How to Get Free Product Samples

You can get free samples of almost anything, including shampoo, diapers, cereal, lotion, snack bars and much more.

Why would companies do this? It's promotion for their products! If you try a new brand for free and like it, you're more likely to buy it than if you just saw a commercial about it.

What's more, the free samples usually come with a coupon for the product you're trying. It's like getting a little gift every time you open your mailbox! So how do you get started?

Where to Get Free Product Samples

One way to get free samples is to sign up to a company's Web site. This is especially true for diaper and formula companies.

Another way to find free samples is to go to a free sample Web site like freesampleforager.com and freesnatcher.com. They are updated daily, so you can check them every once in awhile for new samples. There are also blogs about free samples. Some sites let you sign up to receive e-mails whenever new samples are posted.

Finally, some stores offer a selection of free samples from various companies. One of these Web sites is walmart.com. Wholesale clubs such as Costco and Sam's Club also periodically offer samples.

Avoid Sample Scams

Be careful when signing up for free samples. As with most things, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Web sites promising free iPods, free gift cards or free gift baskets usually require participation of some sort, which means you'll need to sign up to buy some other product first. It's very important to stay away from any free product samples that require you to give your social security number or credit card number. More than likely they will bill you for shipping and handling costs and for future automatic shipments, unless you cancel, which can usually be a big hassle.

A good rule to follow is to only sign up for free samples from the company's Web site or from a trusted third party. If in doubt, just Google the offer and see what you come up with.