the consumer to pay postage. Spending just a few minutes a day filling out forms can yield great monetary savings. Besides, it's fun to try new things!
How to Get Free Samples by Mail
Some good websites to use to find free samples include StartSampling.com and Shop4Freebies.com. These sites, and others like them, are clearinghouses for freebies. Links on these sites lead to major manufacturers' websites offering samples for consumers to try in hopes that the consumer might then buy the product.
When the consumer lands on the manufacturer's website, typically a short form is available to fill out. Most forms of this type ask for information such as name, address, and email address. To avoid receiving spam email in the regular inbox, it may be wise to set up a separate email account for this purpose. Filling out the form typically takes around thirty seconds.
After the form to request the sample has been filled out, the consumer can then go back to the clearinghouse site to choose another free sample to request. If this process is done regularly, it can save a family a lot of money. Freebies offered vary and include anything from free makeup samples to free stuff for baby.
Advice to Help Get Free Samples by Mail
Following a few simple rules will ensure the consumer does not fall victim to scams. One important rule is to only request samples from legitimate sites. Websites who offer free gift cards with participation in a survey do not offer any reward at all. Such sites often have landing pages which ask only for an email address. The potential consumer then may be tricked into spending half an hour answering survey questions, followed by suggestions to submit a credit card number to receive a free trial. A legitimate free sample website would never ask for a credit card number.
Another piece of advice would be to avoid submitting personal identifying information at a website that does not coordinate with the free sample. Be sure to check the address bar in the web browser to ensure the name of the website coincides with the name of the product requested. For example, a website such as GeneralMills.com or FiberOne.com would be a safe bet for a cereal sample, whereas a website with a name like FreeCerealSamples.com would not. These types of sites are phishing scams.
Many freebies by mail are not sent to post office boxes. Because of this, it is important to use a physical mailing address in order to receive the sample. Once a sample has been requested, it typically takes four to six weeks to arrive in the mail box.
Following a few simple tips and spending a few minutes a day can yield great results. It may save a little money to get free samples by mail, but the small amount of savings can really add up over time. Trying new products could lead to finding something the consumer may really like!
Resources: MoneyCentral.MSN.com, "Free samples: How to Get 'em", Donna Freedman, accessed March 8, 2011
MoneyCrashers.com, "How to Find Free Samples", Sally Aquire, accessed March 8, 2011.
Elizabeth Rose - Elizabeth Rose has been publishing online content since October 2008 and has written for various websites, including eHow.com, ...
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