Thread: Samples

I got this from Crabtree and Evelyn

"Unfortunately, we do not carry samples - however our products are freely available to test in any Crabtree & Evelyn store."

My reply

"Greetings,

I am gladdened to hear that I can test the effectiveness of your product in the comfort of one of your stores. I will be bringing my new straight razor into your shop where I look forward to experiencing the closeness of a shave with Crabtree and Evelyn products. Do you supply hot water or shall I also bring a bucket and a kettle? Also, if I cut myself whilst using your product on your premises, do you have a suitable insurance policy so we can avoid the messy consequences of litigation?

Thankyou for your time,

Dan"

Do let us know their response.

Originally Posted by max_incognito

I got this from Crabtree and Evelyn

"Unfortunately, we do not carry samples - however our products are freely available to test in any Crabtree & Evelyn store."

Heh, what they meant to say (and very poorly worded) is that they will make up samples for you to take home for any one of their creams and\or balms you request. Odd though, since the person I spoke to was more than eager to send me a small box stuffed with samples. Of course only the Nomad shaving cream was of any use to me. I handed the rest of the 15 some odd items to my wife and asked her to let me know her thoughts on them.

Ok, let me explain something about Europe .....

Freebies are HARDLY EVER given here but for when you are in a store and PURCHASE something. Customer service and Customer care are not considered the same here as they are in the US. Here you MIGHT get service AFTER you become a customer. Hell, you even have to pay for a keyring when buying a new car.

Remember, if companies send you anything it is out of courtisy, not because they like you so much or because it is your right.

Furthermore "Dan", I guess that replies like yours would never result in anything. You show your dismay because you think you have the right to a sample? And do you really think the average European small company would care at all about a single person who isn't a customer, one outside the EU? Espescially stating that that person has received samples from many other companies (as this clearly means that you are trying to get things for free, and the intention of you becoming a permanent customer seems to be unlikely, to say the least), would seem to be counterproductive.

Think again, there is more in the world than "I".

Hoekie

Ps, sorry people, but I had to say this. Lately some parts of the forum only seem to be about getting things free and whining if not getting any. And I really wonder, if a company/mos is smart, they will check websites mentioned and if they see the topics and their threads .... guess what the result is.

Giving samples has nothing to do with customer service. It’s salesmanship. It’s the old, “try it- you’ll like it.”

Car dealers let you test drive cars.

Ask the man behind the deli counter about the ham that’s on special and he’ll let you taste a slice.

Even Wal-Mart lets try on a pair of jeans before purchase.

All because they want you to buy. They want your money. That’s their job.

Asking for samples has little to do with getting freebies. It’s careful shopping.

As a consumer, I want to keep as much of my money as possible. That's my job. I don’t want to buy junk. I don’t want to buy something that does not perform as advertised. I want to know that I can return a product and get my money back if I’m satisfied.

Capitalism makes for strange bedfellows. And yet, it works- most of the time.

Just my 2¢

Library Guy

Hi Hoekman,

just to clarify, I only replied that for a bit of a laugh. I dont expect anything for free, its just that the reply was worded particularly stupidly - how am I meant to try shave products in one of their stores? If they said "sorry, we dont do that" like Vulfix they would just get a 'ok, thanks' email back.

You do also make a number of incorrect assumptions. I do actually come from the UK so I think I am well aware of the customs of the country that I was born in and have lived in all my life. Also, I didn't mention that I was trying to get free samples from other companies, and I didn't post my original email to them so I dont know where you got that from. If they want to check these type of forums then I'm sure they've got time to word an email in a non-ridiculous fashion. Interestingly in this non-free sample European consumer climate only they and Vulfix said no of the five companies I tried, the others were more than pleased to help. All of them were not as big as "Small" multinational company Crabtree and Evelyn.

One thing that you would say about Americans is that they are less tolerant of crap as a consumer than us Europeans, (e.g. I cant imagine Americans standing for the petrol prices that we pay in the UK!), hence they get free samples (which to me makes good business sense). In Europe I think we assume that we wont get anything so dont bother asking, but as I've learned here, if you dont ask then you dont get! I was polite and I do fully intend to continue to use the product that I like best of the samples. I'm not just grabbing everything for free, I am a future customer of at least one (if not all) of these companies so them trying to get my custom makes sense surely?!?!? Im in my twenties so I hopefully have 50-60 odd years of straight razor shaving in front of me, is that worth an outlay of a couple of quid for them to win my loyalty now?

You word it like I was throwing myself in front of cars so I can sue the drivers for cash. Its nothing of the sort, and I dont like the implication that I am only looking after myself. If you knew anything about me you would not say that at all, I earn a pittance compared to what I could because I chose to do medical research so I could help others out, instead of working for a company like MicroSoft (who offered me a research job in Cambridge) and earning a shit load which would only benefit me and Billy Gates.

For me, the greatest thing about this forum is the way that people are willing to help each other out for little or no gain, and I'm sure when I'm in a position to, I will. So just because I get a few free samples and send one sarcastic reply doesn't mean that I think the world owes me a favour.

"Dan"

OK boys, simmer down...

I appreciated Hoekman's response. I too have been following the tail end of this thread with some dismay. I'm sure that we all have valid points from our varied posititions, but the tone has begun to tarnish somewhat.

Here are my thoughts.

One of the benefits of our group is that there is a maturity, friendliness and spirit of good will that is common amongst the members. We look at ourselves as a community of men who are interested in handing down information that has been handed down to us.. freely and with out belittlement or vehemence. Hopefully, the art of our shaving method has become just a part of a greater thing we are learning. Hopefully we are learning to become gentlemen.

When I ask for samples from other companies I express my gratitude to the company when I recieve them and I express my understanding when they don't come. I never act in an arrogant manner presupposing that my $50 is going to make or break thier company. I think of myself as an ambassador or representitive of the spirit of straight razor enthusiasts.

I am personally disgusted by the way I see many of my fellow Americans act in the retail environment. Try spending some time as a waiter in a restaurant. We have become too used to getting free stuff where ever we go, especially when we complain. Most of us don't need free stuff, we need to give free stuff to people who need it. .. I digress.

Please try to remember the bigger picture here. A company is not obligated to give you anything you don't pay for. If you are insulted by this fact, then before you decide to write them back and rub thier noses in it, consider the collective effect you have on the rest of us...

Can someone who has sent emails for sampels post the address here? I am not to up on the shaving soaps (I make my own) and need help knowing who to look for lot alone finding the address.


thanks
Mason

Originally Posted by RichZ

I have sent requests to several of the British makers of shaveing products for samples. The only one who refused was Vulfix. Guess I won't be using their product.

Mason,

Just Google the name of the vendor you want to contact. I believe they will all have a "Contact Us" link on their websites. Since you are wanting soaps, I don't know how much luck you will have. I've never received any soap samples. Seems like the sample would be so small that it would be impossible to use. But, give it a shot and let us know how it turns out!

RT

Thanks I think I will ask for creams just to see hat thay are like.

Mason

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

Mason,

Just Google the name of the vendor you want to contact. I believe they will all have a "Contact Us" link on their websites. Since you are wanting soaps, I don't know how much luck you will have. I've never received any soap samples. Seems like the sample would be so small that it would be impossible to use. But, give it a shot and let us know how it turns out!

RT