My New Hobby: FREEBIES

[Janice]

A few months ago, I started sending away for samples of various products. It's not due to lack of money or anything. It's just fun seeing what I can get, because as most everyone knows my motto: If it's free, it's for me. ;) It's really just a hobby, and it makes checking the mail fun. Since most samples take between 6 to 10 weeks to arrive, the stuff is really pouring in now.

Companies often go on a sample and coupon blitz when launching a new product. Walmart has a sample section on their website. Same for Proctor & Gamble. There are websites devoted to this, where members post links to good sample and coupon finds. These people are into rebates, couponing, etc. I haven't signed up, but I'm there every few days, checking out the latest and greatest. I have a couple of e-mails delivered to me every day with links. It gets tiresome filling out your name and address over and over on the order form, but it's worth it. Just be sure to use an alternate e-mail address and to give a fake phone number if asked.

I'll post what I've received from memory over the last three months.

A $7 coupon for Ben-Gay heat patches. I actually e-mailed the company myself for those. That's another way. Write the company, praise the product and ask for coupons.

Two coupons for Iams dry cat food, worth about $10 each.

About 10 samples for shampoo and conditioner. All high-end products. Lots of toothpaste, make-up, facial care, perfumes.

Six samples of laundry detergent, one wash each. Dryer sheets too.

Trash bags.

A beautiful Christmas ornament.

Lots of cat treats.

Lots of human treats. Gourmet granola, popcorn, nuts, candy, etc.

Medications. Prilosec, etc.

Two t-shirts, two caps and some tools for my husband. Good quality.

A full-size bottle of Secret, Clinical Strength deodorant. Worth $10.

Lots of "women's stuff", monthly products, gels...I even got condoms (in my husband's Christmas stocking, as a joke :lol:)

Magazine subscriptions. Six months of Cosmo, One year of Glamour, Self, TV Guide, Prevention, Some CBS mag, Smithsonian....lots of others.

Three bags of coffee. Dunkin' Donuts, Seattle's Best, Starbucks.

Refrigerator magnet photo frames. Very pretty.

Address labels, stationary, greeting cards, cookbooks, lots of calendars.

I'm waiting on loads of stuff.

[I am Roboto]

A few months ago, I started sending away for samples of various products. It's not due to lack of money or anything. It's just fun seeing what I can get, because as most everyone knows my motto: If it's free, it's for me. ;) It's really just a hobby, and it makes checking the mail fun. Since most samples take between 6 to 10 weeks to arrive, the stuff is really pouring in now.

Companies often go on a sample and coupon blitz when launching a new product. Walmart has a sample section on their website. Same for Proctor & Gamble. There are websites devoted to this, where members post links to good sample and coupon finds. These people are into rebates, couponing, etc. I haven't signed up, but I'm there every few days, checking out the latest and greatest. I have a couple of e-mails delivered to me every day with links. It gets tiresome filling out your name and address over and over on the order form, but it's worth it. Just be sure to use an alternate e-mail address and to give a fake phone number if asked.

I'll post what I've received from memory over the last three months.

A $7 coupon for Ben-Gay heat patches. I actually e-mailed the company myself for those. That's another way. Write the company, praise the product and ask for coupons.

Two coupons for Iams dry cat food, worth about $10 each.

About 10 samples for shampoo and conditioner. All high-end products. Lots of toothpaste, make-up, facial care, perfumes.

Six samples of laundry detergent, one wash each. Dryer sheets too.

Trash bags.

A beautiful Christmas ornament.

Lots of cat treats.

Lots of human treats. Gourmet granola, popcorn, nuts, candy, etc.

Medications. Prilosec, etc.

Two t-shirts, two caps and some tools for my husband. Good quality.

A full-size bottle of Secret, Clinical Strength deodorant. Worth $10.

Lots of "women's stuff", monthly products, gels...I even got condoms (in my husband's Christmas stocking, as a joke :lol:)

Magazine subscriptions. Six months of Cosmo, One year of Glamour, Self, TV Guide, Prevention, Some CBS mag, Smithsonian....lots of others.

