I absolutely love free samples, especially the ones that show up in the mail and require very little effort on my part. From the aisles at Costco, to the companies that will send out their products for you to try, they’re a fun no-brainer way to try new stuff. It’s with this in mind that I found a bunch of companies that will send out samples for free by mail, often with NO strings attached. I’ll be sure to keep this article up-to-date as I find new companies that offer freebies. Here’s my current list.

Breathe Right Strips

Breathe Right nasal strips is happy to send you a free sample to try out at home.

Just visit this page to sign-up for your sample. Expect about 2 weeks for delivery.

Thanks Yari for the tip!

Gillette

Sign-up for the Gillette newsletter and score free samples, coupons, and exclusive offers.

I’ve personally receive free razors and shaving cream at least twice a year for the past few years.

See Also: FREE Stickers: All 35 Places That Hand ‘Em Out

Home School.com

Become a product tester with HomeSchool.com and get cool free books, kits, and school supplies to test out.

They never release a product without running it by their testers first which gives you a great opportunity to score a bunch of great free samples.

Johnson & Johnson

Sign-up for J&J’s “Friends & Neighbors” program and you’ll get regular invitations to test out new products.

Your opinion is very important to Johnson & Johnson and they’re willing to give you a bunch of free products in exchange for your honest thoughts.

Tampax

Just visit this page and follow the instructions to create a Proctor & Gamble account.

Once you have an account, they let you choose the Tampax product you want to test out.

See Also: Like Free Doughnuts? 10 Clever Ways to Score at Dunkin’ and Krispy Kreme

McCormick

Become a product tester (panelist) with McCormick and they’ll send you spice samples by mail to test out on a regular basis.

You must be 18 years of age unless you have a parent or guardian’s approval.

Pinch Me

The folks at Pinch Me will send you a ton of samples in exchange for your opinion.

Top brands include Kraft, P&G, Hallmark, Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Loreal, Pfizer, and Revlon to name a few.

The best part is they send the samples for free based on the types of products you’re interested in.

See Also: Walmart Free Samples: 4 Clever Ways to Find Them Every Time You Shop

Proctor & Gamble

P&G has teamed up with Bzzagent to deliver free samples to your doorstep.

And the best part it’s completely free to join.

Some samples are delivered with no catch, some require you to answer a few questions about your experience with the product, and some ask you to talk about it on social media.

They’ll send you BzzKits with a bunch of samples from brands like Crest, Always, Downy, Tide, Olay, and Mr. Clean to name a few.

Sephora

If you love Sephora, or are curious about their beauty line, visit their free samples web page.

Simply select 3 free samples, add them to your basket, and get them sent for free. The one catch is they do require you to purchase something at regular price to get the free samples.

Similac

Join their StrongMoms program and get up to $400 in free perks.

These include free baby formula samples and a bunch of coupons for future Similac purchases.

See Also: All the Stores That Hand Out Free Samples

Snuggle

If you’re a fan of Snuggle fabric softener, why not get a bunch of free samples by mail when you sign-up for their Snuggle Bear Den club.

U by Kotex

Visit the free sample page on the Kotex website and you pick the free sample you want to receive.

Unfortunately they no longer offer free samples of their tampons BUT you can get free samples of their pads and liners and they let you pick the exact kind you want to try out.

Vocal Point

Sign-up for free with Vocal Point and get a ton of free samples from up and coming companies as well as new-concepts on products that already exist.

In return they’ll ask for your thoughts and opinions.

Ask the Reader: What companies have you discovered that send out free samples by mail on a regular basis? Let me know and I’ll get them added ASAP.

By Kyle James

Due to nature of DIY projects, the Home Depot return policy is one of the most used return policies in existence. Because of that, it’s nice to know exactly how it works, what the exclusions are, how receipt-less returns work, and even some insider tips for success. Here’s everything you need to know to make returning stuff to the Home Depot a breeze.

What is the “Official” Home Depot Return Policy?

90 days.

You have a generous 90 days to return an item to the Home Depot if you’re not satisfied for any reason.

Are There Exceptions to the 90 Days?

Yes, there are.

