Free gifts

I bought a box of wine from an Italian company at a very reasonable price, which I was quite happy with.
When it arrived, there was a free dinner set and lot of food goodies included. This also happened the second time I bought a case. I now have a lovely 8 piece dinner set.
..and no I'm not a lush , although others may dispute this.

Boden used to include lovely free gifts with their parcels, even when I ordered from the clearance section. Multipacks of socks worth over £20, pretty notebooks. They seem to have stopped doing that though.

I once got a bottle of Dior J’adore perfume just for ordering a catalogue I never used.

White Stuff often give little gifts like a notebook, a bag or a £10 token and at Xmas a tree bauble with chocolate money inside.

Juts ordered some Clarins on line they always give you a nice lot of quite large samples which means I don't have to buy serum or face oil usually.

When I order from Liz Earle I always receive a few travel size items which are ideal for holidays....

On the whole, I get irritated by these "free" add-ons. They're not free, we're paying for them in the cost of the stuff we buy. A while ago I was offered a free set of saucepans by a mail order clothing company. Huh? I already have a cupboard full of very nice pans, thanks, so why would a tacky set of cheap cookware encourage me to buy a sweater or some pyjamas?
I also received that big scarf from Hotter which NanKate mentions. That was a good quality item but I had no real use for it so my daughter was delighted when I passed it on to her. She works in a very cold environment and it's been very useful there.

I have to admit Sribbles I gave the scarf to a friend as part of her 80th birthday gift, because the colour didn’t suit me. She has told me twice what a success it is.

About 45 years ago we bought a new cooker from the electricity board showroom, and we were given a box of 60 lovely cut glass wine glasses in various sizes, I still have about a dozen of them left. And I`ve had a couple of giftsx from Cotton Traders, a nice travel holdall and a small overnight suitcase. They may not be top quality, but for the small number of times I will use them, they`re well OK.

Callgirl1, you have just reminded me of a television we bought from the electricity board over 30 years ago. We were given another one for 1p. as a special offer. It meant we had one in our bedroom. We couldn't believe our luck, as we were skint!

That was a great freebie, well, almost a freebie, Marydoll!

We once had a holiday to Norway where flights cost 1p plus airport taxes. Other than that I can't think when I've got something free with a purchase.

We flew to Bratislava for a weekend at the bargain price of £2.95 (all inclusive) each as it was cheaper than posting a parcel at over £100, it was interesting anyway!

Grannyactivist I went to Cornwall for 2p plus taxes no one ever believes me but like you I don’t think I ve ever had a gift with anything

Just before Christmas I went to rep of Ireland £5 each way and no airport taxes much cheaper than postin* the grandkids pressies over

I've just had a free gift. I ordered a jacket via a Groupon deal (just £23) and it was a bit tight. I went online today to start the returns process and have been told the payment will be refunded, and I needn't bother returning the jacket!

Now if I could only lose those Christmas pounds....

The mail order cosmetic company I use always has lovely bags and cosmetic bags, and various stationery which come free with your orders. You can choose which you would like. If you don't want/need any of them, you can choose for them to plant a tree.

When I was doing a music course some years ago, my entire equipment (except the tuning fork) was free from them - bag, pencil case, box of 10 pencils, notebooks, post-its, etc, etc.

When I go swimming or away for a weekend, I have towels, overnight bags and sports bags from them, as well as mini shampoos, shower gels and hairbrushes.

And I only ever order from them when things are half price!

When my DS1 got married - 7 years ago now! - I had 150 biros made with the couple's names, the date and their wedding motto. I still get advertising from them, and each time there is a free biro, pen or other little gadget - mini-torch, key ring, etc. in the envelope. The pens write beautifully and we have a drawer full of them - all with my name and phone number on, or with the original text from the wedding!

Back in 1976 we moved into a new house and a sales rep got us to sign up for oil deliveries. We received a Fortnum and Mason food hamper that Christmas from the oil company. We were so happy as the contents were so luxurious. Best freebie ever.

@JackyB Which cosmetics company is that? I love little bags and I don’t have time for real shopping atm.

When we cleared out my MILs bungalow there were loads of these free gifts, mainly from damart. Most seemed suspect quality. I donated them to charity shops!

When I took out my life insurance I got M&S voucher after I'd made my 1st payment - £50 very nice.

I've had one or 2 free gifts from Cotton Traders, one is a really good quality holdall.

Liz Earle's free gifts made great stocking fillers for DGD. I could get a free travel bag from Cotton Traders now if I spent £30, but I don't need a travel bag and I can't think of anything I want fro £30 or more.

Is free really free ?.Call me cynical but does the customer ever get 'something for nothing? Are not the costs to a retailer, in the giving of ' freebies'!, hidden in what we the customer pays for their product or service ?What you might, as my long gone gran would refer to as, 'sprats to catch mackerals'?

Years ago I bought a hoover and got free flights for two to America. We only had to pay for the children. So many people took them up on the offer that they stopped it. We were lucky.

Yves Rocher often has lovely free gifts of their own cosmetics, up to £50, or you can choose a free gift yourself. At Christmas they quite often have fleece blankets as gifts, and they are very cosy and wash well. I've been with them for many years. The only free gifts which are rather rubbish are jewellery bits made in China.
And someone above mentioned the Italian wine company, I guess it is Giordano. I haven't bought anything recently from them, but also have a nice set of pasta dishes, and a decent decanter.