Customer Samples

[ericheartsu]

Seems like we've been getting more and more requests for customers wanting to see blank goods before they purchase them. The standards, we usually have some on hand, but more and more, it's odder items.

Do you all order these in for your clients? Do you charge them for them? I'd never dare charge our long time clients, but it seems this week alone i've spent upwards of $200 on two clients in sample goods!

just wondering if it's a good idea to charge the client or not!

[ebscreen]

Absolutely.

Just charge a flat rate of $15 or whatever that will cover shipping etc. You can put it towards the order
if they end up placing it, but you don't need to be sending free chit to everyone that asks. That will get abused
real quick.

[Frog]

Exception for me is when someone wants to see (not get) an example of something that I also would like to see as I probably should be using it.
Recent case in point are the affordable performance shirts from Sport Tek, and samples of I just got at the show from Gildan and Jerzees.

Great to show an alternative to the name brand they initially ask about.

[ZooCity]

Do it all the time. 

I'd much rather spend a little on this, even if much of it winds up being needless, than have someone pull a "these just aren't what we were expecting" upon delivery.  If anyone expresses any doubt whatsoever, I sample them out. 

But yeah, it's always something from somewhere you aren't ordering from that day and then you have 2 garments shipping UPS to the tune of $15.  No biggie considering the margin on average orders here but still kind of a bummer to see $20 bills flying all over the place.

[tonypep]

We pretty much keep one of everything (including uniforms and odd stuff) in different showrooms.

[sweetts]

For blanks charge shipping most suppliers will give you samples heavily discounted, if the want them printed regular charges apply then will credited to bill once ordered.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[mimosatexas]

I have slowly built up a sample rack, and I always just eat the cost for ordering stuff I don't have on hand since I know I will add it to the rack for future requests.  I also keep a list of items I "won't" use, unless a client absolutely insists on it.  There are some real trainwrecks when it comes to quality or printability that I always suggest against.  It would be interesting to have some kind of shared google spreadsheet accessible by members where you could upload garment specs and experiences with them.  I wouldn't mind adding my shitlist items to save people the trouble.