Three bags of coffee. Dunkin' Donuts, Seattle's Best, Starbucks.

Refrigerator magnet photo frames. Very pretty.

Address labels, stationary, greeting cards, cookbooks, lots of calendars.

I'm waiting on loads of stuff.

You'd love this (http://www.slickdeals.net) site, then, Janice. They have a whole forum section dedicated to 'freebies'. ;)

[Janice]

You'd love this (http://www.slickdeals.net) site, then, Janice. They have a whole forum section dedicated to 'freebies'. ;)
Thanks, but that one is already in my FREE folder. I've got about 10 sites. Thanks for thinking of me though. :)

[Stuck In The '70's]

Wow Janice...those are some nice things. You're really making out. That sounds like a great hobby. :)

[Jude The Obscure]

Been doing freebies even way before the internet came along--there used to be a magazine called Freebies--you got it like every other month and had to send off for the stuff through postcards or 3x5 cards in envelopes. Had some good stuff but also some dishonest companies too who cashed $1-$3 checks and never delivered the goods.

[Janice]

Been doing freebies even way before the internet came along--there used to be a magazine called Freebies--you got it like every other month and had to send off for the stuff through postcards or 3x5 cards in envelopes. Had some good stuff but also some dishonest companies too who cashed $1-$3 checks and never delivered the goods.
I've never been asked for any money, not yet anyway, which surprises me because some proucts are elaborately boxed or wrapped, and the postage can't be cheap. I'm having a blast. It's fun trying out new products. :)

[Brian Damage]

Believe it or not, my wife does the same thing. She is on some sort of mailing list with Wal-Mart and they send here samples of things.

[catlover79]

:cool:

[Brent88]

WOW, that's great Janice. :D

[browneyes106]

I love getting freebies too. I have visited slickdeals in awhile. Another great site to find freebies is mycoupons.net

[Jude The Obscure]

I've never been asked for any money, not yet anyway, which surprises me because some proucts are elaborately boxed or wrapped, and the postage can't be cheap. I'm having a blast. It's fun trying out new products. :)


Mind you, these were from the olden days of Freebies :lol: Sometimes a company asked you cover the cost of shipping/postage.

[Janice]

Mind you, these were from the olden days of Freebies :lol: Sometimes a company asked you cover the cost of shipping/postage.
I didn't know that. They never ask now. I wouldn't give my credit card info out anyway. I just ordered some items now. A pedometer, gourmet popcorn, an energy drink, shampoo, a tote bag and a couple of eyeglass lense cleaner cloths from Bausch & Lomb. This is too much fun. :lol:

[Janice]

Believe it or not, my wife does the same thing. She is on some sort of mailing list with Wal-Mart and they send here samples of things.
Smart wife. ;) Wal-Mart is the best. They give away really good size samples. They offer about six to eight products at a time, and change it every few weeks. Only one of each sample per household, so I'm always anxious for them to change their sample lineup.

[Jude The Obscure]

I love getting freebies from Start Sampling and the offers at Fat Wallet.

But twice this past year, I was offered a free blood glucose monitor--I signed up and waited......and waited.......and waited.......nada! I hate when companies advertise and then don't deliver.

[Janice]

I love getting freebies from Start Sampling and the offers at Fat Wallet.

But twice this past year, I was offered a free blood glucose monitor--I signed up and waited......and waited.......and waited.......nada! I hate when companies advertise and then don't deliver.
That's too bad. I find that happens with the obscure companies, but I've been pretty lucky so far. The famous companies are reliable. I like Fat Wallet, Freebie Empire, Shop4Freebies, SlickDeals, P&G, Wal-Mart, FreeWeb.nu, Freebie Jeebies, ThunderFap, Hot Coupon World, My Savings, etc. I have about a dozen places, lol.