These items all have a different time window for returns.

• Furniture – 30 days.
• Mattresses – 30 days.
• Area Rugs – 30 days.
• Generators – 30 days.
• Paint Sprayers – 30 days.
• Gas Powered Stuff & Tractors – 30 days.
• Consumer Electronics – 30 days.
• Purchases made with a Home Depot Credit Card – 365 days (more on this below)

I wasn’t aware that The Home Depot sold consumer electronics but I’m guessing they mean speakers, drones, WiFi extenders, and HDMI cables, many of which they sell online.

See Also: 7 Highly Clever Ways to Save Money at The Home Depot

What’s the Return Policy on Major Appliances?

48 hours.

Always carefully inspect the appliance upon delivery to your home and “refuse delivery” if the item is damaged or defective.

If you don’t inspect the appliance carefully, then later notice an issue, call Home Depot at (800) 455-3869 within 48 hours of delivery or pickup time and they’ll help you with a return.

This policy applies to refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, washers, dryers, and some microwaves.

Lowe’s has a similar policy in place on major appliances, and based on the comments, it’s not very popular with shoppers.

Can Items Be Opened or Used?

Officially, “No”. Unofficially, “Yes”.

If you still have the original packaging, receipt, and still within 90 days, you can return most opened or used items.

With used items, it often comes down to the amount of “wear & tear” the product shows and is typically handled on a case-by-case basis.

For example, if you bought a Wooster paintbrush and use it heavily for an entire weekend then decide to return it, you’re probably out of luck.

But if you only used the paintbrush for a couple minutes, weren’t happy with, and cleaned it thoroughly, you stand a really good chance of them taking it back.

This is especially true if you’re okay with store credit or an exchange.

What If I Lost My Receipt?

In the past, if you didn’t have your receipt the return desk would try to find your order in their system using the credit card or debit card you used to make the purchase.

But recently, in an effort to thwart shoplifters trying to turn a quick profit, the Home Depot is BUCKLING down hard on receipt-less returns.

My investigation into this started when I received a comment from a shopper who was told they could not return an item without a receipt because it was valued at over $50.

As of this writing, this is NOT stipulated anywhere on the Home Depot website but I have come to find out that the new policy is rolling out nationwide as we speak.

I spoke with a Home Depot assistant manager about this issue and he confirmed the over $50 without a receipt will typically be DENIED.

He added that they use a 3rd party system who tells the employee whether or not to accept the return and it’s now out of their hands.

He also gave the great tip of signing up for the free Pro Xtra Loyalty program as it tracks your purchases and receipts for you so this will NEVER be an issue.

What’s the Return Policy w/ the Home Depot Credit Card?

365 days.

If you make your purchase with your Home Depot or Pro Xtra credit card, you get a whopping 365 days to make your return, and your purchase history and receipts are tracked for easy retrieval.

I’ve been told that the 365 days applies to everything except the products listed directly below, as well as anything that runs on gasoline.

Beware that the card comes with a high interest rate (29.99% APR), but if you pay it off every month, the extended return policy could be worth its weight in gold.

What Stuff Can’t Be Returned?

The following items are not returnable to the Home Depot…

– Custom Tinted Paint – For this reason, make sure you see the color of the paint before you buy it.

You also can’t return any “Oops” paint that you buy at a discount.

– Custom Blinds – The only blinds that can be returned say “Guaranteed to Fit” on them.

– Utility Trailers

– Generators

– Gift Cards/Store Credits

– Product Samples

I’ll keep this list updated in case new items become non-returnable.

What If I Have Receipt But Lost the Box?

In most cases, yes, the Home Depot will take stuff back without the original box or packaging.

Your mileage may vary from store to store depending on the employee you encounter, but I have personally returned stuff without the box.

What About Online Returns?

Another really cool feature at the Home Depot is their online return system.

They actually allow you to return purchases made via their website via UPS, as well as products bought in-store.

This is a handy feature if you live a LONG distance from the nearest location, or you just have trouble making it in-store for whatever reason.

To see if your item is eligible for an online return, visit this page, and click on “Return Items”. (See image above)

Be prepared to pay the return shipping costs unless the reason for the return is an error by The Home Depot.

