Shareware, AKA “try before you buy”, now known as free game demos.
My first one was DOOM on 3.5” floppy disks. I remember my dad asking “What’s this I.D. software you ordered?”
Costco samples sometimes. Doesn’t happen often though. I think the last time was this huge bag of popcorn that was actually really good.
The Chicago style popcorn?! 🤤
Plasticity (3d software)
- Cracked Minecraft Beta 1.7.3 to full Minecraft Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5. (I don’t like Microsoft and Notch is a Nazi)
- Cheese (before I was vegan. I kinda miss free food sampling)
- Monthly countrywide public transit ticket (well 9€ wasn’t free, but for a net of 39,000 km railway alone plus every other PT except HSR, it basically is). 49€ now, 58€ in 2025 (=> Subsidy regimes are not on parity to motorised individual traffic)
- Library subscription
I don’t go to Costco but every few years and I went hungry with a friend who has membership and bought too many of the samples I had
Always buy from the grocery store sample person.
It wasn’t a free “sample”, but I got someone’s hand-me-down leggings and they were so comfortable that I bought a new pair when I needed a different size.
Some furniture wax. And I still use it, I just bought two more tins.
I received a “gift with purchase” lip balm. I usually just toss it after discovering how sticky/goopy/fragranced/tingling it is, but this one was really mild/neutral/pleasant so I got the full one when I finished the sample.
I’m a lip balm fanatic, please share the brand!
I was in NYC for Pride the other year and got a sample of a cannabis drink made by a new-at-the-time company Cycling Frog. Flavor is good for a seltzer type drink, and the inebriation level is tailored to be about equal to 1-2 alcoholic beverages, which makes it easy to dose. Hubby and I loved it and bought a couple of cans on the spot. They are now available in dispensaries near us, and we still pick up a case every few months.
Cycling frog is lit. I don’t think I’ve had any of their seltzers but their huckleberry gummies are great.
Protonmail yes
In this vein, Fastmail and Kagi Search as well.
I signed up for the basic version of their VPN, but having their other services like protonmail or drive or pass has been great.
Back in the 90s when PC GAMER magazine would include demo CDs, there were a handful of games I liked enough to go buy the full game.
Sometimes when I go into the big booze store for wine. If they have samples of a type I’m looking for and it tastes ok, I might buy. They’re usually sampling wines at very acceptable price points.
I always test drive cars before buying.
I change hobbies like I change my clothes. So to keep from sinking way too much into every new hobby, I try to borrow or rent for a bit before buying to make sure it’s a hobby that I will stick with. Example, I picked up dragonboat racing this summer but declined to buy my own $120 paddle and used the clubs slightly heavier, older, paddles that are a little big for me. If I keep going with the team next year, I might buy a paddle. But first will buy a new PFD so I don’t have to wear one of their “one size fits all but it’s going to ride up halfway to u/Vanth’s ears” lifejackets.
I got a 90 day “sample” of Ableton in 2020 with a midi keyboard I bought. At the end of it I had a few songs out and they gave me another 3 months for some reason. Now I’ve been using Ableton for nearly 5 years, full license.
Usually beef jerky
