Does free samples and personal notes on packing slips make a difference to you?

[Mike Sheda]

This thread reminds me of a sign I saw in a business that I kept using...
Your patronage goes where it's invited, but stays where it feels welcome.

 

[Nacon]

I'm always down for freebies. Alice in Vapeland's packaging is awesome. Love their freebies. Vaporbomb always gives you a sample flavor, so it's always a surprise to me, like buttered pecan. Never thought I'd like it, wound up loving it. It's always a pleasure when small companies give you an incentive to keep going back. I especially enjoy collectibles. Still, however, the bottom line should always be how their product is. Everything else is like icing on the cake.

 

[Bookworm]

I have tried samples in the past and never found anything worth ordering that way. I have a particular palate.

It's not my responsibility to support anyone else's habit. They can buy their own juice.

I have no use for an invoice since juice can't be returned or exchanged. Why drag home someone else's garbage?

I would much rather get my juice in a timely manner than wait a week or more to get a note on an invoice or a tiny bottle of juice I didn't ask for or want to begin with.

Well, we can agree to disagree on paying it forward.

I do agree that getting what I ordered in a timely fashion is of the utmost importance. If I have to wait a ridiculous amount of time for my order to ship, I never order from that company again.

 

[jingleberry]

Free juice is awesome and a personalized note is like a cherry on top.

 

[Wow1420]

I really like the free samples. A sample lets me try something I wouldn't have picked for myself.

I probably would not have been a repeat customer with MBV if not for getting a sample I liked better than any of the 6 liquids I picked out myself in my first order.


Hand written notes are nice, but I will likely have forgotten all about them by the time I'm ready to order something and am deciding who to order from.

I do keep any extra business cards vendors send, to pass out to new vapers.

 

[Big Southpaw]

Every now and then it backfires. One company gave me some free samples and I just didn't like them. I loved the company and appreciated the offer but....yech!

 

[Rodeorat]

The only one I've received a free sample from was MBV, and those sampled stunk. Freckled Lemonade is vapable, but not something I'd put in a tank, maybe an EVOD for an afternoon. But the gesture is appreciated.

Having said that, Just received my first order from Moon Mountain, and Krystal included a largely written note on the invoice, with cute little stars pecked about it. She just wanted me to know that Dusty Boots was her ADV and that she'd hoped I'd like it as much as she did.
No sample, but a nice sticker for my vape box.
So far I can tell their juice is made from quality components and vape smoothly, though I'm sure they'll get better with time. They're not chemically or medicinal.
I can tell you, I'll remember the note, her name, and the juice.

 

[Robino1]

Free samples was mentioned on a suppliers thread and wondered how important it is to people?

Not important. Hand written note? Not so much. With all the liquids they are putting out for us on a daily basis, I would rather them spend that time on orders. I have seen too many threads about the time it takes to get our orders and all the complaints.

No other business, that I can think of, does free samples or handwritten notes. I can see a vendor doing this when just starting out to hopefully get repeat business. Or to get rid of extra liquids that aren't selling, or new flavors that are just coming out. I don't know....I can see the reason for giving free samples, but I can not see a reason to expect them.

 

[Zach Parsons]

I can see where a free sample or even a little note saying "thanks for being patient" would be nice every now and then in situations like that. Personally if I have to wait longer to get something that's just a few states away then something that's coming from china I get a little irritated. But that could be just me, I don't really know.

 

[Dunvegan]

This is important to me as well. Free samples mean I get to try other flavors, sometimes flavors I would not necessarily select, and find out I really like them.

{snip}

EDIT ~

I got a pkg today from one of my favorite vendors. This vendor is artistic, sent a pkg full of personal touches including a hand-written note, that was packed well and thoughtfully, included a sample, and it really made my day. Couple this with fantastic juices and this is why I will always be a customer.

Basically, flowerpots says it for me. This is exactly true for me also.

Many samples turn into an order I'd never have made or had the slightest interest in trying from just viewing a website. I've often been amazed that a vape sample of a flavour I do not care for in edible form is surprisingly wonderful as a particular vape.

I think tucking in a sample and a note or a clever insert of some kind is very smart marketing. And for the vendor, it can be a way of finding the audience for an unusual flavour that isn't moving...or to roll out a new star flavour.

