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Temptalia Asks You - What do you think of gifts with purchase (GWPs)?

What do you think of gifts with purchase (GWPs)? Do you have a friend who’s as into beauty as you?

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I like them when they have decent things in them! I prefer large trial sizes or full sized products — I definitely don’t want a bunch of tiny samples. Or at least it better have a cute bag!
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54 Comments

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Hannah Avatar

Gwp’s are always appreciated, it’s not like I would turn it down, it’s free! I don’t mind trial sizes because it’s a good way to try alot of little things and figure out if you would buy it or not.

Milaxx Avatar

As a teen gwp were my middle name. I saved my allowance for them. Now it depends on what the item is. Esp since more companies give out samples, which are a much better way to sample and decide to buy.

Cat Avatar

I love it. But I agree those tiny samples are sometimes a disappointment because I always find there isnt enough product to really do a good test run. I think clinique sometimes has the best and when you buy a perfume in macy’s.

Erin Avatar

I love them! If they’re good, they will influence me to buy more. Bobbi Brown ran one recently that was for a mini-eye shadow. It’s definitely small, but much bigger than sample size, and I love the shade.

Linda Avatar

I really like these things. I tend to only really buy my must haves from ranges when they have there gwp’s on as I find they make the value much better. What I mean is something like this, I always use lancome bi’fical eye make up remover as I really rate this as the best, but it is quite expensive so I usually would by two when lancome have gift time as I feel it makes my money stretch further. Plus those trial sizes are great for travelling and save alot space in your weekend bag and some of those little bags you get are gorgous!. I’ve also found a few great products that I never would have bought but came in a gwp such as cliniques 7 day scrub, now I regularly buy the full size. I also use some of the things that i’d never use such as cosmetic shades I already have or would never suit me as little top up gifts for friends and they always go down a treat.

Yulia Avatar

I actually love to get an extra something when i go shopping.
I once bought a perfume and they gave me a free transparent pure with it which didn’t impress me much but yesterday i’ve seen that same purse for 44$ in Winners so now I feel I’ll actually use it

Nathalie Avatar

It’s always nice to receive a gift or a sample. What I hate is that in France, you generally always have the same thing. I have probably a big good dozen of “Givenchy Irresistible” perfume and I have no use for it because I don’t like it.

Robin Avatar

I like gifts with purchase, but it seems like they always fall by the wayside and I forget to use them. They sit there for a year, then I end up throwing them out. Also, I don’t use cosmetics unless they’re natural so all the freebies in the world won’t really sway me. If a company like Aubrey, Burt’s Bees or Signature Minerals had free bonuses, I would jump on it. In fact, my favorite cosmetics company, Real Purity, sends you tons (and I mean tons!) of samples to try when you order from them.

Wilcoa Avatar

I love GWPs, they always convince me to buy product either for the GWP or for something in the GWP… great way to test things out. Though sometime, when the product isn’t for me, i.e. anti-aging cream, I pass them along to mom who can make better use of them than I.

Jessica Avatar

I love gifts with purchase – it’s a nice bonus! But they don’t sway me to buy something.
And like others have said, they usually end up sitting around for awhile until I ultimately throw them out.

Although recently I got a nice-sized sample of Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche in a nice roll-on mini bottle & I love it! It’ll probably last me through the summer, since I wear my scents in rotation.

Nicole15 Avatar

I love GWP’s. Quite often I find a new favorite product from trying out a sample/freebie from a GWP. They typically are items I wouldn’t think to have tried or splurge on, but I ended up loving them & go back for a full-size. Also, i tend to use items I get in GWP’s for travel. Easy to pack & carry and disposable. Can’t beat it!

Summer B. Avatar

I am not a huge fan!
I know i know, but before you pelt me with stones, hear me out! lol
I just find like most of the time there are really good GWP with actual DECENT things in them, then I don’t want anything, or I only want one thing from the brand that doesn’t total enough to GET the GWP!
And I don’t know why, I always feel the lip colours are never right for me?
Still searching for that GWP that makes me go ga-ga, I guess 🙂

samaya Avatar

Well, i love them…I wish MAC started gvin out something…coz i usually use MAC, NAR, UD…but they never gve GWP…sad!!
Lancome and other companies gve…but i dont use those brands…Its great wth Clinique, coz i use their skin care stuff…:)

crystal Avatar

I’m on the fence with this. Yes, it is nice that Clinique, Lancome, EL, etc… gives GWP… however, their lipsticks are all around $22 compared to MAC’s $14.50. So to me, I rather NO GWP with the cheaper MAC price than for them to raise a MAC lipstick to $22 and have me spend a certain amount to get a gift I probably won’t use. And after the promotion is up they all end up at a CCO for around $14 or less.

karen Avatar

i like them, but not the clinique ones, they r so boring . i never want one ever again
and GWP is nice but i have nothing to buy cuz i have all that i need =] n im just searching to waste my money. but im close to the ppl at the beauty counters so they give me the GWP before the required $ minimum

cloudburst Avatar

It’s a brilliant marketing ply to get people to buy things – but I love them! There is so few opportunities to get a dscount on cosmetics/perfumes, it’s nice to get a little something free. Plus they are great fro travelling.

