The sample is not free, and it is not the product either
Buyers ask for a free sample and suppliers agree, then send something assembled from whatever was on the line that week. Six weeks later the container arrives and the product is not what was approved, and the argument is about a sample that was never specified in writing.
The sample process works when it is treated as a paid engineering step rather than as a courtesy. Here is what that looks like in practice.
What you are actually paying for
| Item | Usually charged | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sample unit | Yes, often at a premium over the volume price | A one-off build costs more per unit than a run |
| Courier | Yes, usually on the buyer's account | Ask for the express rate before agreeing |
| Custom logo or colour on a sample | Sometimes, plus a setup charge | Worth doing if the logo position is a decision |
| Certification on a sample | No | Certification follows the production build |
| Sample refund on first order | Negotiable | Ask for it in writing, tied to a minimum order value |
A sample that costs you a hundred dollars and settles three specification questions is cheaper than a container that costs you a season. The mistake is not paying for the sample, it is paying for a sample nobody specified.
The sample is not the production build
This is the single most common misunderstanding. The sample may be hand assembled, from a pre-production batch, with a housing from a different tool, or with components the factory had in stock. None of that is necessarily dishonest, but it means the sample proves what the product can be, not what the next container will be.
- Ask whether the sample comes from the production line or a sample line.
- Ask which components might change between sample and mass production.
- Photograph and label the sample. It becomes the reference in any later dispute.
- Ask for a golden sample to be retained by the factory and referenced in the purchase order.
What to test when it lands
- Run it the way the end customer will, for longer than feels reasonable. Most failures appear in the first hour of continuous use.
- Measure the numbers you specified: amplitude, time to temperature, runtime, noise. Write them down against the quotation.
- Open the housing if you can. Cell brand, board quality and connector type are visible, and they are where substitution happens.
- Check the packaging as carefully as the product. Retail box damage in transit is a product problem in the customer's eyes.
Turning the sample into a specification
A specification is not a catalogue page. It is a short document listing what was approved: model, colour, logo position, packaging artwork version, manual language, accessories included, and the measured figures from your test. Attach the photos. Every later question about what was agreed resolves against that document, or it does not resolve at all.
What to send us
The model, the market, and what you intend to test. If the answer is everything, we will suggest which three checks matter most for that category so the sample arrives with a purpose.
Questions we get on this
Are samples free?
How long does a sample take?
Can I order one piece as a production order?
What if the sample and the bulk order differ?
Nothing is stored on this site. The message opens in your own WhatsApp or mail app, so you can see exactly what you are sending.