Do you give out FREEBIES with your orders?

[#1]

Do you give out little extras with your sales? I've found it to be a great way to promote yourself and make the customer remember you!

I'm a jeweler, and I offer a freebie of a vintage fabric button (I have a button maker press) and a set of Little Pretties stickers...and occasionally I'll throw in a little pair of stud earrings or a hand-drawn magnet or something to mix things up. I love receiving freebies, so I can only imagine my customers like to get them too! (And of course all extras have my business name and Etsy address).

Oh, and I also made coupons with a 20% off coupon code for the customer's next purchase. I've had a lot of repeat business because of this!

What special things do you give your customers?

[Former_Member]

I include a little felted heart with most orders.

I also write a thank you note on my business card (is that too impersonal?)

And, most of the time, I write in my email and business cards a coupon for 15% off. I've had one person use it.

[Former_Member]

I like to throw in an ACEO. I work large on floorcloths so I like to do mini floorcloth designs on art cards. I don't sell them...yet.

[Former_Member]

I always include a customer appreciation coupon for 15% off next purchase, and depending on what the order is, a freebie. If I am personalizing something, it may be a personalized wash cloth.

[Former_Member]

I always include: a handwritten note, a coupon, a business card and a little something-something extra and fun!

[Former_Member]

I have always given freebies, I belive you have to give to receive. You put it out there and goodness comes back, it is Karma. I don't mean junk drawer things, I mean product.

[wolflady]

I add a thank you card with the orders that I ship out. I am not sure about the freebie.

[Former_Member]

I usually give away some little gifts with all of my purchases, because I am so grateful for them!

[Former_Member]

Yes, I usually include some tags I made and as of now a little metal "Thank You" charm.
:) as well as a note on the invoice.

[Former_Member]

Today I received an order from WHCC (the photography printing service I use) and the box contained a little card inside that said "Packed with pride by Mike." and taped to it was a Tootsie Roll Pop. No kidding. it was just a little thing and it made my day and I still do not know how many licks it takes to get to the center!

[Former_Member]

I'm surprised by how many people are against freebies, and chocolate freebies in particular. We include one with our items because the first thing we ever bought on etsy (about two years ago or so) had a chocolate included and it made us so happy!

Obviously people allergic to chocolate would have no use for it, but our ones are individually wrapped and completely contained so there is no chance of them contaminating the product the customer originally bought.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47107338@N00/2641304057

Other than that we've only received positive feedback for all our sales, and a fair few say thanks for the chocolate. I don't think it's gained us any return sales, but we're okay with that.

[Former_Member]

When someone purchases a mini book pendant, I tend to send a free mini pencil pendant, because they go well together and people seem to appreciate it. I can understand why people wouldn't send an expensive freebie...these are inexpensive for me but appreciated (aka not thrown away) :). also, of course a handwritten thank you is something everyone loves, myself included. I bought a guitar strap from PaddyMtnDesigns.etsy.com and she took the time to send a thoughtful Thank You card...she didn't have to but I still remember her shop name if that says anything!

[Former_Member]

I send a card with a sample and a coupon code for 10% off the next order, but since i'm a soapmaker, the samples are from the parts normally trimmed off when squaring the ends anyways.

I thought about doing the free shipping, but on a single bar order the shipping is as much as the bar. So I went for the % instead.

[LocaDesign]

I designed bookmarks featuring one of my favorite creations to date, and it has my basic info on it plus a special 10% off code. It's promotional, yet functional, and customers can use it in their books, then think of me. Plus I have HUGE cache of Burning Man stickers and I always throw in one or two of those. I would be wary of throwing in any food-type items (i.e. chocolate) since I am one of those lucky people who have a severe allergy to anything with dairy or egg whites in it.