Kajal Couture Avatar

I agree with a lot of the comments on here. I love them mostly because there is always something I use, ie Lancome’s mascara or Bifacil, and the smaller size is perfect for me since I travel a lot. I too give some of the stuff to my mom when I know that she will like and use the items. Have you seen the new GWP for Lancome? It is listed in my blog….click on my name to check it out.

Niharika Avatar

GWP’s are great if the company comes out with a new product and its a good marketing trick.. My only suggestion would be to give decent size rather than a small size so that it will be usable and an opinion can be formed and by word of mouth the product would be a hit once its officially released into the market.

Leah Avatar

While it generally depends on the company for me, I like the Clinique bonus time because they come with skin care and when perfumes give a shower gel or body lotion. It makes the product worth buying especially when you know you are fond of that scent.

Bebe Avatar

I’m on the fence about it. When you work for a line that does GWP some people totally ruin it for you. Most people will complain why they have to spend that amount and in honesty it’s because it’s not cheap to manufacture travel size products believe it or not. That and when you look at it if you are more loyal to that brand it wouldn’t take much to spend and qualify. It’s nice to get a little something extra but it’s not crucial you know? I think now and days we expect free stuff all the time and some people pitch a fit over it if they don’t get something, it’s just a sample get over it.

Angie Avatar

I’m going to have to say no to this one. I usually don’t like the stuff they give me. Then I end up with all this stuff and bags I don’t use.

Nepenthe Avatar

I think they’re great if there is something that you’re looking to try out. It’s really what got me into Lancome, because I felt it was too expensive just to try it out, despite hearing that it’s an awesome line. I’ll splurge on their gloss for the mascara that so often comes with.

Anitacska Avatar

I like GWPs, but won’t buy something just because there’s a GWP unless I actually like the products. To be honest, I much prefer discounts or loyalty points (Boots and Debenhams do them here in the UK), I just bought the new Dior quint and Pop Diamond powder because I got £3 worth of extra points on my Boots card. 😉

alicia Avatar

I love miniature e/s, blushes, glosses, lipsticks. But not so mini that they fit in a baby’s hand. I’m not fond of moisturizers in cosmetics. Prefer cleansers, sunscreen & cosmetics. I have so many useless bags that I think they should ditch the bags & add more cosmetics.

rasilla Avatar

I like it cause I do get to try out new items that I might not usually.
I do love the bags that they come with (usually)
but GWP’s aren’t all that common here in Canada…
or so I find, incomparison to the States. The GWP’s just seem nicer over there 😛

Janine Avatar

As a Sales Associate/Beauty Advisor for a line who does these. Honestly….we HATE them. They are used to boost sales and we have to cold call customers to pre-sale them and have to meet a goal with that. Then on top of that we have to meet a sales goal of total product we sell on top of that. They are the most evil invention ever! Sorry Estee Lauder, you really created a catch-22 when you started this.

TSafari Avatar

I agree. Plus, it devalues the brand, since people start EXPECTING it, and then they go and get grumpy when you try to explain that gift only happens once or twice a year.

Vivian Avatar

i see.. I liek GWP because normally SAs don’t offer you samples when I buy some products at the counter. I’ve seen a SAs slip a sample jar to someone she knows because… well, she grabbed it after the customer made her purchase and it doesn’t come in a box. Yet, she made a face at me when i asked and said she doesn’t have them. 🙁

crystal Avatar

I work at a CCO and hate them too! As you probably know, when the promotion is up they come to my job. You don’t know how many people SEE THE PRICES ON THEM and still ask, “Is this free if I buy something?” Or ask me do they get a GWP for buying stuff in our store. Umm, NO! We’re already DISCOUNTED. If you want a GWP go to the counter and pay full prices and even then you probably lost out on money trying to get a GWP.

Jackie Avatar

eh, i really don’t care for them.
I’ll only get it if i really need to buy something from that company, but i just wont get something just to get the gwp.

kat Avatar

I like them! You get to try out new things and I keep the small things for travel and also in my gym locker. I work out in the morning a lot so I have to do my makeup afterwards… I like to have the GWP’s just chill there so I don’t have to lug my makeup back and forth!

As for people saying they don’t last long? I have yet to use up a single GWP!! (except the mascaras, but thats because I don’t buy full size ones so they ARE my mascaras…)

Beyond the Bath Avatar

I like them very much – they tempt me to buy when I may not actually *need* something, but *want* something.

Great way to try new stuff – but if the GWP doesn’t look appealing, then I’m not buying.

aradhana Avatar

it really depends what the gwp is…and how much you have to buy to get it!

i like the samples available when you order online from sephora–they let you choose what you want to try…

and at korres, they ask you which products you’d like to sample when you purchase anything. i suppose that’s just samples, and not really gwp…

i hate when the gwp is that you get the ‘privilege’ of buying something else (you didn’t even know you wanted)!

