The Deal with Samples

Way back when we first launched Natureofbeauty.com (seems like a million years ago), we created what I thought would be the perfect Samples program: Unlimited samples at 99 cents each. 

Since that time, our samples program has been through several incarnations. No matter the policy, we regularly receive emails from customers wishing we offered more samples, cheaper samples, unlimited samples, and so on and so forth. Believe me, we understand the limitations of purchasing online; I, for one, hate going to the mall, so the invent of online retail was a godsend, albeit one with drawbacks. You may wonder, then, why companies place limitations on samples, or charge you for what amounts to 1-2 days' worth of product.



With that in mind, I want to take a few moments to have a frank chat with you about samples: why we limit them, what you can do to get the most out of our samples program, and what to expect when you order them.
I'm doing it now because we just increased our sample limit and selection, but eliminated the Deluxe Sample Kits (good news always comes with bad, doesn't it?!).

Here's the inside scoop:

1) Although some of our brands create samples for us (that we purchase, often at around $1 each), many do not, meaning we have to create them by hand. This requires more time than you might think, as well as the cost of product, sample jars and labels. Even a tiny sample usually costs around $1 or more to make, and we sell them for one cent.

2) Some customers have asked if they can pay more for samples in order to waive the minimum order requirement. But when we do that - i.e., charge for samples - that immediately creates an assumption as to what that amount of money should purchase. To complicate matters, many of the brand-made samples have "not for resale" listed on them and/or have policies prohibiting us from selling those samples. In both situations, that causes problems (again, we have learned this from experience).

3) We offer many everyday necessities, and encourage customers to consider purchasing something like shampoo, body wash, hand lotion, or sunscreen - things you know you'll need and use - and then use their samples allotment for things like lipstick and foundation, products that are more difficult to select online.

4) Samples are meant to replicate what you would experience if you were able to visit our store in person. In other words, it is an opportunity to touch, smell, and apply the product, for one, or perhaps two, days. When it comes to determining if the product works well with your skin or hair type, travel sizes and kits are by far the better way to go.

5) Something that sets The Nature of Beauty apart from most of our online competitors is our staff, and the fact that we have a store and spa. In addition to working with the products every day, we have two professional makeup artists and 3 licensed estheticians. Between the 5 of us, we can answer just about any skin care or makeup question(s) you may have. You can also email your photo to terri@natureofbeauty.com, and from there we can create a comprehensive list of recommendations, including skin care, hair care, and makeup.

Do you have more questions? We can also assist you by phone during store hours (10-6 Monday thru Saturday, and 12-5 on Sundays), or by email at info@natureofbeauty.com. With our extensive experience, we can nearly always help you narrow down your choices, so that you can confidently purchase full sizes of at least some of your beauty products, so that you can use your sample allotment to try out those items about which you're less sure.

In the meantime, check out our new and improved samples selection. And now, with a mere $15 purchase, you can select up to 4 one-cent samples. Orders over $75 qualify for 6 samples, and you get 8 samples with orders over $150!