Most of the time...no. However, we have bought (and repeatedly bought) the Jarlsberg Cheese Dip that they have at Kroger's, that we otherwise probably would have never picked up...because of the sample.

 

That stuff is fantastic.

We've bought a sample product once or twice, but it wasn't really because of the samples.

 

Example, we needed metts, they had samples of a kind we had never tried before, both enjoyed it, so we decided to go with them instead of our normal brand.

In years of experience running a grocery operation I found that if the sample was good and prepared well it led to sales, especially if there was a person personally handing out the samples. If you did a demo for instance for 4 or 5 hours on back to back days you could count on sales on that item jumping up about 200-500% on demo days and sales to remain elevated for the next couple of weeks.

In a national chain like Kroger, etc, no....I don't usually buy what they're sampling. But you get me into a place like Lotsa Pasta here in Louisville, and GAME ON! I can rarely escape without buying what they're sampling!

I do try some of the samples but have never been moved to purchase any in the grocery store. I have bought frozen food items at Sam's after sampling them though. Sam's has the sample thing down better than anyone.

We were shipped a large quantity of Basa (Vietnamese Catfish) filets when we opened a store. Most of the customers in that area had no idea what Basa was or how it taste. Seafood manager started cooking some samples on slower days to let people see what it was. Within 2 months our store was selling more Basa than the rest of our region combined, all because we did demos of this unknown fish.

 

BTW if you like Orange Roughy give Basa a try, taste very similar and MUCH cheaper.

Yesterday I sampled the Mango Pound cake. Little squares of deliciousness. I actually went back and picked up a pound cake and almost put it in my cart. Then I paused and pondered the two P words---Pound and Pool. I put down the product and proceeded to check out. :walk:

I'm not a germophobe, but I don't try samples - especially the ones that are "covered". No telling how many filthy hands are in there pawing around.

 

Same here, the ones with the chips and dip in the "bowl". Nasty...

I'm not a germophobe, but I don't try samples - especially the ones that are "covered". No telling how many filthy hands are in there pawing around.

All samples should be given out in souffle cups or placed on a small plate in front of you...any other way :no:

I suppose the samples serve their purpose with me. I usually try them. When I like them 'enough,' I buy them. The most recent one I can think of was the cajun crab dip from Kroger. Good stuff. We buy it on occasion now.

Got me to thinking; Years ago at Biggs my brother and I used to walk

around and hit up all the samples. One little sample area had some kind

of frozen porkchop I believe and my brother granted were in grade school

at the time thought they were going to give us a whole chop. So he tells the

lady that we'll just share one.

 

Last week in Wal-Mart picking up some apples and baker potatoes, I look

over and this guy is just chowing down on grapes. I wanted so bad to ask

him if they were any good, but the wife was having none of it. People often

amaze me.

Hard to tell those little old women no :lol2:

 

yes it is

You guys eat from those germ bins, ewwwwww.

 

Not when they take it straight from the microwave and cut it up and put them in cups or little plates.

The newly remodeled Kroger in Hikes Point just opened a Sushi counter. I've never been much of a fan before but they were giving away samples one day so I decided the price was right. Let's just say I've bought it on several occasions since then.

I have on multiple occasions, but I have to actually have been planning on buying something in the category.

 

For example, if I'm looking for a cold side like potatoe salad, and they have a pasta salad or something similar. If I try it and like it, I will buy it.

 

In fact, I was at Kroger yesterday. I was planning on getting some Italian sausages for this weekend. The meat deparent had some sun-dried tomatoe spiced sausages cooked up. They were excellent, so that's what I bought.