[Former_Member]

@firegrog bookmarks = GREAT idea

[earringsnation]

Once in a while, I'll give free earrings, hairpins or ring depend on the purchase amount... :)

[brienna]

I think it's sweet, what's wrong with giving something back to the customers who care...

so few things in life are free.

why not change that?


hugs :o)
brienna

[brienna]

p.s.

as long as it doesn't undervalue your own work, of course

but I think to give something free to the people who already appreciate your work is only showing that you appreciate them ;o).

brienna

[Former_Member]

I must say that I really enjoy reading this thread. Lots of views on whether to include a freebie or not :)

[CopperPaisley]

I started sending freebies, and until I got complaints about sending extra earrings. Then I added notes that say thank you.. it's pretty funny when I buy from another seller who has bought from me, and I get my own note back. lol I usually get free beads, okay but when am I going to do with one bead cap? I don't want free stuff..
I think just fast shipping, great packaging and nice note does the trick. I put coupon codes in with my stuff.. haven't had anyone use a single one.

[Former_Member]

I always give out freebies. Over Christmas I gave out little gift tags, but now after Christmas I add in little individually wrapped chocolates to each package. All of my postage are flat rate small parcels, so adding in two or three small chocolates doesn't cost me anything. If it's a flat package like a letter I throw in some herbal tea bags so they don't up the shipping on my end.

Freebies NEVER cost me anything. I got so much chocolate as gifts for Christmas that I can't eat (I will diet I will diet!) so instead of binning it all I get it out of the house in the form of freebies.

I love herbal tea but am very picky, so often I buy packs of 30 silk tea bags and end up not liking the flavour so I send them out to customers. Something I would have bought anyway but am saving wastage my end by sending it out instead of binning it because I'm picky.

If people don't like what you send they don't like what you send *shrug*. I've gotten so many freebies over a lifetime that I either use them/give them away/eBay them/bin them and say oh well. I've even gotten things I'm allergic to, I just pass them right onto the boyfriend (who loves it).

I also include a 10% off code.

One thing I have very recently started doing though is including a note at the bottom of every listing saying that sometimes I do include freebies and sometimes they are food - that a customer should message me if they don't want a freebie! (I was doing some freebie research of my own and run into some very freebie-angry dog owners who were afraid their dog would open the package and eat whatever it was). Therefore if people are worried they can simply opt out :)

[RomaMiaTradingCo]

For me it all depends. The only time I really do send out "freebies" is when someone orders one of my capes. Obviously its for a child, so I'll throw in a sheet of stickers (which I usually get a whole book of them for a $1 from A.C. Moore, so its not really breaking the bank here).

But I also do give an automatic "Thank you" coupon code for when people order (its not much, $5 off orders of $25+).

[HeidiDiCesareDesigns]

I used to give away a card with a discount code for free shipping or a percentage off, and no one used them! In my supply shop, I give a free item of what they have ordered for large orders out of appreciation. They all love it! In my jewelry shop, I like to give an extra little gift to regular customers at holiday time, like a pair of earrings, or when I do items for bridal parties, I usually make a little something for the bride as a thank you. This can't possibly be a bad thing! It costs me next to nothing, and makes my customers remember their experience with my shop.

[SnowywindsStudios]

This has been a great thread to read through. It has definitely been helpful! I've been considering sending a freebee with my items, at least with my purses.

I happen to love buttons & I collect them, whether they are souvenirs, cool art, or promo. I usually have buttons clipped onto my personal purse (see my about page www.etsy.com/shop/SnowywindsStudios/about). I was planning to get 1" buttons featuring my snowflake logo made up as freebees. These would also be available at my booth during craft/art show events.

[Former_Member]

Freebies wouldn't really be practical or cost-effective for the nature of my business which generally consists of precious metal jewelry. And, most of the time, I'm not usually a big fan of freebies either. Unless the sellers happens to throw in more of whatever item I ordered or (in one very awesome and surprising instance) went to my favorites and saw I was favoriting items very similar to the freebie she sent, I generally just end up giving away or throwing away freebies.

[Former_Member]

If a customer has purchased a piece of jewelry that has a mirror finish, I include a free polishing cloth to keep it shiny. And free means free, I don't include the cost of the cloth in the item price.

If a customer purchases a piece that has a patina on it, I include a small pouch of superfine steel wool and instructions on how to keep the silver highlights bright.

I'll be honest, I love freebies. Many of the lapidary artists I purchase from will throw in an extra stone with an order, and this is always so nice, even if it's not the most stunning showstopper rock ever. I always end up using the free stones, and it's just a nice gesture.