Overview

A "supplier" offers a free sample but charges an exorbitant shipping fee, or sends a beautiful sample while being a shell company behind the scenes. The "free" sample is bait to collect fees or to build trust before a larger scam.

How It Works

  1. "Free sample, pay shipping" — the sample is free, but the "shipping" is marked up far beyond the actual cost, and the difference is the scammer's profit.
  2. Sample-and-run — they send a genuine (possibly purchased) sample, collect a deposit for a "bulk order," and vanish.
  3. Sample ≠ product — the sample is excellent, but the company has no capacity to mass-produce anything like it.
  4. Data harvesting — your inquiry and payment details are collected for other scams.

Why It's Harmful

  • Small losses that add up — inflated sample shipping fees.
  • False confidence — a good sample lulls you into skipping due diligence on the company itself.
  • Escalation — a sample order is the entry point to a larger deposit scam.

Red Flags

  • "Free sample" with an unusually high shipping fee.
  • Payment for "shipping" requested to a personal account.
  • Pressure to order in bulk quickly after the sample.
  • The company fails any basic due-diligence check (0 paid-in capital, no employees, new registration).

Solutions

1. Pay sample shipping at actual cost, via verifiable channels

  • Ask for the real courier cost (DHL/UPS/FedEx can ship collect, i.e., you pay the courier directly).
  • Use collect shipping (freight collect) so the courier bills you at the real rate, not a marked-up number from the supplier.

2. Never skip company due diligence

  • A good sample says nothing about the company. Run the same checks (Tianyancha/Qichacha, paid-in capital, employees, audit) before trusting anyone with real money.

3. Cap sample-order risk

  • Keep sample payments small and on a disputable channel (PayPal, credit card, Alibaba Trade Assurance).

4. Don't let a good sample rush you

  • Scammers use the sample to create trust and urgency. Take your time and verify.

5. Watch the payment account

  • Any request to pay a personal account for "shipping" is a stop sign.

Key Takeaway

A free sample is a marketing tool — not proof of a real supplier. Pay sample shipping at actual cost (freight collect), run full company due diligence regardless of sample quality, and never let a beautiful sample push you into skipping the checks or paying a personal account.