CeeBee Avatar

I won’t buy them just because you get “free” stuff (and usually the bags are too small to be of any use to me, even if they are cute) but it is a good way to try out new formulations and products but I do have to admit it was Dior GWP’s that got me hooked on oooh, lets see… J’Adore and Pure Poison perfumes, DiorKiss glosses, eyecream and the eye shadows… I love the Capture Multi Perfection Cream but it is too expensive for me to justify purchasing it on its own.

I have not has an Estee Lauder GWP that I really like but I did get a couple of the blockbusters where you buy a perfume (mostly because I fell madly in love with Amber Nude Youth Dew) and get a whole bunch (like $400 worth) of makeup for $100 or so.

Vivian Avatar

LOVE them. Most of the time anyway. Now, I would not want any GWP (or buy anything) from Arden, Lauder because their lines I do not feel connected to… and the lipsticks are not of great quality. Anyway, I like Clinique’s too.

GWPs are great alternative to samples because many SAs are too cheap to give their customers when asked. I asked several times and got none adn I bought 50 dollar worth of products. they’re keep samples themselves anyway… . samples not the same with GWP; I’ve seen SAs slip a trial sized sample for someone she knows… but she doesn’t want to give it to you. bleh

Kristin Avatar

Love them!!! I actually like the samples better than full-size, so that I can try things out and not feel bad about tossing it if I don’t like it. If I get a full size freebie, like a lipstick, a lot of times I won’t use it at all, thinking I can pass it on, but I don’t mind “wasting” a sample.

Cindyrella Avatar

When I first got back into makeup I would buy just about anything to get a GWP, now I am much more discriminating and will not be swayed by a GWP. They do make nice extras for swapping on MUA though. Also, some lines the minimum purchase is ridiculous–hello Chanel $150?

cmferrets Avatar

i love them , its really the only time i buy products at the counter, b/c then i get a bunch of samples of other things that i dont have to buy. ex_ clinique

kimberly v Avatar

i love em! especially with clinque! because of gwp im now an addict of all about the eyes cream! its a must before applying undereye concealer 🙂 yay for gwp!

Kiraling (Heather) Avatar

I absolutely love them and couldn’t see any reason not to.

Mostly because if I get a GWP, then I don’t feel as guilty about buying whatever I bought that day. It takes away from the major guilt trip I put myself through later, after I’ve looked at my existing cosmetic/skincare/beauty products at home. 😉

Natalie Avatar

I love GWP, that are useful, i.e skincare, foundation samples, etc. I don’t like getting makeup samples though, because they are normally colors that weren’t popular or whatever the overstock items that they couldn’t sell.

mm Avatar

For the most part I hate them-blah colors, stuff I wouldn’t use, yet another makeup bag I don’t need, drives up prices–don’t think you’re not paying for it in the long run. If you are a loyal customer with a good relationship with your salesperson they will hook you up with samples and goodies. No other industry has to put up with the people who complain if you don’t give them something for free or who demand 2 gifts just because they spent more. Give me a break people when’s the last time tried that successfully anywhere else.

Analia Avatar

But this is like an opinion thread adn if you don’t like what some people are liking, you don’t have to. I don’t really care for GWPs, but I do care for samples.

Why is there such thing as samples? because company make them. What is it for? Customers. Exactly my point. If SAs are holding those and not giving to customers, why bothering having samples? Paying customers have a right to ask for samples and if in stock, be given one.

Obviously, looking on the net, some people are selling samples for money although all samples have NOT FOR SALE on the back. Of course it’s people who have access to samples and be able to sell 30 sets of the same things. I think that’s cheap and broke the cosmetics LAW (if there is any LOL). Nobody on this post complained of not getting more GWPs when companies do promote for them. Not directed at you, but just to clarify teh differnce between GWPs and samples 🙂

Jennifer Avatar

I always appreciate them, but I think they should all do what Clinique does so often and offer a pink tone and a brownish tone for those with different preferences. Sometimes I will wait to make my purchase just to get the GWP. The other day, I got an adorable little pink bag from Clinique…so tiny and perfect with a lipgloss and mascara in one. Perfect for travel.

Jade Avatar

I like them when I buy gift, for example I bought my mom a clinique DDM and it came with a really nice bag, lipstick, eyeshadow, eyelash curler, cream sample, soap sample (the other gift was more lippie stuff) and you only had to pay 24$ to get it and the cream is 30$… so it worked out great… she got way more than I was going to get her… and she likes and uses everything in the GWP

Sarah Avatar

I used to die over GWPs before and to be honest, I still do. I agree with what a lot of the girls have already said;
– The tial sizes are little life savers when travelling.
– I only purchase things I would have brought anyway, so it’s worth waiting for gift time.
– Plus, I’ve never had to purchase makeup bags or even makeup brushes. Lancome do awesome, awesome makeup brushes in some GWP deals. Elizabeth Arden also good quality brushes which come free with their bronzers, gel liners etc. So I actually save a lot of money like that.
I do use up all that I get in these gifts, or give a few things out to friends and family. who would appreciate them more.

penelope Avatar

all they try to do is try to get you to buy the product. the only way i wouldnt mind is if it wasnt a sample or something like that

Roslyn Avatar

I don’t mind the gift, I mind the expectation of being entitled to the gift and kind of gift. For me the two end up going hand in hand so I’d rather nix the gift.

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