Photo-Fenix.com / Flickr
Reader Heather Rene posted a question on one of our daily coupon and freebies post regarding a free sample of Honey Nut Cheerios. She wrote:
Ethical Question:
How do you feel about people getting free samples for products they already know & love? I feel that free samples are for people who haven’t had a chance to try it (or don’t want to spend money on a product they may or may not like). I know I already like Honey Nut Cheerios, so would it be wrong for me to get the free sample?
Here’s another reader’s take (incidentally, also a Heather) on requesting freebies for products you already like and buy. She wrote:
Whoever wants a free sample should be able to get one. Cereal is so overpriced & these companies make billions.
Heather Rene, I don’t think it’s wrong for you to request a free sample for a product you already love. Here’s why. Though you may think the sample is completely free, companies always ask for something in return. Companies will either ask for Facebook “likes”, Twitter “follows”, your email, or for you to fill out a questionnaire.
Having you like them (or follow them) on social media increases their advertising reach as your friends and followers see you approve of a company and its products. Essentially, you are helping them gain customers by endorsing them. Asking for your email also helps increase their revenue. They can spam your inbox with new product announcements (to entice you to spend), and promos and discounts (Woohoo!). Questionnaires help them learn more about you to further develop a product or create a new one. In the end, requesting a freebie is a trade off.
I agree with reader Heather that customers who want to score a freebie should do so even if they’re already loyal customers — as long as they meet stipulations, of course. If it’s stated that the freebie is intended for new customers only, then it’s unethical to ask for one.
What do you think: are free samples only for prospective customers?
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Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
My thought is that, isn’t everyone is a prospective customer? Even if you have tried and loved a product, and use it constantly, the free sample will usually always come with a coupon, which turns you into an even more loyal customer when you take the discount to buy their product. If the cheerio’s example comes with a $1 off coupon, and makes it the same price as a knock-off brand, I’ll buy the cheerios. Why not? Free samples help not only the company distributing the sample, but also the stores in which you purchase a ‘full size’. They are having more products sell, and sometimes those free sample coupons have you buy something you wouldn’t normally think to buy. Not to mention, even if you don’t use the free sample, but know someone who will, donating it will help others as well. These companies spend a lot of money on marketing and advertising -and samples just another form. They do not lose at all on these deals.
@Jazmin and Jennifer ~ Good points and information from both of you. I don’t see how a company could know whether or not someone is new to its product. I guess it’s relying on the “honor system.”
@Diane They can track you using your email (that’s why some have several to score freebies) and they also use your IP address.
For example, if someone requests freebies with a different email and name — they can still tell it’s the same person because of the IP address. The same is true with blogs and other sites that track your address.
@Yazmin ~ Naive am I, huh!
One thing I neglected to mention previously is that, as a consumer that refuses to affiliate with any of the social media, I feel discriminated against (for lack of better terminology) when “liking” or “following” is required. However, I realize that’s the right of the manufacturers to require. Too bad that we both lose.