Is it legal to sell samples on Ebay?
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free skin care · Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:18 am

I see them all the time. Revive, Dermadoctor. Some sellers have "stores" and this all they sell. It clearly says not for resale on the item. I just wonder how they get away with it.

I mean you can just call the company and get them free. Why would anyone buy them for one and how do these sellers get so many to sell on a regular basis?

free skin care · Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:28 am

I've also noticed that there are so many skincare samples selling at ebay so I take a look at their stores. Sounds like they are retail stores somewhere in the States, Asia.....
That's why they got so many samples. I guess it is illegal to sell the "not for sale" samples but nobody seems to take any action yet.
You are right I doubted why so many people order the samples since we can get them with purchase.

free skin care · Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:19 pm

I'd never buy them. I don't think it's right at all. I wish companies would complain to ebay and get it worked out.

No wonder some stores never ever seem to have samples to give out. Rolling Eyes

free skin care · Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:59 pm

One of my co-workers told me that one of her relatives works for department store cosmetic department and you won't believe how many samples she takes home every week.

free skin care · Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:08 pm

I bought some samples on a ebay store and its actually a pretty good deal. Even though it might be illegle... Embarassed

free skin care · Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:53 pm

Buying samples online may be frowned upon, but I find it beneficial (on the consumer's point of view)--I didn't know before that it was possible to purchase samples on EBay, but now I do. There is no point in ever asking department stores for samples because they only give you little half samples, where you don't even get the feel for how the product works. By being able to buy samples as much as I want and really see if I like different products or not.

free skin care · Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:04 pm

power1080 wrote:

Buying samples online may be frowned upon, but I find it beneficial (on the consumer's point of view)--I didn't know before that it was possible to purchase samples on EBay, but now I do. There is no point in ever asking department stores for samples because they only give you little half samples, where you don't even get the feel for how the product works. By being able to buy samples as much as I want and really see if I like different products or not.

The part that irks me is that most of these sellers are selling like 20 or 30 of those tiny samples in one auction and are advertising the samples as though they are equal to a full size. I dunno if i'm making sense...

free skin care · Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:16 pm

I know, I know.. If there were no buyers, than there would be no sellers, but I can't control myself! Sometimes it really just is a great deal to just be able to really "sample" a product before purchasing the product in store.

free skin care · Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:46 pm

It's nice to buy samples to try but I think it's wrong for people to request samples from companies for the sole purpose of reselling. Not all of them do that, but you can never tell who does

free skin care · Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:59 pm

I don't ask samples from department stores coz the sales lady's face will be so cool and is reluctant to give u any if u won't make a purchase. I normally have those samples during bonus time of gift with purchase.
Thx MACrises for telling us that it is possible for the sales taking those samples home.

Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:16 am

Honestly I'm happy to pay for samples. I'm too embarrass to ask for samples especially when I'm not buying anything, and especially when the product is very expensive.

If companies were willing to make minis/samples for sale I would be more than happy to pay for it. Example, the Dr Hauschka trial kit on EDS. This would sort the genuine customers from those wanting to profit by reselling on ebay.

free skin care · Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:24 am

I also bought some samples on a ebay store and it was a very good deal.

Wed Apr 12, 2006 3:28 pm

I always see people selling small samples on ebay...

free skin care · Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:16 am

I keep samples to hand for when I'm travelling, but what about the ones we don't want? I've got a load of aftershave samples I got in a goodie bag, since I don't have a fella it seems a waste to throw them in the bin. If I only got a £1/$1 or 2 for them where is the harm? To me it's no different than selling on books & cd's since the artist isn't getting any royalties from the sale.

free skin care · Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:59 pm

I have bought samples from ebay before, and I really enjoy them. They are inexpensive, convenient, and a good way to try a product or a line before you buy. I heard about SC CE FErulic and bought six sample vials online and gave a couple to a few of my friends--now they are all ordering. Wink

I think it is a perfectly noncomittal way to try a product--if you are all concerned with the ethics of it, spread the wealth, since in general these sample packs are SO affordable! Treat them *as* samples for you and yours.
BTW, I have full sizes of intense line defense, hydrating b5 gel, moisturizing sun block spf 20, total sunblock spf 30, eye balm, face cream, AND eye renewal gel, so there you go--I was introduced to the product and have spent so much more on full sizes.
Another BTW--I like the samples of C serums better, since the chances of oxidization are less if you only open the product a few times before it is used up!

Best,
ava lange

Wed May 10, 2006 3:59 am

i love samples myself - but i think technically it is illegal to resell samples. well, i suppose if you're reselling it as your own property, that might be a different story. but to resell it at for commercial profit at a commercial level probably isnt.. if you look at the bottom of any sample cosmetic product it clearly states that it's not meant to be resold. i live in hong kong, and there's a very big cosmetic chain that sells samples at very low prices. the thing is, some of those samples are quite massive, and they are very cost-efficient..

free skin care · Wed May 10, 2006 5:59 am

I've bought samples from Ebay before. I think it is a great idea. I especially love the mineral makeup samples. This way I can see and try the colors on before I buy. I've saved a lot of money purchasing samples I thought would be a perfect match, but ended up the wrong color. (Before anyone looks, I have not seen True Cosmetics samples there yet.)

free skin care · Wed May 10, 2006 6:33 am

Often the samples have a label stating "Not for Resale" but if the buyer is willing to pay for something that should be free, that's their choice.

I've got nothing against buying samples/trial sizes and have done it myself. In fact I prefer it to asking at the counter if they've got any samples and see the SA's face freeze up. Rolling Eyes

Wed May 10, 2006 6:37 am

hahaha i hate it when they make me feel bad for asking them for a sample.. i mean, if i'm shelling out that much money for a line of products, i think i deserve to try one or two samples.

i think its alright for people to resell samples (as i said, their selling what belongs to them), but i dont think its right for stores to resell them.

free skin care · Wed May 10, 2006 10:23 am

I agree wqith ejwb84. It is okay for people to sell samples. I have a bunch of samples myself that sosometimes I want to sell on ebay, but too lazy to do it.
However, sometimes, you see these sellers who have gizzilion samples. It makes you think that they are an actual stores who sell samples.

Wed May 10, 2006 10:38 am

yeah exactly. that chain store here in hong kong (which shall go unnamed Laughing

) is full of samples - perfume samples, make up samples, skin care samples - of every brand imaginable. and while they sell it for relatively cheap - you know that they're making a heck of a profit from selling them.

maybe these companies and people on ebay have connections to the factory or wherever and get the surplus, or overstock.

oh and sometimes the 'cheaper' brandname products have passed their expiry dates. and that's why they're sold for so cheap. hehe

free skin care · Wed May 10, 2006 2:40 pm

Alot of times they work for somewhere that its sold and they take the samples and then sell them. Not saying they steal them sometimes they can have all they want (now I am sure not to resale). I knew a few girls that worked for diff makeup companies and if the box even has a scratch they get to keep it. So at least they everyone wins sometimes. What does bug me is the ones the sell for damn near retail price, but if people werent dumb enough to buy that, then that would stop.

Wed May 10, 2006 8:46 pm

haha doesn't that mean they would have an initiative in scratching the boxes themselves so they get to keep it? Embarassed

free skin care · Wed May 10, 2006 10:35 pm

Sometimes certain brands are not available locally then I think it is a good idea to obtain a sample before buying.

However I really doubt that a seller has 30 samples of La Mer to sell without being the La Mer SA hoarding all the samples Mad

free skin care · Thu May 25, 2006 10:01 am

Will those sales actually sell those samples they got from work ?

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