Are There Ever Any Restocking Fees?

The only items that might incur a restocking fee are Special Order returns or cancellations.

Be prepared to pay a 15% restocking fee on these items.

What About Returning Flowers or Plants?

According to Home Depot, they will unconditionally guarantee all tropical, house, and landscape plants (only perennials, trees, roses, and shrubs) for one year.

If your plant dies just bring whatever is left of it, the original pot it came in, and your receipt, and they’ll replace it or issue a refund.

If the plant is no longer available, a store credit will be issued.

The key here is perennials, trees, and shrubs.

They don’t offer a 1-year guarantee on annuals, but they still offer a 90 day return window.

Thanks to reader Gail who informed me that clearance plants (with yellow price sticker) are NOT returnable and are considered final sale.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever had trouble with the Home Depot return policy? How did it happen and what was the end result?

By Kyle James

The Wendy’s secret menu is a very interesting one. While it’s not incredibly long and diverse, the burgers on it pack quite the punch in terms of size and flavor. The next time you step into your local Wendy’s consider one of these secret menu items and you just might be in for a tasty square burger surprise. Or maybe a burger so large you can share it with an entire wrestling team.

The Wendy’s Secret Menu:

The Barnyard Burger

The most appropriate name for any secret menu item ever.

Order “The Barnyard” of the Wendy’s secret menu and you’ll get a burger with bacon, beef patty, spicy chicken patty, and ham with a layer of cheese between each meat.

Add some lettuce and tomato if you’re feeling a bit healthy.

According to commenter Diana, if you get a blank stare when you order it, order a “single cheeseburger then tell them you want a spicy patty on top on the beef patty.”

Asiago Beef Burger

This is the regular Asiago Chicken sandwich with apple wood smoked bacon, but instead of chicken it comes with a beef patty.

Sounds weird but it’s suppose to be quite delicious with the Asiago cheese and ranch sauce.

See Also: The Burger King Secret Menu Will Make You Bow to the King

Spicy Asiago Chicken Sandwich

Thanks to loyal reader Erik for this tip.

Order this bad-boy and you’ll get the regular Asiago Chicken sandwich but with the spicy chicken patty.

According to Eric, the spicy chicken and sweet smoked bacon go great together.

Grand Slam Burger

4 is the magic number with the Grand Slam burger.

As in 4 square beef patties sandwiched between 2 slices of cheese and of course a bun.

If you’re feeling really daring, you can ask for a slice of cheese between each patty. Also, some folks will garnish the top with a couple leaves of lettuce.

If the Wendy’s employee has no idea what you’re talking about, try ordering the 1 lb quadruple burger.

See Also: The McDonald’s Secret Menu: Time to Elevate the Big Mac

Meat Cube

The Meat Cube is the same thing as the Grand Slam mentioned above.

Personally, the name kind of grosses me out so I’d order the Grand Slam burger instead.

Quadruple Baconator

Order this Wendy’s secret menu item and you’ll get 4 beef patties with 3 pieces of bacon between each patty.

Make it healthy with some lettuce and tomato added as well.

You can also order it as a quad burger with bacon, but the baconator sounds so much cooler.

Thanks to Wendy’s employee, Michael, for setting me straight on the amount of bacon between each patty.

T. Rex

This is a nine patty high burger with of course nine slices of cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, onions and pickles, and an overwhelmed single bun.

The burger has become Internet folklore in recent years and many Wendy’s won’t make it, but it never hurts to ask.

From a commenter, the best way to order it is to ask for a “triple cheese and add 6 patties on top of that with cheese.”

This sucker will cost you about $22 give or take a buck or two.

See Also: Time to Taste the Yummy In-N-Out Burger Secret Menu

Jurassic Burger

The Jurassic burger is the same as the T. Rex above but with 10 patties instead of nine.

I’m guessing this burger is for those who like their ridiculously large burgers in groups of 10.

Ask the Reader: Ever ordered anything from the Wendy’s secret menu? Was it a good, bad, or delicious decision?

By Kyle James