[Jude The Obscure]

One of the monitors was from Bayer itself......hmmmmmmm

oh well.....another way I get freebies is signing up through the reward programs like MyPoints, Memolink, FreeRide, etc.

[Janice]

One of the monitors was from Bayer itself......hmmmmmmm

oh well.....another way I get freebies is signing up through the reward programs like MyPoints, Memolink, FreeRide, etc.
Bayer, that's unusual and could be a glitch. I've thought about the rewards programs and started up with one, but found it confusing. There's those surveys that I want no part of. I just want to fill out a form and send me my stuff, lol.

[Jude The Obscure]

Well the rewards programs have been very worth it to me--lots of gift cards, esp Amazon and restaurants :D

[catlover79]

Bayer, that's unusual and could be a glitch. I've thought about the rewards programs and started up with one, but found it confusing. There's those surveys that I want no part of. I just want to fill out a form and send me my stuff, lol.
Janice, I can just picture UPS trucks lining up in your driveway and leaving loads of free stuff at your door. :cool: :D

[Janice]

Well the rewards programs have been very worth it to me--lots of gift cards, esp Amazon and restaurants :D
It does sound very rewarding. Perhaps when I tire of the samples, I'll get into it more. I've heard that there's places where a person can make lot of $$ doing surveys. I just don't have the patience now.

[OH Nuts!]

What a great idea Janice. I'm going to look into this myself! Always interested in saving $$$.

[Jude The Obscure]

I gotta admit, sometimes my patience runs out doing surveys, esp when they are redundant. But I stop and think--I'll be another step closer to another $25 gc, so I make the effort.

[Brad Russ]

That sounds like a fun hobby Janice. :) Nothing like the feeling of getting something cool for free. I've sort of picked up a new internet hobby myself, filling out surveys, and making money. Alot more goes into it than many people think, but if you're willing to put some time into it, and keep good track of dates and stuff, it's kind of a cool way to make a couple extra dollars here and there.

[Pus$y Galore]

I'm going to check into this too! I may not be able to get things from the U.S. sites, but I'm sure I just hop on the Canadian version.

I know another thing you can try if you like a product. I loved a certain type of Cover Girl eyeshadow quad from years and years ago. I finally used it up but couldn't find the exact colour combo again. I ended up phoning Nozema directly and asked where I could find them. She told me they had been discontinued and were no longer available for sale. I begged to "buy" any leftover stock they may have on hand. With that, she got my mailing address and said she'd get back to me. Turns out they only had 6 packages left, but rather than charge me, she sent them gratis (mainly because I praised the product so much).

It's good will for them too - that was about 23 years ago and I've never forgotten. I still buy Cover Girl eyeshadows over any other brand.

[Lodee]

Smart wife. ;) Wal-Mart is the best. They give away really good size samples. They offer about six to eight products at a time, and change it every few weeks. Only one of each sample per household, so I'm always anxious for them to change their sample lineup.
I used to do the Walmart one. I haven't signed up for any samples in a long time. :( I do use fatwallet a lot though when I buy things online to see if there are any coupons.

Jude, I remember Start Sampling! It seems like you had to be really fast to get the sample before it sold out.

[Jude The Obscure]

Hi Lodee!

StartSampling these days is a lot more flexible, so it is a lot easier to get a sample through them.

Another way I got samples or coupons was calling the companies' toll free comment line. I genuinely only called those products I liked. Very rarely I called about something bad--for example, flat soda I bought from K-mart (years ago this happened). The rep sent me vouchers to replace the soda plus to get some money off additional Kmart products.

[savemethemoney]

It is addictive isn't it! I don't know why but I enjoy having makeup bags full of free stuff. I run around like mother hen when a friend or family member is traveling and try to stuff trial sized shampoo and toothpaste into their bags. It's horrible. Someone please help me, I'm like the MacGiver of free crap! :)

One of my favorite sites for free samples (http://www.freestuffandsamples.com) is FreeStuffAndSamples.com. I've been using that site for, yikes, four years. Good stuff.