quite good!!!!!

Quoting from [Admin]:

Many members in our forums have expressed concerns about potential fraud traps. Some members believe that asking potential customers to pay for samples is a good way to prevent fraudulent activity.

 

However, other members claim that, due to intense competition, free samples are an invaluable way to attract potential customers. What do you think?

Should samples be free or not?

us same

 

Samples should be free and in small quanties, but what is the guarantee that the supplier will send the same item.

This practice is too worth only if the supplier is genuine. The buyer will need the stuff to ensure that the item is as per his requirement. Above all the trust and sincerity are the main things in any business, which are vanishing these days.

Sreenath

Quoting from [princessking]:


Replying to [Admin]:

I choice the second one.

Quoting from [Admin]:

Many members in our forums have expressed concerns about potential fraud traps. Some members believe that asking potential customers to pay for samples is a good way to prevent fraudulent activity.

 

However, other members claim that, due to intense competition, free samples are an invaluable way to attract potential customers. What do you think?

Should samples be free or not?

Samples are important. Sellers want me to send my sample at my cost to him.But now seller make problem when he has to send sample to me??????? Come on guys. Negotiate: freight cost,sample cost,or free sample

 

Quoting from [Admin]:

Many members in our forums have expressed concerns about potential fraud traps. Some members believe that asking potential customers to pay for samples is a good way to prevent fraudulent activity.

 

However, other members claim that, due to intense competition, free samples are an invaluable way to attract potential customers. What do you think?

Should samples be free or not?

I think sample shoulb be charged to new buyers and should not charge to old buyers

Quoting from [Admin]:

Many members in our forums have expressed concerns about potential fraud traps. Some members believe that asking potential customers to pay for samples is a good way to prevent fraudulent activity.

 

However, other members claim that, due to intense competition, free samples are an invaluable way to attract potential customers. What do you think?

Should samples be free or not?

As other have written... While a free sample of small value may seem reasonable for a legitimate buyer, my experience is that there are so many requests for free samples that it would be a major cost to any organisation if they were provided.

My suggestion is for potential buyers to pay for the samples but to do this considering the following:

1) is sample unit cost reasonable?

2) is freight reasonable? [not just your opinion - get prices of sending a similar item to your sellers destination for comparison]

3) if pricing is loaded - is it to allow for reasonable administration costs?

4) would the company be prepared to discount your first order by the sample costs? Only consider this for further negotiation.

If 1, 2, 3 are not reasonable - you probably wouldn't want to do business with them.

Stay Diligent.

I'm amazed that some companies who claim to want to do bulk purchasing of my product - $1mill or more, are not prepared to pay for any initial samples [approx $200 includes freight] even when I offer to discount their first purchase by that amount.

Jim

For me,it's depend on.

For our factory,it's never have free sample.

 

Quoting from [Admin]:

Many members in our forums have expressed concerns about potential fraud traps. Some members believe that asking potential customers to pay for samples is a good way to prevent fraudulent activity.

 

However, other members claim that, due to intense competition, free samples are an invaluable way to attract potential customers. What do you think?

Should samples be free or not?

in my opinion,free samples should be provided for consumers

Quoting from [Hal2040]:


Replying to [Admin]:

Hello;

Regarding samples; the suppliers should be aware that importers pay (Custom Dutie+Sales Taxes) on the shipping costs for these samples (even if free) when they arrive the destination countries.

For example, a free sample of a stand fan that costs $7 -shipped by sea-, I pay for it $8 (30% duties X 10% sales tax applied on total of estimated cost+all freight cost). If shipped by air, the amount is $ 27, which is far more expensive than the cost of $7 which I did not pay to the factory!!!

Charging for samples or not charging is not really the issue here!

The real issue is for factories which make the paid samples EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE than their asking selling price!

For example, an item that they would sell for you at $50, the sample for it is , say, $60...why??? I do not deal at all with factories that have such a sample pricing policy, because the 2 following reasons:-

1) They make costs for inspecting their products really expensive anf this high cost is automatically entered into the customs computer database, so when you import at only $50, the customs would still charge you at $60!!

2) I do not understand at all why should factories make more money on samples than on regular sales??? This practise is only in China. The west would give you samples at a REDUCED cost ( for example at $35 for an item that sells at $50), and this is the SENSIBLE thing to do. Factories should offer paid sampl;es AT COST ONLY!!!

Thank you

H. Olama, MSME, P.E.

Cairo, Egypt.

What a great point. A few companies in china that I have contacted wanted to charge crazy sampling prices. To get to the point, they didn't get any business from us. The factories we have decided to work with have charged but they were at cost or below.

For true buyers, sampling can be very expensive and you should not be fleeced by factories that probably have shoddy quality anyway.