Complete Guide To Companies That Send Free Samples And Coupons

Free samples and coupons offer consumers an excellent opportunity to try products before committing to a full purchase. These programs allow individuals to test new items, discover products suited to their needs, and save money on household essentials. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of companies and programs that distribute free samples and coupons across various categories, including baby products, food items, health supplies, and household goods.

Categories of Free Sample Programs

Companies distribute free samples through various channels and program structures. Understanding these different approaches can help consumers identify the best opportunities for their needs.

Brand Direct Programs

Many companies offer free samples directly to consumers who request them through their official websites. These programs typically require only basic information like name and mailing address. For example, Breathe Right nasal strips offer free samples of their Extra Strength Tan strips, which are delivered within one to two weeks. Customers may also receive a $2 coupon with their sample.

Gillette provides another example of a brand-direct program. By signing up for their newsletter, consumers can receive free razors and shaving cream, with some reporting receiving these samples multiple times per year.

Enfamil, a baby formula company, is known for sending large sample-sized cans to new parents, which can be particularly helpful during the decision-making process for infant nutrition.

Sample Directory Websites

Several websites aggregate free sample offers from multiple companies, serving as centralized resources for consumers seeking various products. Freeflys functions as a directory for finding free samples and coupons from various companies. Similarly, FreeSamples.org provides comprehensive lists of free samples across categories like baby products, groceries, and health items. The site even indicates the likelihood of receiving samples, with some offerings marked as "Possibly."

Sample Source allows users to select and receive free samples from various categories by creating an account and choosing from their menu of available samples. Participants receive the samples by mail and are expected to provide feedback after use.

Product Testing Programs

Some companies operate formal product testing programs where consumers receive products to test and review in exchange for feedback. Home Tester Club is one such program that connects testers with various products. Members join a community of product testers who receive items to evaluate and keep after providing honest reviews.

HomeSchool.com offers another testing opportunity, providing free books, kits, and school supplies to product testers. The company notes that they never release a product without running it by their testers first, which provides an opportunity to receive multiple samples.

BzzAgent partners with major brands to distribute free product testing boxes in exchange for reviews and social shares. Their program covers a range of products from snacks to home goods, with no cost to join. Participants are encouraged to complete their profiles thoroughly and check for survey invitations regularly.

Retailer Programs

Retailers often incorporate free samples into their marketing strategies, particularly through loyalty programs and special events. Target occasionally offers free samples or birthday perks to Circle Members, which is free to join. While not as consistent as other programs, these offers are worth monitoring through the Target app, especially during seasonal promotions.

Stores like Ulta, CVS, and Walgreens frequently run free sample events either in-store or online with purchase. These events often coincide with holiday promotions, brand launches, or back-to-school offers that include free gifts or trial kits.

Coupon Request Strategies

Some companies respond to direct requests for coupons through their contact forms. The Krazycouponlady reports success with contacting brands like SC Johnson, Chobani, Folgers, Frito-Lay, Kashi, and Goya through their website contact forms. Their editors have received offers worth $5 or more, including free products.

To request coupons, consumers typically need to: 1. Fill out the contact form on the brand's website 2. Include their name and mailing address 3. Add a brief comment (experience with the product seems optional)

This approach has yielded coupons from 55 companies with a total value of $209.50 in one reported case.

Product Category Breakdown

Baby and Child Care

Enfamil stands out among companies offering baby-related samples, providing large sample-sized cans of baby formula to new parents. This can be particularly valuable for parents who are deciding on the best formula for their baby.

Amazon's Baby Registry offers another resource for new parents, providing a welcome package filled with free baby product samples and discounts. Registry members receive a variety of items and a 15% discount on future purchases, making it a valuable program for expectant parents.

Health and Wellness

Several health and wellness companies provide samples of their products. Garden of Life frequently sends sample packets of their protein powders, allowing health enthusiasts to try different flavors and find their favorites. Nature Made, a vitamin and supplement company, offers free samples or coupons to new email subscribers.

U by Kotex, though mentioned in the sources without specific details, is another health-related company that appears to offer some form of sample program.

Food and Beverage

Food companies provide numerous sampling opportunities. Eden Foods offers small packages of organic food samples, appealing to those interested in healthy eating. Belle Chevre provides gourmet cheese samples, allowing food lovers to try unique flavors.

