While browsing our selection of keychains, carabiners, bottle openers, and more you have probably noticed that many of our products have an option to order a sample. In this article we will go over the different types of samples, why you might consider a sample item, and how to order them. Read on to discover more...
We specialize in customizing our promotional keychains in bulk, which offers a great value to our customers since we can provide better prices at quantity. But sometimes you might feel trepidatious about blindly spending that sum of money on an unseen item. This is where our sample products come in.
Types of Samples We Offer
There are two main types of sample that you can order from us. It is pretty simple to understand the difference once you know about them. The first type of sample we offer and that you'll see on our website are generic in nature.
Generic Samples
Generic samples are exactly what they sound like. We have a stock of extra inventory for the purpose of showing examples of how the finished product would look. In most cases, these are engraved items like carabiners or keychains, but we also have examples of custom items like lapel pins and coins. These are intended to show the general fit and finish of any given product. Our generic samples can include over-runs from previous orders, or also may just be a logo or website randomly selected to give you an idea of what might look good on our products.
These are usually priced low and can be purchased directly on many of our product pages. By making them available this way you can order at any time without having to necessarily make arrangements with our representatives.
Spec Samples
"Spec" samples are speculative sample orders in which we use your actual artwork to create a single sample. While we provide digital proofs for all of our items, spec samples are useful if you need a finished example of how the final product will look and feel. For instance, you might need a board's approval before committing to a full order, or have additional concerns like how our products will integrate with your intended use.
In most cases these will have an artwork setup fee and depending on the item, may include additional costs for molding or casting custom items. If you plan to place a full order, we can often credit this cost toward the final total.
Why Order A Sample?
There are several reasons that you might be interested in ordering a sample. For us, it really comes down to appearance, quality, and physical form. You can infer a lot just by looking at the images on our website, but sometimes you just need to see it and hold it in person to fully understand how the product may suit your purpose.
Appearance
How your finished product looks is important. Color can vary from one computer monitor to another so you may want to see what our anodized aluminum colors look like in the real world. Further, a professionally lit photograph is designed to show the fine details of our keychains. In your hand or pocket, the metals may reflect light differently making the engraving look different.
And speaking of engraving, that's another reason you would want to see a sample. It's an example of our work so that you can see how text or images will look on a product. It will give you an idea of what kinds of small details will show up, and how the engraved area looks in contrast to the surrounding area.
Quality
Just like appearance, it can be hard to tell the quality of something by looking at a picture online. When you hold it in your hand you can feel the weight and construction quality. You will see how clean and detailed the customizations can be. We are confident that when you examine our samples you will be pleased and assured that you order will have the same level of high quality.
Physical Form
Dimensions and scale are another reason you might want to get a sample before placing a full order. You know what inches are, and reading about them on a website makes sense to your brain. But when you compare a 2" carabiner to a 2.5" carabiner while holding them you can see what that really means. Or you may think you want a really large lapel pin only to realize that the size you were imagining would be too big.
Another aspect of the physical form can be in comparing customization options. For instance you want to see the difference between hard enamel and soft enamel. Or what is the difference between antiqued gold and antiqued brass? Ordering samples can help you answer many of these questions.
How To Order A Sample
You will notice that a majority of our product pages have a tab on the pricing table that allow you to switch over and see the sample pricing instead of the bulk quantity pricing. To order a sample, simply switch over to this tab and then click the "Add to cart" button and complete the checkout process. This will only allow you to purchase one sample of one item. If you want to compare two items you can order a sample of each by repeating the process.
You may also contact us directly through any of the online forms or email us and a representative will help you with your sample. This is a good option if you need some guidance with the samples. Like if there are certain custom options you want to see, we can be sure to send you those comparable samples. For instance, specify that you want to see a polished silver finish on a custom keychain, or we may randomly send you the first available sample which could be a different finish.
What's Next?
After you receive your sample product, you will usually receive a follow-up contact to check in and see if the sample met your expectations and to help you set up a full order. We can also assist in answering any additional questions you may have at this time. It's that easy! We know you'll love our customized items and look forward to creating promotional keychains just for you!
