How samples work
Hold the product before you commit money to it.
Why bother
You are about to build a product page, shoot content and spend on ads for something you have only seen in a photograph taken by the person selling it.
A sample tells you what the photograph cannot: what the material feels like, whether the colour matches what you will put on your site, how it is finished, and how it arrives. On anything where the material or the finish is the reason someone buys, this is not optional.
Sample anything you are about to hold stock of. A 500-unit run of something disappointing is an expensive way to learn.
Ask for one
Request it through Quotation, or ask support directly. Include:
- The product, with a link or photos
- The variant you want, colour, size, material
- Where to send it
- What you are checking, if there is something specific
That last line matters more than it sounds. "I need to know if the beige is warm or grey" gets a more useful answer than "send me a sample."
What to expect
Samples typically take 5 to 10 days.
You pay for the sample and its shipping. A single unit does not price like a production unit, so expect it to cost more per item than your eventual cost. That is normal and it is not a markup: it is one item, made or pulled and shipped on its own.
What to check when it lands
Be systematic, because you will only do this once before committing.
- The material. Is it what was described, and does it feel like the price you intend to charge?
- The colour, against your brand and your site, in daylight.
- The finish. Seams, edges, print, anything a customer will run a thumb over.
- The function. Does it work, and does it keep working.
- The size, measured, against what your listing will say.
- How it arrived. How it was packed, and what condition it was in.
Photograph it while you have it. Those photos are the reference for what you approved.
If it is not right
Say precisely what is wrong and what you want instead. "The blue is too dark, closer to this reference" is actionable. "It is not quite right" is not.
Expect more than one round on anything where appearance matters. That is normal and it is not a sign the factory is bad. Asking for another round is the correct thing to do, and shipping 500 units you are not happy with because you did not want to be difficult is the mistake.
Frequently asked
Do I have to take a sample? No, but sample anything you plan to hold stock of. Can I get several to compare? Ask, and say you want them together. Can it ship somewhere other than my address? Yes. Is the sample the same as production? It should be. If you want to see a unit from the actual run before it ships, ask when you order the sample. Can I get photos or video instead? Yes, real product photos and factory video are available. Useful, but not a substitute for holding it.
Still need help?
Real humans on every reply. Average response under 2 hours during business hours.