Free gifts

I bought a coffee machine at Christmas and the company offered a free gift of coffee samples on registering the guarantee. I was expecting maybe a small packet or two of coffee beans but got 3 full size bags!

keffie, hello, glad to meet a fellow comper! I used to win some wonderful prizes back in the day, but this was when the slogan was king and there was always an element of skill. I’ve more or less given up since free draws took over. What sort of comps are you entering these days?

Many years ago there was a little slip of paper in some face powder I'd ordered (by phone, pre-computer) to indicate I might have a free gift. I responded and a small case arrived. It has wheels, folds flat, has a pull-out handle and is the right size for a cabin locker. It has two flat zipped pockets on the front which are ideal for having travel documents secure but accessible. It's been on several holidays and is perfect in every way. I think it was from Dr Pierre Ricaud.

I agree with Magrithea. I get very annoyed when charities send unsolicited free gifts....pens, cards etc....although individually they are worth very little, there is a cost involved and imo it's wasted money. It has the opposite effect on me and I never support those charities.
However, I once had a quite upmarket clothes shop and I sold a few inexpensive but good quality small gifts. I had one customer who would always pick up one of these and, at the cash desk would say, 'And I'll have this as a gift!'.

I returned an umbrella, sent completely unsolicited, to a cancer research company (not the usual one) with a terse note saying they should be spending the money on what they were supposed to and not on 'gifts' to encourage people to give - or rather guilt people into giving!

We were sent two beautiful wineglasses when ordering a favourite wine from Laithewaites. They are dishwasher safe and very sturdy, although they look quite fragile. Sweetest gift (literally) was last year when we flew transatlantic on Virgin Airlines to see DS and family. The steward gave out little rolls of LoveHearts and when I said that I'd save mine for DGC, he brought me a paper bag full of them!

I had a free small light coloured leather handbag from Hotter a couple of years ago. It has been so useful as a summer bag and goes with anything. I don't think the free gifts come if you buy in their shops and I now prefer to try before I buy with all shoes.

I once had a man knock at my door with a selection of wines in a box. I told him I didn't drink alcohol, and he asked if I wanted the wine to give to guests. I said no, and he accepted that, but insisted on giving me the free gift that he gave to everyone who bought the wine. It was a case of screwdrivers and various fittings in a very small metal case, and has been one of the most useful things I have. No hard sell from him, and he was very polite and pleasant.

I'm a comper (meaning I enter competitions as a hobby) and win some lovely prizes. I enter for us as a family and friends if I see something some others may like. I have also won prizes for my charity choice.

I also subscribe to the websites for decent freebies with or without a purchase. The freebies to try I either keep or pass on depending on whether I will use or not.

I always look for vouchers off, free gifts etc via Google before I checkout online on a website

We always get a minuscule bag of Haribo when we buy contact lenses online.

In 1968 we bought our first cooker to go in our first house, through the electricity board with the payments included in the electricity bill. This came with a Kenwood Chefette handheld food mixer which is still used!

I just ordered a golf jacket from Glenmuir and got a free hat which I can put in the next raffle.

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.

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.

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'?

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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!

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....

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

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

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!