A Guide to Evaluating and Understanding Free Stuff Mailed to You

Free stuff is always something to look forward to, especially when it arrives in the mail. Whether it’s a sample of a new product or a gift for being a loyal customer, it’s always intriguing to see what turns up in your mailbox. However, sometimes it can be difficult to decipher what’s worth keeping and what’s not. Here, we guide you through the process of understanding and evaluating free stuff mailed to you so you can decide if it’s something you’d like to keep or if it’s something worth passing on.

At PINCHme, we offer free samples from some of the biggest and most recognizable brands in the world. From Procter & Gamble brands such as Tide, Crest, Pampers, and more, to Dyson, Sony, Olay, Estee Lauder, L’Oréal, Urban Decay, Drunk Elephant, Panasonic, Clinique, Lancôme, Maybelline, Too Faced, Fenty Beauty, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Samsung, and Smashbox, we make sure you always have something new to try out. Our website works by having our members answer a series of questions relating to their households and shopping habits. This allows us to get a better idea of what each individual member is looking for and offers them samples tailored to their interests. All that’s left for you to do is pick the samples you’re most interested in, and we’ll mail them right to your doorstep for free.

Once those samples arrive, it’s time to evaluate what you received. If you like something, you tell us. If it’s not necessarily what you were looking for, there’s no cause for alarm. We believe that receiving free stuff is a great experience regardless and can still lead to interesting discoveries. That being said, one of the most important things to do when evaluating free items is to get a sense of how they measure up to the same item you’d normally buy from the store, or if it’s something you don’t normally use, urge yourself to try it out and find out if it’s something you could see yourself using.

No matter what you receive, it’s important to always take an inventory of what your samples are composed of. Free stuff can often come with disclaimers such as “Not for resale,” “For promotional purpose only,” or “Do not share”. When looking at your inventory, make sure that you not only understand the types of samples you’ve received but that you also know what you’re allowed to do with them. In addition, note if there are any sample limitations such as the amount of samples of a certain type, or the amount of time in which you have to use the samples.

Another important part of understanding and evaluating the free stuff you receive in the mail is making sure you’re aware of the value of that stuff. If you are receiving a sample of toilet paper, you’ll want to know how many rolls it comes in and how much a full pack would cost. Or if you’re getting a sample of shelter in a jar, you’d want to know how much a full sized jar costs and what the shelf life of that sample is. As a general rule of thumb, typically your sample will only last you a few uses even if the full product would usually last longer.

Free stuff in the mail can provide you with an interesting opportunity to try out new products from some of the most popular brands around without having to commit to purchasing them outright. Take the time to evaluate what you receive and to make sure you know exactly what the product is, how long it should last, and what you’re allowed to do with it. Armed with this knowledge, you can be sure to make the most of the items you receive.

Topics:

Free Stuff,

Samples,

Mail