Replying to [Egernia]:
Very good! we are in the same opinion!

Replying to [Admin]:
To Charge! I agree.

Replying to [Admin]

TO BE OR NOT TO BE; THAT IS THE QUESTION

First of all, business is a moral aspect, where we all strive for honesty and long term business, so in all aspects everyone in here is right morally speaking, but taking in their own point of view.

But there has to be made a clear distinction.

Lets look at both sides, if a company does not supply free samples to a buyer, then buyer will think that the company or manufacturer has no interest.

The other side is that, if the buyer does not pay for the sample, then the buyer is not legitimate. Hmmm, so what happens then, nothing.

Some one has to make a first step towards trust in order to move on, so here is where the moral comes in.

Now here is where there has to be drawn a line.

1. If the samples like some member in here already pointed out, are low cost, under 5 dollars, then its obviouse they should be free.
And in this case its the Suppliers job to proceed ahead, and to attract the customer.

2. If the samples exceed the price of over 5 dollars, then its the choice of the both, if the seller thinks he can affort it or feels like he can get the order then should proceed, only if he feels comfortable.

3. Now come the specialized items, electronics, mp3, DVD and etc. this items has to be paid for, and not at production cost, they have to be paid at retail price, since you never know who your customer is, since these items are also home appliances and entertaintment, there is a high risk of product fraudsters, who just want a free sample for personal usage. So this has to be paid for no matter what. The only time there should be a free sample is, with already established buyers.

Now during all this, It should be the buyers obligation to always comply or at least try to pay for the sample afterwards. This was already pointed out by Levis from China earlier, this gives creditibilty to him.

In this situation there is no such thing as a win win situation, really, so many suppliers and so many items, its more or less like a battlefield, where we are trying to find our battle companion, by showing him our quality work.

To be free or not to be free, now you know better

Replying to [Admin]:
I think supplier charge for free sample..itwork better if buyer place the order in bulk, sample price will be credit it to buyer at bulk price of sample. What i think work best.

Replying to [Egernia]:
I dont beleive samples should be free, sadly there are too many people who have no intention of ever buying scrounging samples from suppliers, then selling them on online auctions! If a buyer knows what he is looking for he will have a reasonable idea of the product of interest and will be prepared to atleast pay the express air freight or collect the shipping charge on arrival, the only other problem being send small monetary ammounts overseas, quite often the swift transmission costs are greater than the cost of smaple required, 1 answer maybe a donation to charity in lieu of sample purchase, a system like paypal offers charity payments, maybe alibaba could do a charity voucher system and assist or setup a gateway to the EMS service for samples shipmnents?

Replying to [Admin]:
Yes, I definitely agree that charged sample make sense to future business. Also to ensure target potential clients.

Anyway, samples charge or not, mostly it is up to sample price and express charge. If sample and express fee is high price, client who is willing to do business sincerely will be glad to pay for it. If sample is cheap one like few dollars, but express charge is high, our principle is sample free but express charge to be collected. Also our previous client accept this way.

Do business sincerely and carefully. that is good way for long term business.

Boom business & nice day!~

Replying to [King Chen]:
Why lost 1% ballots?

Why we need to give one Answer if it is an open talk.....
Better not to answer,you just learn it by yourself how to approach your supplier patiently and honestly, everything is negotiable,even
about Minimum Ordered Quantity..........


Any kind of extra topic on Free Samples
just make you bored....?

Firstly, You are welcome to have the sample,
becoz you really have shown interest in it.

Secondly, It is neccesary for you to keep an sample
as your ordered product delivered
should be same against the sample accordingly.

............
Yeah suppliers are encouraged to give free sample
as the way to getting more people interested in their product....
..........
But It is good to give a sample of small value,
To give one is something more easier to do!

Understand....

if you required the factory to produce a model
as the sample, please
don't be surpise to see
a higher price or extra charge added for moulding...

If you are really not in the trading biz,
just want to buy sth as your own use,

please don't try it this way..

It is very annoying.....

Replying to [Admin]:

One should charge for the samples!

As a genuine buyer, he is willing to charge the samples, because he knows he must pay before he create more profit.

Sometimes, although the samplea is not expensive, but they also need the cost...

Replying to [Miko Chen]:

The charging of samples can help test the "sincerity" of real customers....if they refuse to pay, they are mostly frauds.....if they are real buyers, they will pay first.....we can refund in the transaction afterward anyway....

SKy