Do you include a freebie in your packages?

[Former_Member]

For a long time I included a freebie (a little notecard) with each package I sent, but recently I have been so busy, I haven't been sticking anything extra in with my packages. I have also noticed, that I don't ever get anything free with my personal etsy purchases (and i don't expect to). Just curious... do you still a little freebie (big or small) in with the packages you ship? Why or why not? Thanks for your help! I love you Etsy community!



PS- I will say that once someone got the notecard and decided to order a lot. That was definitely a plus, but it's only happened once and I've shipped well over 400 packages with the notecard in there. Didn't know if it was worth the gesture or not.

[Former_Member]

I post a business card with mine :)

[ContempoJewelry]

I don't do freebies unless it's a really good customer. As a customer, when I get a freebie, it's usually something I don't want or need. As a business owner, I try to keep my prices fair and I don't want any additional costs.

[Untwistedsister]

What I sell in my shop just doesn't lend itself to freebies. They'd have to be so inexpensive to just throw in and that would also make them 'cheap' and that's not what I make or sell. I think my customers expect quality merchandise, good customer service and value so that's where I put my efforts.

[crowinghenfarm]

I very seldom include freebies. Mostly because I don't much like getting them. Trying to de-clutter my life,I only order what I really want. Any freebies I get, just get given away next chance I can.

I do however, include a coupon code for 10% off next purchase.

IF the person has bought from me before AND IF the person has bought a large order, then yes, I'll include a large sample of some new product I've made since their order.

Even for small orders, I might include a small sample of something that person has inquired about but didn't buy, just so they can see what it looks like in person.

Anything extra I put in is usually try to personalized it to that customer. But adding extras is not usual for me.

[Former_Member]

No, I haven't had enough sales to consider tossing in a freebie. I've gotten freebies every now and then but not very often. The most generous one I've ever received was a nice pair of earrings when I bought a bracelet as a Christmas gift. I kept the earrings for myself and gave the bracelet away. ;-)

[Former_Member]

With repeat customers or very large orders I do. I include things such as a dishcloth if they order one of my eco friendly products, or I've included an extra baby hat for a large baby item order but in general my items are fairly inexpensive as it is so it would not be good for my bottom line to include items with every order.

[WalterSilva]

I always include a small magnet for orders over $25.00.
Also include
• A thank You note
and will be including a coupon for a percentage off there next purchase.

[Former_Member]

I include freebies sometimes, but it's on a case-by-case basis. If I know the order is for a birthday girl or the customer was incredibly pleasant, something like that, I'll throw in a little something extra, but I don't do it with every package.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for your advice everyone! It is really helpful and as a seller, I don't particularly recommend a freebie. I would consider if you are giving a freebie, to make it a sample- a small but important distinction. Make it something small (like I mentioned, mine is a notecard) that they can return and purchase from your shop in some form or fashion. All advice is of course still welcome! :)

[MelsCreativeWishes]

so far I haven't included any freebies. I always include a little thank you note on my business cards though.

[HausofAriella]

I think that freebies work well for people selling bath and body products and edibles, since they can include a small sample of their other products. I got a small sample of body butter with an order of soap from Chasa at Behind the Garden Gate recently, which was nice and I probably will order some later.

[Former_Member]

I have not started selling in my shop yet, but I have purchased a lot. One owner has sent a freebie, but after we developed a relationship outside of etsy as like-minded craftspersons, but I received a rather large freebie from a Stone seller on a very small order, in fact I think the freebie was worth more than my order! Included was a card that said he sometimes adds a freebie as an incentive. I will definitely buy from him again! And since he qualified it as 'sometimes', i will not be expecting it! Just chewing up all this advice for my own shop! Thanks...

[FenderGemsNCrystals]

I currently include freebies. I negotiate for freebies when I buy lots. If ever I ran out of freebie items to give I would quit sending them. I do not advertise that I give freebies. I sell supplies but I imagine for craftsmen and artists it would be difficult or impossible to send a worthwhile freebie

[Former_Member]

I agree with Staci Egan/Contempojewels - I don't know what to do with my freebies and I don't like to throw them away as they are lovely thoughts. Also I think it lacks professionalism, and reeks of desperation. It doesn't make business sense - If on the other hand you are using theses to advertise your business name/address etc and can afford to do this then why not, but stick to non personal items and use everyday items like pens, pencils, business cards. etc

[KittenKabooses]

I do sometimes include a freebie but it's on repeat or large orders only.

