[asterisk-biz] Why so many international customers ask for free samples

[Bill Michaelson]

I've been on both sides of this.  I suggest:

Charge for samples, but offer the option of refund upon return (if 
practical).  And simultaneously:

Develop criteria for determining free sample eligibility that is 
appropriate to your product.  It might be an individual judgment call.  
Chat with the requester to gauge how serious they are in order to 
estimate the probability of continued business.  This is primarily about 
two points: (1) your assessment of the likelihood that they really 
represent a substantial market, and (2) your confidence that your 
product really meets the requirements and is competitive.  Those two 
points can be broken down further, and the 
interrogation/investigation/qualification process can be formalized as 
appropriate.  If you really get a lot of these requests, you can develop 
a checklist and score the requests.  Ineligible requesters get a polite 
offer to buy a trial version.

Something like that?


Andy Spring wrote:
> Hello everyone friends,
>  
> As a chinese supplier, we often meet this kind of status, so many 
> foreign cusotmers ask for free samples from us,
> but the sample is also high value not only several dollars, even if it 
> worth several dollars, if so many customers ask
> for free samples, we also can not afford them.
>  
> By this status, should we send the free samples to our customers? if 
> you, how will you do? if not send them free samples
> maybe we will lose customers. In fact, the cost of sample is hihger 
> then unit goods for bulk order.
> We have also some policy about the sample, like charger higher price 
> for sample(s) and when our customers (especially new customers)
> place bulk order, we will return the sample cost to them, but even by 
> this way, they still do not want to pay for the sample price,
> what could we do, do you have any better advice.
>  
> Thank you very much, my friends here everyone!
>  
> Best regards

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