Replying to [Robert]: I believe that samples should be a responsibility of the supplier or manufacturer and not the buyer,except in circumstances where the buyer is asking for a large quatity of samples, then there should be an understanding between the parties on the issue of who bears the cost.

Replying to [eloho]: I have been in export business for last 8 yrs. What I have seen is that most of the sellers/manufacturers are willing to give free samples if the buyer pays for couirer charges. For most of the products the courier charges are many times higher than the product cost itself.

Moreover it also depends upon the 'need' or 'state of business' of the particular supplier. How badly he wants business? In my earlier days I used to send samples free as I wanted business and I did not want to lose the buyer.

Now as a more established company I ask my buyers to pay courier charges. If they don't , I don't bother.

Replying to [eloho]:Dear Eloho
When you buy shoes, you need to try them first, make sure it fits OK and then proceed with the purchase. What's worth buying beautiful and expensive shoes, if they don't fit. Similarly if buyer wants to buy a product that has interest, needs to try it first. So samples should be given to buyer free of charge. Seller is not losing money, accounting practices allows him to write off those samples as business expenses. However as many sample hunter has exploded all over the world, sellers are more reluctant to give away samples, that's a different story, so the compromise is buyer will pay for shipping charges, and seller will give them for free.

For that matter I have open an account with DHL for intenational deliveries, and use it every time I request samples. I am also entitled to write off those sample transport charges as business expenses. Hope it hepls
Vicente Huaman

Replying to [Vicente]: You have all done well with your replies, I believe there is still a lot that people need to learn about samples, as practices differ from country to country, But i still stand on the fact that maybe internationally we should try and place a Limit for the cost of samples that can be sent all expence paid, when you exceed that then you pay the extras , What do you think?

Replying to [eloho]:

When we look at a supplier as a manufacture is it that we think they have these samples ready for sale?, or they have many production plans for the next 3mths.

some products cost little $1 and some can be much more $500 or more, so if i am the supplier and would give free samples to buyers i need to plan, how many would i give in one year?

so if it's the $1 sampe, x only 1000 free samples means $1000, i am sure we can afford that, but still need to make sure each buyers dont want 10pcs, as the want to see other designs or colours, as that would now be $10,000 each year.

So if the product cost is $500, we now give away $250,000 a year, hope they dont want 10pcs as then it's 5 million USD.

This is just a quick guess, but if you give free samples you need to plan, how will you make the samples?, to make one sample will cost time and money, making 5000pcs can be more easy,

we know the quality will be much better when high output is made, no supplier like to send samples, the time and man power is too much, many supplier that would offer free sample may need more staff to provide this service.

Suppliers can say, " we will provide you with a sample, and we will refund the sample cost when you order a container" this is ok for high cost products.

if a supplier send 1000pcs samples what could be the % that would make a order?

Replying to [JBsportsuk]:You raised a lot of issues that will need to be clearified, but i will start from somewhere, firstly samples are not incidental you plan for it as you are producing and most of the time like Vincente pointed out it is written off. And for samples that have very high cost of production you must have a policy that should be able to handle the cost and assurrance of better business opportunities.
Where the client is asking for more than one piece of the same sample, then they should be able to pay for the extras. All the same, where the cost of sample is high we should be able to set a standard as to who we send samples in a particular business year. Howebver, there is a danger of loosing a good business client if this policy is very strict, so we might always have to create room for exceptions as the . I will like for someonne else to also contribute to this discuss and issue raised thus far.

Buyer should lways pay for samples. Serious buyer nevermind paying for sample. As a factory owner and buyer. The amount of sample request can become substantial if you have just 10 customer pay day making request for sample on a $10USD item..it's $100USD per day or 700+ RMB. The number can increase out of proportion and there is no guaranty that the enquirer are genuine buyer. Furthermore, it will open up a can of worm for another kind of scammers...the free loader.

 

Quoting from [Vicente]:


Replying to [eloho]:Dear Eloho

When you buy shoes, you need to try them first, make sure it fits OK and then proceed with the purchase. What's worth buying beautiful and expensive shoes, if they don't fit. Similarly if buyer wants to buy a product that has interest, needs to try it first. So samples should be given to buyer free of charge. Seller is not losing money, accounting practices allows him to write off those samples as business expenses. However as many sample hunter has exploded all over the world, sellers are more reluctant to give away samples, that's a different story, so the compromise is buyer will pay for shipping charges, and seller will give them for free.


For that matter I have open an account with DHL for intenational deliveries, and use it every time I request samples. I am also entitled to write off those sample transport charges as business expenses. Hope it hepls

Vicente Huaman

of course the buyer , no need doubt about that

I decided to come back and put some kind of clossure to this matter of samples. I will like to say that lots of business have gone down because the manufacturers thought they were too smart trying to allow the buyer take charge of every expence there is in a business relationship that is just budding.
I have placed orders a number of times even from China, and by the time i receive the goods they were far from what i was expecting, most of the time they even quote for a very high freight that is actually twice the price for a normal freight.
I will like to conclude with saying that I do believe that sendikng sample is largely the responsibility of the manufacturer or seller, Though I recommend that some discretion be applied when doing this.

Quoting from [chalie68]:

Quoting from [Vicente]:


Replying to [eloho]:Dear Eloho

When you buy shoes, you need to try them first, make sure it fits OK and then proceed with the purchase. What's worth buying beautiful and expensive shoes, if they don't fit. Similarly if buyer wants to buy a product that has interest, needs to try it first. So samples should be given to buyer free of charge. Seller is not losing money, accounting practices allows him to write off those samples as business expenses. However as many sample hunter has exploded all over the world, sellers are more reluctant to give away samples, that's a different story, so the compromise is buyer will pay for shipping charges, and seller will give them for free.


For that matter I have open an account with DHL for intenational deliveries, and use it every time I request samples. I am also entitled to write off those sample transport charges as business expenses. Hope it hepls

Vicente Huaman

of course the buyer , no need doubt about that

Quoting from [eloho]:


Replying to [Robert]: I believe that samples should be a responsibility of the supplier or manufacturer and not the buyer,except in circumstances where the buyer is asking for a large quatity of samples, then there should be an understanding between the parties on the issue of who bears the cost.

In my opinion, we should consider this base different situation, the most important is the buyer should pay the courier charge. If the product has lower value, the supplier should provide the free samples, otherwise the value too high, the buyer should pay for. I think it is fair to both.

Quoting from [Remus Group]:

Buyer should lways pay for samples. Serious buyer nevermind paying for sample. As a factory owner and buyer. The amount of sample request can become substantial if you have just 10 customer pay day making request for sample on a $10USD item..it's $100USD per day or 700+ RMB. The number can increase out of proportion and there is no guaranty that the enquirer are genuine buyer. Furthermore, it will open up a can of worm for another kind of scammers...the free loader.

 

Agree with u.Remus Group