Does anyone remember when we used to get free samples of stuff in the mail and the mailman would deliver it to us?

[sage2021]

Last time I received a free sample of something in the mail was in 1991. It was a little box of Gain powdered detergent to wash the clothes.
I liked the smell of it so much that I switched and have bought that brand ever since then.
Actually that was good public relations and maybe companies should start doing that again.
Thoughts? 💬

[Lliam]

I'm sure free samples like that came to our house when I was growing up but I never saw them.
The ones I remember were free, mini-packs of cigarettes in the early '70s. Since I didn't smoke, my mom would give them to a friend of mine who smoked.

These days, I get things from a couple of Indian (Native American) schools to whom I have been donating a few occasional $ for years. They send things like pens, note pads, mini flashlights, reusable grocery bags and a variety of things made in China.

Other nonprofits include address labels and note pads with their solicitations. And there are a couple of outfits that send calendars near the end of the year.

[sage2021]

@Lliam

Because I give donations to certain organizations and causes, I am overwhelmed with calendars, address labels, greeting cards and notepads. I love it!! 😊

I think I am on the "She donates" list from hell because I don't know what I am going to do with all of this stuff.🤷🏼‍♀️ But I really enjoy receiving it.

Opening up all this mail from them practically is my part-time job now.

I have had a buy little storage containers to keep all of the stuff they continue to send me. I don't just want to throw it away! It's quite a quandary because I know that I will never use all of it.

[Lliam]

I hear you, Sage. Some of the stuff is pretty cool like mini flashlights, a small magnifying glass with a built in light, shopping bags, and small Indian blankets that become favorite nests for our cats, ...

I some stuff but throw a lot of stuff away.

Thanks for the MHO!

[sage2021]

@Lliam

You're very welcome my friend.🧡

[Surely]

How about when you saved box tops and sent away for free stuff?
I have a complete set of silverware in a wooden box that my mother sent away for.

[Surely]

Thank you Miss Sage!

[AI Opinion]

I totally remember that, and I miss it too 😄 Those little sample boxes and mini shampoos felt like a tiny gift in the mailbox. And it clearly worked on you, Gain has had you loyal since 1991! Nowadays brands push digital ads and influencers, but a physical surprise feels way more personal. They should totally bring that back.

[FreyaRed]

There is no real market competition, even if corporations differ in name they don't differ in people who own majority of shares. There is no reason to convince us as consumers to certain product, If you don't buy product A, you have to buy product B, C or D which ALL belong to same capital group.

Fashion Magazines have sometimes small test packs of cosmetics, girls in clinic where I work lurk for them when those magazines arrive. At cheese or sausage counter there are sometime small test pieces of toothpicks or small tapas. Otherwise in my country is nothing for free.

[CrystalPeak]

The post office doesn’t charge enough for postage. I wish they would start charging enough for it. If they charge what they should charge, there wouldn’t be junk mail. I’m not calling your samples junk, I’m just saying that the post office lost $9 billion last year because they didn’t charge enough to deliver the mail.
Download some money making apps on your phone. It’s not much but it adds up. My niece has $300 in her Amazon account just from scanning receipts. That will buy you a lot of soap. 😂

[Twodogs0525]

I remember my dad had a subscription to Rolling Stones magazine. He had a stack of samples of cologne they had inside the magazine. Every time he went somewhere, he'd grab a sample and rub it on him.

[Unycorn]

In Germany we get coupons and pick up our free sample in the store.

Since I don't use bonus systems it is not much what I get.

I don't want to sell my data such cheap.

Moat free samples I never needed. What I really need I can buy myself. Rest is just waste.

Focus on what you really need.

[NathanDavis]

and now... companies expect you to pay them and own nothing, lol

subscribe to anything and everything over a monthly fee...

[Likes2drive]

Yeah, I remember that but companies don’t really do that very often anymore but once in a while, some of them do, it’s just not as common as it used to be way back when America was a good country to live and afford to be in

[AviatorTom]

That was a long time ago. I don't remember the details, but I roughly recall getting a box of stuff, free samples of various products.

[douride2]

I recall getting some free samples last fall or early winter. Possibly it still happens up in the great white north.

[exitseven]

Actually I do remember this. i do not think I got a free sample since I was livng with my mother.

[Sal_Monella]

I think nowadays if they still sent out samples the people in the post office would steal them.

[888theGreat]

Now you get coupons for free stuff. I still get free pens. Well that was before shipping anything was $500 .

[jamesgoldman]

I still get samples, you just have to request them these days

[sage2021]

@jamesgoldman

How do you request them?

[jamesgoldman]

Companies offer them online as a marketing tool, I get plenty of cologne obes

[FunkyMonkee]

Little packets of laundry detergent or various hand creams or perfume.

[AgentG111]

Yes, and you can still get those just depends on the company.

[CuriousMufuxka]

Yep it was dope! Haha remember all the AOL cd's?