This article will teach you everything you need to know about Free Samples. We will cover how to request Free Samples from Sellers and how to fulfill the requirements needed once you receive Free Samples from Sellers. Before we dive into the process of applying for Free Samples, let's introduce Free Samples first!
What are Free Samples?
Free Samples are products that Creators can request from Sellers to use in their content, may it be for Short Videos or LIVE Sessions. These contents are aligned with the Seller's requirements and help you, as a Creator, receive more commission from your fulfilled content. You get to market the product and showcase how useful or nice it is with your own creative spin! With this in mind, we want to show you the possible benefits from using Free Samples in your content:
How to get Free Samples
Requesting Free Samples in Product Marketplace
Free Samples can be requested from the TikTok App, follow the steps below to request your first Free Sample: Step 5: Once the free sample request is approved, the seller will send it to your address and you will need to create a short video or go LIVE using the free sample to promote the product. Don't forget to also add the product link to the sample accordingly within a certain time limit: Free Samples shipped by either TikTok Shop or Seller will both require 14 Days for Creators to fulfil the request, and the video must stay published for at least 3 days. Withdrawing your Free Sample Request
Getting Free Samples from Seller Invitations
If you have received an invite from a Seller to collaborate, they may include an added benefit of providing a free sample to help with your content. These free samples may possibly only be available to invited Creators like yourself.
Where to find your Collaboration Invites with Free Samples
From your account page, go to the Creator Center. Under the Toolkit, tap in Collab Invites.
You can check all your pending Collab invites here. If you want to look for invites with Free Samples, a tab shown above will indicate the added benefit.
Tapping on the invitation will redirect you to the invitation details. You can see here that free samples are available for this invitation.
Free Sample Approval from SellersOnce you have accepted the invitation, you can freely choose any of the provided products for Free Sample request. Some invitations might have automatic approval and some will need confirmation from the Sellers to accept. You can use the filter to view samples that are automatically approved.
If the Invitation has Auto Approval:
Tap on any of the products and a pop-up will provide you with the option to Request free sample
Once requested, the Seller will need to process the request within 7 days
Tapping on view details will show the current status of your Free sample delivery. In this scenario, the first 2 steps are automatic.
If the Invitation has Manual Approval:
Tap on any of the products and a pop-up will provide you with the option to Request free sample
Once requested, the Seller will need to process the request within 7 days
Compared to auto-approval, the request will need to be approved by the seller before the delivery process can start.
Getting Samples with Sample Vouchers
If you have a sample voucher, you can use it to get a sample on the Sample Voucher Product Selection page or in the Product Marketplace.
After claiming the Sample Voucher, you can explore the list of eligible products on the Product Selection page.
Enter the Product details page before tapping [Buy Now], it will then redirect you to the checkout page. The Voucher will be automatically applied and you can place your order.
Once Sample Vouchers are claimed, select a product that is eligible for Voucher use in the Product Marketplace.
Tap on [Buy Sample] and it will redirect you to the Product Detail page.
Confirm your order by tapping on [Buy Now] to redirect you to the checkout page. The Voucher will be automatically applied and you can place your order.
Please refer to this feature guide for more information about Sample Vouchers.💡 If the seller does not ship the sample for an extended period of time, or if the sample is canceled and the sample voucher expires, the original voucher can no longer be used. You can check TikTok Shop Creator Center to see if new sample vouchers are available.
Managing your Free Sample Requests
The Manage Samples page is your one-stop center for all your sample requests. You can check the current progress of all your Free Sample tasks.
You can access the Manage Samples page by going to your account -> tap on the Showcase button -> tap on TikTok Shop -> Scroll down to the TikTok Shop toolkit on the TikTok Shop Creator Center.
From your account, go to the Showcase page and tap on TikTok Shop to access the TikTok Shop Creator Center
In the TikTok Shop Creator Center, scroll down and you can tap on Manage samples under the TikTok Shop toolkit
Tapping on Free Samples will provide you access to all your free sample requests. Check their current status if the sample was ordered, would need content or if they have been used for promotional content.
How do I use Free Samples in my Content?
Requested Free Samples will need to be featured in either of these two types of Content. Depending on your talks with the Seller, you might be required to use the Free Sample as what the Seller instructed:
Short Videos
❗ You must make sure your video is public, and your video must be online for at least 3 days.
LIVE Sessions
To meet the sample criteria, pin the sample for at least 10 minutes during the LIVE session.
FAQ
Why can't I request free samples anymore?
This may be because your account has been flagged by the "Sample Fulfillment Blacklist" policy. This occurs if, in the last 30 days, your sample fulfillment rate was below 10% and you received 10 or more samples.
Will my sample requests that are already in progress be affected?
No. The blacklist only restricts you from applying for new free samples. It does not affect any approved or in-transit sample orders. Please fulfill your pending obligations to restore your permissions as soon as possible.
Which specific free sample channels are restricted?
Nearly all free sample channels are restricted, including:
Seller-Funded: Free samples from Open Plans, Target Plans, Seller Campaigns, Agency Campaigns, and FS stores.
Platform-Funded: Sample coupons, sample campaigns, and sample point campaigns.
However, you can still acquire samples through these methods:
Seller-Funded: GROI (Guaranteed ROI) and Brand Deals.
Creator-Funded: Refundable Samples.
How can I restore my permission to request free samples?
You need to improve your sample fulfillment performance. The most direct way is to fulfill any outstanding sample orders by posting the required content. Once your fulfillment data meets the criteria in the next 30-day rolling calculation period, the system will automatically restore your permissions.
What if I want to continue collaborating but can't request free samples?
"Refundable Samples" are an excellent option. You can obtain a sample by paying for it upfront, and the seller will refund you after you post content and achieve the agreed-upon results. This not only allows you to continue working with sellers but also demonstrates your commitment to fulfillment.
Will the rules page tell me exactly what to do?
Yes. When your access is restricted, you will be directed to a rules page that outlines the "Benefit Standard" required to restore your permissions. It will also provide suggestions under the "What you can do" section, such as ordering a "Refundable Sample" or making a self-purchase.
What if I'm unable to create content for my free sample due to the product being suddenly unavailable?
It depends on case to case. Please refer to this separate guide on different scenarios that may happen and how they can be resolved.
What will happen if I fail to create the content after receiving the free sample?
It will affect your sample fulfillment score and reduce your chances of receiving samples in the future. Sample fulfillment is one of creator's criteria that is shown to seller when searching for potential creators. Creator with high sample fulfillment rate would be categorized as "Top Collaborator" on Creator Ranking List, a feature for sellers to find high performing creators. Seller can also search for compliant creators using the reliable with sample filter on Creator Marketplace.
Can I return a sample if the quality is unsatisfactory?
If the sample has quality issues, you can contact the Seller via IM to discuss possible solutions, such as requesting a replacement sample.
Once you reach an agreement, you can ask the Seller to mark the sample order as fulfilled so your sample fulfillment record is not affected.
Step 5: Once the free sample request is approved, the seller will send it to your address and you will need to create a short video or go LIVE using the free sample to promote the product. Don't forget to also add the product link to the sample accordingly within a certain time limit: 
Free Samples shipped by either TikTok Shop or Seller will both require 14 Days for Creators to fulfil the request, and the video must stay published for at least 3 days.
❗ You must make sure your video is public, and your video must be online for at least 3 days. 
To meet the sample criteria, pin the sample for at least 10 minutes during the LIVE session.
