The Korean habit of asking for lots of samples: what do you think?
A short post on 82cook's free board said the writer couldn't understand why people at cosmetics counters ask for piles of samples no matter what they buy. What's the big deal about samples?
What the replies said:
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The first explanation: full-size products are expensive, so people collect samples to use like the real thing. One reply noted that enough eye-cream samples add up to a whole jar.
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Door-to-door sales, some said, come with generous samples, which is why some people stick with that channel even though it costs more.
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Others pointed out that some people ask and others don't, so shops simply have to accept it.
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Some said they mostly shop online now, and on the rare occasion they buy in a store, staff hand over samples unprompted; why complain about getting something free?
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A few said they used to take samples when young but now decline them, since samples from brands they don't use just become trash.
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Practical types pointed out samples are handy for travel or the gym.
The thread settled on "nice to receive, but only take what you'll use."
Desk note: In Korea it is illegal to sell cosmetics made as samples or not-for-sale trial products, or to store or display them for sale. Violations can bring up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won. Best to avoid buying or selling samples on second-hand apps.
Do you usually accept samples, or turn them down?
Original thread: 82cook — Why do people insist on cosmetic samples? · Also see: Korea Easy Law — ban on selling samples
There's a reason sample sachets carry so little information. Products of 10 ml or 10 g or less, and packaging for samples or not-for-sale items, only need the product name, the responsible seller, the price (for samples, the words "sample" or "not for sale" instead), the batch number, and an expiry date or period after opening. That's why many samples have no full ingredient list. If you react to certain ingredients, check the full-size product or the brand's official page before using one. Korea Easy Law — cosmetics labeling