I include a handwritten thank you note and a coupon code. If they like what they received then they can get a discount to come back. I keep my prices competitive and there's not a lot of wiggle room.

[Former_Member]

As a buyer, I think a freebie is nice, but I am much more intrigued by pretty or interesting packaging.

It feels like such a waste if I'm given something I won't or can't use.

[Former_Member]

I do on larger orders for bath products - either a mini sampler soap in a fragrance they might like (based on the scents they purchased) or a knit face scrubby cloth. Both are extremely inexpensive to me and I limit it to orders over a certain dollar amount only.

For jewelry I don't, but I do make a point of having it nicely packaged.

[PaperDotCo]

I used to add freebies before. I don't do it now.

I added 3 empty notecards with envelopes. And for bulk orders, I added a couple of extra items of the same product they ordered.

But the interesting thing is, none of the people I sent freebies to, left any feedback for me. The thank you emails and feedback comes only from Customers, to whom I never sent any freebies :)

and also I have never received any freebies from other Etsy shops I have bought from.

i can see it working for soap and bath products though.

[Former_Member]

Hey:) I actually bought some little muslin bags (about 3"x4")...they cost about $2 for a pack of 20. I stamp them with my logo...In them, I put my business card, a few of my minicards (with my twitter/Facebook/blog/tumblr info) and a sticker. If the order is over $50 I throw in something handmade that goes with the theme of the set...i.e. a little moon with the solar system set. I usually stamp and pack those in bulk when I'm in between new projects. It seems like a lot, but they don't take that long and then I can just put them in packages as I send them out!

[Former_Member]

I make rainbow confetti with hearts and toss it in lol, so when it's oepened it's like a gift. Oh and a business card or two.
Now... sometimes I'll throw in a freebie. Like, if the customer rocks lol.

:)

[Former_Member]

The thing I would consider a freebie is the seed bomb gift box I package my items in. I also put in a business card, a personal note about their purchase and how to plant the box, and a coupon code good for their next purchase. I've tried freebie sales, like buy an item and get a surprise freebie but I never got any sales from that, lol.

[Former_Member]

In every order I include:
-free samples
-10% off coupon code for their next purchase
-order receipt w/ personalized Thank You note

I am still a small shop so I can afford to go the personalized route.

First off, my shop sells Bath & Beauty products so it's a bit easier for me, BUT I always include free samples with any purchase. Each sample tends to cost me less than $1 to make. I buy sample containers solely for this purpose. For smallish orders, I usually include 2 samples. Once I start getting larger orders (someday it WILL happen!), I will probably include more than 2.

Reasoning: I ordered a sample pack of 3 deodorants and a shampoo bar from another Etsy shop (before I started making my own to see if they actually worked for my body type and for my husband's). When I received my order from this other Etsy shop, the lady had included 3 additional bar soap samples and probably 40 or so sample bath bombs. Of course we used the soap - my husband loved it! But I don't take baths, so I gave the bath bombs to my baby nieces who do! Either way, I felt very loved and appreciated by the other Etsy seller. Now I will ALWAYS include free samples, especially if I have just posted a new item and am trying to get the word out.

It's definitely what works best for your shop and type of items. I don't depend on Etsy sales for income, so making people feel loved is my number one priority, aside from helping them be healthy and natural, of course! But I also don't allow my free samples to put me in the red.

I think it's what makes you happy and makes you feel fulfilled at the end of the day.

[WintergreenDesign]

I usually include a quilled gift tag with each order... I do have a customer that purchases quite a lot from me on a monthly basis and I do include a little freebie with her orders... it is usually the same as something she purchased so I know that she will like it. For very large orders (even first time orders) I also try to include something that is complimentary to what they ordered in terms of color or design. I don't offer discounts or percentages off though as I think my prices are reasonable : )

[crowinghenfarm]

Reading through this thread and thinking about it as a customer, I think the kinds of things I would find most useful as freebies would be - a little cloth bag with shop logo/address on it, a business card shaped like a book mark so I could use it as a book mark, and maybe some seed bombs (I just love those things).

I could see if I bought bath/beauty items, free samples would be useful.