If the vendor is any kind of organized businessperson, having a pre-filled samples in a box to toss into each order quickly, along with a pre-printed note or some sort of collectible thingy shouldn't take more than an extra 10 seconds in packaging and delivery. If a vendor is relying on fussy extras and slowing down delivery, then they will find this is a bar to good service and repeat orders pretty fast.

You get an opportunity to try something you'd never thought would be any good...find out it is very good...and the personal touch in the packaging can be delightful enough to fondly remember the vendor and seal the deal in one's mind for a new order.

You now know you can order yourself a new fave vape that will be a delight when you open the package, and it may also be a delight of personal touches to comfort after a rough day.

Yep, if done efficiently, it's pretty smart marketing.

 

[Angel Eyes]

I don't care about personal notes, but a free sample just might be the ticket to klonking me over the head with my new favorite flavor to become addicted to! - it's smart marketing!

 

[Cara T]

I was thinking the same thing as I was reading this post:

Best of all vapor chef gives you samples in the format you order the rest of your juice. So if you order 50/50 12mg that's what you get your sample in. That makes a difference to me. To me it says, "we not only want you to try the rest of our juice line but we want you to experience it the way you enjoy the rest of your juices." Which is a stark contrast from other vendors I have ordered from that send you a sample in wrong nic or ratio that you are not very likely to use.

On the whole, I'm not concerned about samples or notes as long as what I order is correct and if I order it again, its consistent. However, if the vendors practice is to send samples, it would be nice to have it the way in which I ordered my juice. I have several (5 to 7 bottles) of liquid I will never touch because the ratio is too heavy on the PG or the nic content is way to high.

 

[james chapman]

I just tried to visit Vapor chefs site and was blocked,by McAfee.

 

[flowerpots]

I just tried to visit Vapor chefs site and was blocked,by McAfee.

Mine blocked it too, I have McAfee:

"Whoa!

Are you sure you want to go there?

The Vapor Chef may be risky to visit.

Why were you redirected to this page?

When we visited this site, we found it exhibited one or more risky behaviors."

 

[Angel Eyes]

McAfee & Norton are two of the most annoying viruses I can think of!

definition: virus - something that slows down your computer greatly and is impossible to completely remove

 

[Angel Eyes]

Mine blocked it too, I have McAfee:

"Whoa!

Are you sure you want to go there?

The Vapor Chef may be risky to visit.

When we visited this site, we found it exhibited one or more risky behaviors."

No, McAfee is the risky one!

I have visited the Vapor Chef with multiple high end anti-virus software programs active that are actually well respected (Avira, Malwarebytes) and there is no such risky behavior at the Vapor Chef

please do yourself a favor and PM me and I can offer help in eradicating the virus in your system called McAfee!

 

[Dunvegan]

McAfee & Norton are two of the most annoying viruses I can think of!

definition: virus - something that slows down your computer greatly and is impossible to completely remove

It appears John McAfee himself agrees with you, Angel Eyes.

Yes, that's the real John McAfee portraying hisownself in this video...hilarious...and oh so sadly true!

Seeing how he taps a nail in this vid, and lights it with a $100 bill, you'd think someone would turn John on to vaping, eh?

"How to Uninstall McAfee Antivirus"

 

[serenity21899]

Doesn't really make a difference. However, when I ordered Grant's Vanilla custard, it came with a personal note covered in smilies and such. It was kinda of cool IMO. And when I ordered a lot from Mt Baker I liked the freebies because I got to try new flavors.

 

[flowerpots]

No, McAfee is the risky one!

I have visited the Vapor Chef with multiple high end anti-virus software programs active that are actually well respected (Avira, Malwarebytes) and there is no such risky behavior at the Vapor Chef

please do yourself a favor and PM me and I can offer help in eradicating the virus in your system called McAfee!

Ha! It is a PITA, I agree.

 

[Bryan lord]

When I order from MBV I always request my own free sample and they always do it. How can you beat that? It's not a tiny sample either. 15ml of my choosing for free. That covers shipping right there. I'm not sure if they why I order from them so often but it is a factor. I order my free sample on a juice that I'm not sure about, that way if I don't like it, no big deal.

I always write them a small thank you note in the comment box, it's the least I can do for someone who takes the time to fill a free sample order of my choosing.