Samples

Yes — we encourage it, and you can request a free sample before committing to a full run. We'll send the item so you can judge quality, size, and feel firsthand. Ask through the product page or your dedicated rep, and we'll ship it so you order with confidence. As a US supplier since 1997, we'd rather you vet the product than be surprised at quantity.

Many lower-cost samples are free or charged at item cost plus shipping; higher-value items like premium drinkware, tech, and retail brands are typically billed and often creditable toward your order. Request a free sample and we'll state the exact terms when you ask. Browse promotional drinkware or the full catalog to pick items to sample.

Standard samples are random-logo or blank stock pieces — they show the product, not your artwork. To see your actual logo decorated, request a paid pre-production sample or spec sample, or approve a free digital proof first. Start a sample request and tell us whether you need a blank product sample or a logoed pre-production unit so we send the right thing.

A random sample is a previously decorated unit from a past run — carrying someone else's logo — sent so you can evaluate the product and decoration quality firsthand. It's the fast, low-cost way to physically vet an item before ordering. Request a sample and we'll pull a representative piece. Want your own art on it instead? Ask for a pre-production sample.

Stocked samples typically ship within 1–2 business days and arrive by ground in 2–5 business days. Request a sample and tell us your decision deadline — we'll expedite when the calendar is tight. For a faster path on a logoed look, a free digital proof confirms artwork the same day while the physical sample travels.

A reasonable handful — typically 2–4 items per evaluation — keeps sampling fair and fast. Request your samples and we'll send the set. Sourcing a big program? Your dedicated rep can arrange broader sample sets against the project scope. Not sure what to compare? Browse the full catalog and shortlist a few candidates first.

Usually samples are yours to keep. Occasionally high-value items are sent on a return basis to keep pricing low for everyone — and we'll tell you up front if return is expected. Request a sample and we'll confirm keep-or-return terms before it ships, so there are no surprises on premium pieces.

Yes — request the specific style, color, and size and we'll send a fit sample. Request an apparel sample so you can confirm fit before a team run. For group programs, a small size-run sample set prevents costly size-mix mistakes. Explore promotional apparel to choose the exact style to test.

Frequently yes — on billed samples, a sample credit toward the subsequent order of that item is common. Request your sample and confirm the credit when ordering it, so it's noted on your account. Terms vary by item and brand, so ask your rep to state the exact credit before you pay for the sample.

Yes — for apparel programs and select textiles, swatch cards showing fabric and colorways are available, and they're quicker and cheaper than full garments when color is the only open question. Request swatches and we'll send the relevant cards. Browse promotional apparel to identify the lines you want swatched.

Yes — we'll ship samples to any decision-maker's address. Request a sample and give us the recipient details. For resellers, we can send them blind — with no PPI branding — so your client relationship stays entirely yours. Tell us when ordering the sample if it needs to ship blind, and we'll handle the packing accordingly.

A sample shows the product generally; a pre-production proof is one unit of your actual order — your art, your specs — produced for approval before the full run. The proof costs more and adds days but eliminates surprises. Request a sample to vet the product, then ask your rep about a pre-production proof when artwork accuracy is critical.

Order a pre-production sample for first-time large orders, strict brand-color requirements, or unusual products — when time allows, since it adds roughly 5–10 days. For routine items with a clear free digital proof, most customers skip it confidently. Talk to your rep about whether your order warrants one, or request a product sample to start.

Yes — packaging upgrades like gift boxes, sleeves, and custom inserts can be sampled alongside the product, so the full unboxing experience gets approved, not just the item. Request a packaging sample and we'll include the upgrade. Explore boxes & packaging to choose the presentation you want to review.

No — samples are separate from production quantities and don't count toward your order minimum. Your decorated order still has to meet the product's minimum order quantity on its own. Request a sample freely; it won't reduce or replace the MOQ. Ask your rep about minimums on any item you're sampling so you can plan the full run.

Yes, subject to remaining stock — closeouts move fast, so sample and decide quickly. Request a sample and ask us to hold quantity while your sample travels, so the deal doesn't sell out from under you. Browse the full catalog to spot closeout items worth grabbing before stock runs out.

Test a sample the way a recipient would: wash the shirt, drop-test the tumbler lid, write with the pen for a week, load the tote heavy. A sample that survives real use is a product that protects your brand. Request samples to put candidates through real-world testing before you commit to hundreds of units.

Yes — and it's the smartest use of sampling. Request both items, compare them side by side, and we'll give an honest read on durability and decoration differences from production experience. As a US supplier since 1997, we'll steer you toward the item that holds up. Browse the full catalog to line up your two contenders.

Yes — curated sample kits across categories can be assembled for stakeholder review on large programs. Request a sample kit and tell us the program scope and budget tiers; your dedicated rep will build it. For company stores and multi-category launches, a kit gives every stakeholder a hands-on say before you commit.

Tell us immediately — we'll replace it and investigate the cause. A bad sample is useful data; we'd rather lose a sample order than have you discover an issue at 500 units. Contact your rep or call 1-888-212-5501 with the problem, and we'll make it right and check the production lot before your full order proceeds.

Where feasible, yes — with the customer typically covering international freight or supplying a courier account. Transit and customs add time, so start international sampling early. Request a sample and contact us with your destination so we can confirm feasibility and the freight arrangement before shipping abroad.

Free sampling is for genuine purchase evaluation, so we keep it reasonable rather than rule-bound. Request a free sample for any item you're seriously considering. Heavy or repeated requests without orders may shift to billed samples — fair is fair. If you're evaluating a real program, your rep will keep sampling generous and easy.

Yes — ask for a random sample showing the same method (engraving, embroidery, UV print) on that product family, so you can judge how the technique itself looks and wears. Request a decoration sample and name the method you're weighing. Seeing the imprint on a comparable item helps you choose the technique that best fits your logo.

Yes — sample shipments are tracked just like orders, and your rep can share the tracking number so you know exactly when to expect the box. Request a sample and we'll send tracking once it ships. If timing is tight, tell us your deadline up front and we'll choose a service that lands the sample in time.

Use the free sample request option, live chat, or call 1-888-212-5501 with the item and your address — most requests are processed the same day. You can also email info@promotionalproductinc.com or contact your rep. Have the product name and shipping address ready so we can get the sample moving fast.