Secret Ways to Get Free Stuff

[brian]

Secret Ways to Get Free Stuff
by Jennifer Smith

I began looking for free stuff on the Internet three years ago. I went from not having any mail coming to the house to having the mailbox and my front porch overflowing with boxes and letters. Here's how I started.

When reading magazines like Elle or Cosmo, I find articles about products that I would like to try. Since I live in a very rural area, it is hard for me to get to a larger department store to sample the newer items. I have found that if I find a company I like, and can find a website for the company, I can e-mail them and ask for samples of their products. Six out of ten companies will usually send me what I have asked for, and some companies will send more.

I usually start with a letter stating who I am, maybe some of my problems or past problems I have had. Besides the samples, I also ask for recommendations of other products they think might be beneficial, or compliment them on products I have used in the past. Companies that I have actually received products from are Neutrogena; I called an 800 number from their site, and received a bar of soap, shampoo, conditioner, all over body cream, and Norwegian hand cream. I received 6 oz. bottles of two different shampoos from a company called Helly's, skin and hair products from Dermapprove, and makeup samples from Beauticontrol. Nexus sent me samples of shampoo and conditioner. Alpha-Hydrox sent me free product coupons as well as 30-40 smaller samples for hands and face. La prairie sent me perfume, lotion, and cleanser; Lite Cosmetics sent skin care products; and Botanics of California sent a full size jar of mud mask, moisturizer, two small bottles of shampoo and conditioner, toner, and cleanser. Furthermore, I have received skin care products from Decelor, Ahava, La Therapie, and Zelda's. Guinot sent a whole skin care regime, in a very nice zippered case, with pockets. Mary Kay and I Natural have sent samples; Saint Ives sent many samples as well as a free product coupon; and Basis, Lisa Lampe, Skin Sceuticals and Nivea have also sent samples of their various products. Lastly, I have also received e-mails saying that more samples are on the way, from different companies.

By the way, when Start Sampling was giving out samples of pens, and they were gone, I found the web site for Bic, and e-mailed them asking for a sample of the pen they were giving out. They not only sent me that pen but two other different kinds as well. If anyone else has different ideas on how to recieve samples of products, or companies that may have an on going policy of giving out samples please share your ideas with everyone. I am very interested in hearing comments.

I have also tried these techniques at different types of companies like chocolate companies, or baking companies. I have received full packages of flour, flavored oils for baking, chocolates, cookies, and many other items, including coffee, and teas just to name a few.

This just started out as a game to see what I could get, but it turned out to be an easy way to stock up things. They may be in small packages, but companies send out an incredibly large amount of them. It also pays to use search engines to find certain things, for example. I wanted to find computer paper for our printer. I did a search on paper manufactures and received more paper than we know what to do with. It does pay off just to ask!!!!

Editor's Note: Please make sure that you have the need for the samples. Companies may stop sending out samples if they find out that their marketing effort of sending samples does not pay off. Furthermore, it will help if you actually buy the products after using the samples. Even if you know that you will not going to buy, please consider sending thank you notes to the companies. Lastly, by using the samples given, you are saving the resources of the environment (e.g., less paper), companies, and postal services.

About the Author:
If you would like to contact the author, she can be reached at: zitra@frontiernet.net.

© Copyright 1999 - 2002 by Brian Chow