Free samples can be a great benefit when you want to try a product without having to spend any money for it. I have tried samples of everything from shaving cream and mouthwash to ice cream and pizza. This method of advertising usually benefits the customer and the merchant when one saves money and the other gains word of mouth advertising. Most of us think that free things should come with no strings attached.

 That is, the word free usually means free. To a lot of us, this means not having to complete a survey, give out personal information or use a credit card to pay for fees attached to the free item. However, a lot of merchants, especially on television and internet ads have taken "no strings attached" out of their vocabularies and use various methods to extract money for the free product.

There is a tremendous amount of stuff advertised on the internet that is offered as a free sample. While the concept is good for the advertiser, the consumer needs to read the fine print and pay special attention to hidden costs that might be associated with the sample. As an example, a lot of free samples require the consumer to pay shipping and handling with a credit card.

When you order a sample of anything, the only information that should be given is your name and address. Some companies want an e-mail address and whether you give it is entirely up to you. Personally, I keep one e-mail address for all junk offers and periodically empty it without wasting time reading the messages. 

Credit card information and social security numbers should never be given out for a free sample of anything. Free samples allow the seller to begin building a relationship with buyers who are interested in his product, and who in time can be converted into loyal long term customers. But some advertisers put conditions on the free sample.

Some of those might be:

1. A trial period: In most cases, the trial period starts when the product is ordered. Not when it is received. If the product has a ten day cancellation period and you receive it eight days after you order it, you may only have two days in which to cancel.

2. Limited cancellation time. Sometimes, if the account is not cancelled within the trial period, the product will be shipped and a charge made on the credit card.

3. Sometimes more product is shipped within few days of the initial order and a charge put on the credit card. Then more will be shipped and charged to your card every few days.

4. Cancellation of an account may be difficult. You have to cancel by calling a phone number that gets no answer. And while you are trying to cancel the account, more product may be shipped and charged to your credit card.

These practices are not entirely illegal. All a company has to do is to disclose the conditions attached to the free sample. Usually with small print or hidden somewhere on the order page. There are many products that are offered as free samples by a company until a number of complaints are filed.

 Then they conveniently go out of business and begin operations under another name. Before you order a free sample, it is a good idea to check with the better business bureau or the state attorney general's office to find out if the company has any complaints filed. Another option is to do an internet search for the product or company name and scam.

There are a lot of good free samples available. Everything from arcade games to zaytoven kits and everything in between. When you order a free sample, the advertiser or seller has your shipping address and contact email address which can be used to develop a relationship with you.

 Now the fun part begins, the company begins to educate you about their product and hopefully in time will turn you into a loyal customer. Free samples can be a good thing, but you have to be careful, read the fine print and make sure that you don't sign up for more than a free sample.