Organic Valley sends free product coupons and sample packages, particularly during the holiday season. Several food companies including Chobani, Folgers, Frito-Lay, Kashi, and Goya have been known to send coupons when contacted through their website forms.

Household and Cleaning Products

Eco-friendly cleaning products are represented by Skoy Cloth, which sends samples of their environmentally friendly cleaning products. These samples are particularly appealing to households looking to reduce their environmental footprint.

Beauty and Personal Care

Sephora is mentioned in the sources as a company that offers samples, though specific details aren't provided. Beauty companies like Dove and Garnier offer free samples or coupons to new email subscribers, providing an opportunity to try their products before purchasing.

Specialized Sample Programs

Gaming

Epic Games offers an unusual sampling opportunity in the gaming space. Through their online store, they distribute free PC games, with each week offering either full games or timed access to popular titles that users can download and keep permanently.

Educational Materials

HomeSchool.com provides free educational materials to product testers, including books, kits, and school supplies. This program appeals specifically to homeschooling families who can test and review educational products.

Digital Freebies

Freebies4Mom focuses on digital freebies rather than physical products. The site offers ebooks, printables, and Disney Movie Insider Codes, providing a different type of sampling experience that doesn't require shipping physical items.

How to Access Free Samples and Coupons

Direct Company Requests

For companies that offer direct sample requests, the process typically involves visiting the company's website and filling out a simple form with name and address. Breathe Right, for example, has a dedicated page where customers can sign up for free samples that arrive in about two weeks.

Newsletter Subscriptions

Many brands offer samples or coupons to new email subscribers. Signing up for newsletters from companies like Dove, Garnier, or Nature Made often provides access to exclusive freebies, trials, and first-to-know product launches. These newsletters may continue to offer special promotions to subscribers over time.

Loyalty Programs

Retailer loyalty programs sometimes incorporate free samples as member benefits. Target's Circle program, which is free to join, occasionally provides samples or birthday perks to members. Monitoring these programs through retailer apps can help identify sampling opportunities.

Sample Aggregator Websites

Websites like Freeflys, FreeSamples.org, and Sample Hawk curate current free sample offers from across the web. These platforms serve as one-stop resources for discovering multiple sampling opportunities without having to visit individual brand websites. Sample Hawk distinguishes itself by verifying the sources of its listings.

Product Testing Programs

Joining product testing programs like Home Tester Club or BzzAgent provides access to a wider range of products to test. These programs typically require participants to complete detailed profiles and actively engage with surveys and review opportunities.

Direct Coupon Requests

For companies that respond to coupon requests, consumers can use contact forms on brand websites. Including a simple request with name and address has yielded positive results with numerous companies, according to the sources. Some success has been reported even without prior experience using the product.

Tips for Successful Sample and Coupon Requests

  1. Create a dedicated email address for sample requests to manage communications and avoid cluttering personal inboxes.
  2. Keep track of which companies have been contacted and when, to avoid duplicate requests.
  3. Monitor retailer websites and apps for special sample events, particularly around holidays or seasonal promotions.
  4. Complete profiles thoroughly on product testing sites to increase qualification chances for relevant offers.
  5. Be patient with delivery times, as some samples may take several weeks to arrive.
  6. Consider signing up for multiple aggregator sites to maximize discovery opportunities.
  7. Follow up on requests that don't receive a response after a reasonable period.
  8. Provide honest feedback when required, as this may lead to additional sampling opportunities.

Conclusion

Free sample and coupon programs provide consumers with valuable opportunities to try products before purchase, save money, and discover new items suited to their needs. Companies across various categories—from baby care to food to household products—offer these programs through different channels, including direct requests, newsletters, loyalty programs, and aggregator websites.

By understanding the different types of programs available and how to access them, consumers can maximize these opportunities. Whether through direct company requests, joining product testing programs, or utilizing aggregator websites, there are numerous ways to receive free samples and coupons. The key is to be proactive, patient, and selective in which programs to join, focusing on those that align with genuine product interests and needs.

Sources

  1. Entrepreneurship Life: Companies That Send Free Samples
  2. Living Rich With Coupons: Best Places to Get Free Samples
  3. Rather-Be-Shopping: Free Samples by Mail
  4. Rick Orford: Companies That Give Free Samples
  5. The Krazy Coupon Lady: 16 Companies That Will Send You Free High-Value Coupons